VICTORY! SCOTUS Upholds Tennessee Law Banning Harmful Gender Procedures for Children

Washington, D.C.  – June 18, 2025  –  The U.S. Supreme Court today upheld a 2023 Tennessee law banning harmful and irreversible gender transition procedures for children and ruling that it does not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and does not classify on the basis of sex.

(Jonathan Saenz and Family Policy Alliance at the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments on December 3, 2024)

Jonathan Saenz, President and Attorney for Texas Values was present in Washington D.C. for the oral arguments in the Skrmetti case in December of 2024. Regarding today’s decision, he stated:

“The U. S. Supreme Court decision today makes it clear that states can protect kids from harmful and dangerous attempted “sex-change” mutilation and sterilization methods. All children deserve the opportunity to grow up healthy and whole. Our Texas child protection law passed in 2023 on this major safety and health issue is now stronger than ever.”

(Jonathan Saenz and Chloe Cole, Detransitioner and Activist Against Child “Gender Modification”, at the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments on December 3, 2024)

The opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, echoes deference to the states on policy issues and clarifies that the law is not subject to heightened scrutiny, which is an elevated standard the Court will sometimes apply when reviewing the constitutionality of statutes. The Court also reaffirmed that previous case precedent in Bostock v. Clayton County, 590 U.S. 644 does not apply in this case –  undermining a major argument used by the opposition.

Texas Values joined 10 state policy councils, including Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Virginia, Delaware, California, South Carolina, New Jersey, and Idaho in submitting a legal amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of the challenged law. See the brief here.

Texas Values was the leading organization advocating for SB 14 – Texas’ similar law banning gender mutilation procedures for children, which also passed in 2023 around the same time as Tennessee’s law.  SB 14 has already been challenged by opponents and upheld by the Texas Supreme Court. 

Members of Texas Values law and policy team are available for comment. please email Ashley at media@txvalues.org or call/text 737-314-2450 (m).

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About Texas Values

Texas Values is the largest statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org.