In a significant 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld Tennessee’s ban on transgender medical treatments for minors, marking a major victory for conservative lawmakers advocating restrictions on gender-affirming care. The ruling allows Tennessee’s SB 1 law, which prohibits puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries for those under 18, to remain in effect. While the law’s surgical ban was not challenged in the case, the broader prohibition on medical transition care was at the heart of the legal battle. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, emphasized that the Constitution does not resolve the ongoing scientific and policy debates surrounding these treatments. The court ruled that laws like Tennessee’s will now be subject to the lowest level of judicial scrutiny, making future legal challenges more difficult. The decision was supported by all six conservative justices, while the court’s three liberals dissented.

The case was brought by three transgender minors and their families, later joined by the Biden administration. It marked the first time the Supreme Court considered the constitutionality of state bans on transgender medical care. The Biden administration argued that Tennessee’s law constituted sex-based discrimination, referencing the 2020 Bostock v. Clayton County decision, which extended workplace protections to LGBTQ individuals. Tennessee, however, argued its law targets age-based medical standards, not gender identity, and claimed a legitimate interest in protecting children. With nearly half of U.S. states passing similar laws since 2020, this ruling is expected to influence legal battles over transgender rights across the country.