Supreme Court hears challenge to law banning gender-affirming care for trans kids

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7. SCOTUS conservative majority appears ready to endorse Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors

SCOTUS conservative majority appears ready to endorse Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors

By John Fritze, Tierney Sneed, Devan Cole, Elizabeth Wolfe and Chelsea Bailey, CNN
Updated 2:27 PM EST, Wed December 4, 2024

What you need to know

• The conservative majority on the Supreme Court appeared ready to endorse a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors after hearing arguments Wednesday on US v. Skrmetti — a case that could determine whether states can ban this type of care for trans children and teens. A decision is expected by July 2025.

• During the arguments, Justice Ketanji Brown said she is “suddenly quite worried” and “nervous” about conservatives’ arguments in the controversy. The case, brought by the Biden administration on behalf of families of trans youth, challenges the constitutionality of Tennessee’s gender-affirming care ban, which restricts puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors and enacts civil penalties for doctors who violate the law.

• The Tennessee law is among a growing number of state laws enacted in recent years targeting transgender care. Republican lawmakers who support the ban say decisions about care should be made after an individual becomes an adult. Opponents argue that in addition to violating the civil rights of trans youth, the laws also run afoul of parents’ rights to make decisions about their child’s medical care.

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