Published on June 25, 2024, 12:35 am

Image source: Fox News

The Supreme Court of the United States is poised to consider if Tennessee can enforce a law banning irreversible gender transition surgeries and puberty-delaying drugs for children experiencing gender dysphoria. The top court has consented, as per Monday’s orders list, to review an appeal in the case known as United States v. Jonathan Skrmetti, et al., although oral hearings won’t likely commence until autumn.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a progressive legal entity known for combating such state legislations, is assisting in representing families challenging Tennessee over this law. Lucas Cameron-Vaughn from ACLU Tennessee voiced that the court’s decision could uphold trans youths’ rights to appropriate healthcare by overturning this discriminatory law. He stated their dedication towards advocating fiercely for trans adolescents and ensuring they have the freedom to acquire the necessary healthcare to survive and flourish.

In March last year, Tennessee enacted Senate Bill 1, which prevents healthcare practitioners from conducting genitals altering surgeries or administrating puberty inhibitors to minors grappling with their sexual identity confusion. As per the bill’s findings, the legislation asserts that medical professionals conducting these procedures on minors significantly damage both integrity and public respect for the medical field.

This state-backed bill maintains an extensive interest in safeguarding minors from physical as well as emotional harm. Additionally, it underlines protection against harmful, unethical, or unsupported medical treatments that might possibly lead minors into despising their own sex.

Responding to this fresh legislation implementation in April of that same year, both ACLU and Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit against the state on behalf of transgender-identified minors and also their families. This action prompted an intervention complaint filing by U.S. Department of Justice siding with plaintiffs.

Despite a primary injunction chord struck by a lower court against this new enactment, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit’s three-judge panel let it become active legislation. Last September saw two justices out of three upholding this law at the Sixth Circuit, led by Circuit Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton, a George W. Bush-appointed justice.

Judge Sutton opines that state governments have an established tradition of regulating medical treatments for both adults and children. In his view, provided no federal statute intercedes or any enumerated constitutional guarantee does not apply, states can regulate or even outlaw medical technologies they deem harmful in their discernment.

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