In a far from unexpected ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld Tennessee’s state law restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth, opening the door for more states – beyond the roughly half with similar laws on the books – to impose age restrictions on trans health care.
For the conservative majority – all six of whom ruled in unison – it was an old, tired argument they leaned on: states’ rights.
“This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments in an evolving field,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority 6-3 opinion. “The voices in these debates raise sincere concerns; the implications for all are profound. The Equal Protection Clause does not resolve these disagreements. Nor does it afford us license to decide them as we see best.”
Republican state Sen. Bo Watson of North Chattanooga applauded the Court’s decision, seeing it as respecting the authority of the state government.
“The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Tennessee’s ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors is a clear and meaningful victory for Tennessee,” Watson said in a news release. “This is about protecting our children and preserving the state’s authority to regulate medical care within our borders. I’ve always said this law is rooted in our responsibility to safeguard minors from making permanent, life-altering decisions they may not fully understand.”