The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Dec. 4 in a legal challenge to Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming health care for minors.
(Photo: Al Drago/Getty Images)
The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for Dec. 4 in the case challenging Tennessee’s law banning gender-affirming care for minors brought by three young people and their families.
The state law — which took effect on July 1 of last year — bars Tennessee doctors and nurses from providing medical care — including puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries — to transgender people under 18.
Tennessee Republican lawmakers made passing the law their top priority during last year’s legislative session, giving it the honorary title of House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Lambda Legal and the private law firm, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, sued to stop the ban from going into effect on behalf of a 16-year-old transgender girl, who received puberty blockers and estrogen therapy; a 13-year-old transgender boy, who received puberty blockers; and a 16-year-old transgender boy, who received puberty blockers and testosterone therapy, along with their parents and a doctor who treats transgender patients.
A federal court in Tennessee initially blocked the law in April. But, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals overruled that decision last year, allowing the law to go into effect while the Biden Administration appealed.