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The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to hear oral arguments today regarding a pivotal case that could shape the future of gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The case, U.S. v. Skrmetti, challenges a Tennessee law that prohibits certain medical treatments for individuals under 18 who are seeking to affirm their gender identity. This law is part of a broader trend, as 26 states have enacted similar bans, igniting intense debate across the nation.
The Biden Administration, alongside three families with transgender teenagers, is contesting the constitutionality of Tennessee’s SB1, which was enacted in March 2023. The law restricts access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy, treatments endorsed by major medical organizations as essential for the well-being of transgender youth.
The case marks a significant moment in U.S. history as it is the first time the Supreme Court will directly address a state law targeting transgender individuals. Chase Strangio, an openly transgender attorney from the ACLU, will argue on behalf of the plaintiffs, further emphasizing the historic nature of this hearing.
In response to the challenges posed by state laws like Tennessee’s SB1, advocates argue that denying access to gender-affirming care can lead to severe mental health issues among transgender youth. As this landmark case unfolds, it not only tests the boundaries of state power over medical care but also addresses fundamental questions about parental rights and the treatment of transgender individuals in society. The outcome could affect access to healthcare for hundreds of thousands of transgender teens across the country.
For further details on this developing story and direct quotes from experts involved in this case, please refer to CNN’s coverage.
Sources:
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/04/health/what-is-gender-affirming-care/index.html
[2] https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/landmark-supreme-court-case-weighs-gender-affirming-care/story?id=116232587
[3] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-transgender-case-tennessee-gender-affirming-care-minors/
[4] https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2024/06/13/why-affirming-treatment-for-gender-questioning-youth-matters-in-sa/
[5] https://apnews.com/article/transgender-genderaffirming-care-supreme-court-a04ab2f808175dbca1be6d90fe575611
[6] https://theconversation.com/fr/topics/gender-affirming-healthcare-96371
[7] https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/09/27/nx-s1-5104225/transgender-teens-gender-affirming-care-bans-iowa-minneapolis
[8] https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/10/23/nx-s1-5161428/trans-kids-regret-gender-affirming-care
[9] https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/gender-affirming-surgeries-rarely-performed-on-transgender-youth/
[10] https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/10/21/gender-affirming-care-satisfaction-regret/
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