12 hours ago
Supreme Court backs ban on minors' gender-affirming care, upholding Kentucky law
KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — The United States Supreme Court issued its ruling in a controversial case concerning minors' access to gender-affirming medical care, such as hormone therapy and puberty-suppressant medications, on Wednesday morning.
U.S. v. Skrmetti began when a lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of three families and a physician. The plaintiffs argued that the Tennessee law banning access to this type of care violated the equal protection rights of transgender adolescents.
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On Wednesday morning, the court ruled the law could remain in effect.
'This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy and propriety of medical treatments in an evolving field,' U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. 'The voices in these debates raise sincere concerns; the implications for all are profound. We leave questions regarding its policy to the people, their elected representatives, and the democratic process.'
The ruling, in turn, upheld state laws like Kentucky's Senate Bill 150, which banned gender transition surgeries and puberty blockers for patients under the age of 18.
SB 150, sponsored by Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, was passed in 2023 and vetoed by Gov. Andy Beshear. His veto was ultimately overturned.
'Today's decision is a victory for common sense and the safety of our children,' said Wise. 'From day one, the Kentucky General Assembly was focused on one thing: protecting minors from making irreversible decisions before they are old enough to fully understand the consequences. The court's ruling affirms what most Kentuckians believe — that parents matter, science matters, and our kids deserve their childhood and innocence. I'm proud of Kentucky's leadership, grateful to Attorney General Russell Coleman for defending the law, and thankful that our nation's highest court recognized the legitimate and compelling interests at stake. Common sense has triumphed.'
According to Coleman's office, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld SB 150 in September 2023 in a combined decision also upholding Tennessee's law. The U.S. Supreme Court granted review in only Tennessee's case, but its reasoning applies fully to Kentucky's SB 150.
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Coleman also led a 22-state coalition to file a brief in support of Tennessee in the case.
'As parents and public officials, we have a responsibility to protect our children from harm. That's exactly what Kentucky's General Assembly did with the passage of SB 150, creating a commonsense measure to safeguard minors from life-altering medical procedures,' Coleman wrote on Wednesday. 'Our Office has fulfilled its duty to defend statutes passed by the General Assembly. Along with our colleague, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, and other attorneys general across the country, we have finally upheld the law that will protect our young people from irreparable damage.'
FOX 56 has reached out to ACLU Kentucky. In a Wednesday morning briefing, ACLU-KY Legal Director Corey Shapiro called the loss a painful setback.
The Supreme Court has failed to protect families' freedoms and allowed politicians to target transgender youth. This is a painful setback, and it is clear the Court will not protect these children. But it will not stop us from using all available legal tools to fight back against the political extremists targeting transgender people's safety and dignity. What's important to remember is that no matter what the Court or politicians say, transgender young people and their families are not alone in this fight.
ACLU-KY Legal Director, Corey Shapiro
The Kentucky state director of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates argued that the ruling isn't about safety or medicine; it's about politics.
''This decision from the U.S. Supreme Court is heartbreaking. Every person, no matter who they are, deserves access to the essential health care they need to thrive. Just like the Dobbs decision, this ruling is not about medicine or safety—it's about politics. It's about stripping patients, providers, and families of the power to make personal decisions about their own health care. This is the first step in a broader, deeply misguided campaign by ideologically motivated politicians to dismantle gender affirming care nationwide. We won't back down. We will fight this every step of the way,' Tamarra Wieder, Kentucky state director, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, said.
According to the ACLU, 25 states have enacted similar laws banning gender-affirming medical care since 2021.
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