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The Trump administration has altered the U.S. government's stance in a Supreme Court case involving a Tennessee law that bans certain gender reassignment procedures for minors identifying as transgender. The administration has requested the Supreme Court to continue reviewing the dispute initially brought by the Biden administration, which was supported by LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
The central issue in this ongoing case is whether Tennessee's Senate Bill 1 violates the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause, which states that "no state can deny equal protection under the law to any person within its jurisdiction." The Biden administration and organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union argued that the law breaches this amendment. However, Deputy Solicitor General Curtis Gannon stated in a letter on behalf of the Trump administration that "the government’s previously stated views no longer represent the United States’ position," while also suggesting that court review should proceed.
The shift in position was anticipated, with both federal government and ACLU involvement indicating potential continuation of challenges through advocacy groups. A joint statement from Lambda Legal, ACLU, ACLU of Tennessee, and Akin Gump law firm criticized Tennessee's ban as discriminatory and detrimental to transgender adolescents and their families. They expressed concern over what they perceive as federal targeting of marginalized groups.
A decision from the Supreme Court is expected by June if it continues its review. Currently, at least 25 Republican-led states have enacted similar laws restricting gender reassignment surgeries or hormonal treatments for minors, though not all are active due to legal disputes.
Proponents of these restrictions argue they protect minors from making irreversible decisions they might regret later. Opponents claim such bans could lead to other harms like mental health issues or self-harm among minors.
In March 2023 guidance on healthcare policy, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine opposed interventions altering sex characteristics through surgical or chemical means. They asserted such practices harm rather than help individuals by contradicting fundamental human unity principles.
Research from UCLA Williams Institute indicates there are approximately 1.6 million transgender individuals in the U.S., with about half aged between 13 and 24.
Kate Scanlon reports nationally for OSV News from Washington. Follow her on X @kgscanlon.
