The United States Supreme Court has announced that they will consider arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, the case challenging Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth.

Arguments will likely be heard in the fall of 2024, with a decision expected by the spring or early summer of 2025.  An estimated 38% of transgender youth in the United States – and 93% of trans youth in Southern states – live in a state that has passed a ban.

The case to be heard by the Supreme County involves the Tennessee law that restricts puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors. The federal appeals court in Cincinnati allowed laws in Tennessee and Kentucky to take effect after they had been blocked by lower courts.

“We fought hard to defend Tennessee’s law protecting kids from irreversible gender treatments and secured a thoughtful and well-reasoned opinion from the Sixth Circuit,” Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti responded to the news that the Supreme Court will consider the case.  “I look forward to finishing the fight in the United States Supreme Court.  This case will bring much-needed clarity to whether the Constitution contains special protections for gender identity.”

Allison Scott from the Campaign for Southern Equality maintains gender-affirming care should be accessible to all.

“This is a high-stakes moment for transgender youth and their families, and we’re glad that trans youth and their families will have their day in court to make the case that the bans are unconstitutional, interfere with private medical decisions, and severely harm families,” she said. “Everyone who needs gender-affirming care should be able to access it affordably, and close to home, and our team will never stop working to make that happen.”