Washington, DC – In United States v. Skrmetti, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, allowing the state to enforce discriminatory restrictions that deny essential, evidence-based treatment.
“This decision disregards medical consensus and increases harm to transgender youth, who already face heightened risks of depression and suicide. It also strips families of the right to make urgent health care decisions in consultation with providers,” said Sarah Somers, Legal Director at the National Health Law Program. “With similar laws spreading nationwide, this ruling threatens the health and futures of transgender youth.”
The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) has a long history of protecting and advancing access to essential health care for those most in need and with the fewest resources. Gender-affirming care is safe, effective, and medically necessary for the youth who need it. As attacks on transgender people intensify nationwide, NHeLP remains committed to defending the rights of transgender and gender-expansive young people to access the critical care that they deserve.
