Statement on Supreme Court Ruling in United States v. Skrmetti

Washington, DC, June 18, 2025 – The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth is a devastating setback to the foundational principle that healthcare decisions should only be shared between patients, families, and providers — and not politicians. This ruling emboldens a dangerous have-and-have-not framework based on political ideology and enables discriminatory legislation that disregards medical consensus. It directly contradicts evidence-based practice and places transgender youth at heightened risk of social isolation and discriminatory, delayed, or denied care. 

As public health leaders committed to advancing the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ communities, the National Coalition for LGBTQ Health and HealthHIV condemn this decision and the chilling precedent it sets. Gender-affirming care is not only medically necessary — it is a central component of effective, person-centered healthcare. National medical organizations and provider coalitions have affirmed this time and again. The Court’s retreat from its role in safeguarding civil rights opens the door to further restrictions in dozens of states, threatening an already vulnerable population and eroding trust in our health systems. 

We stand for access to affirming care, support for the providers delivering it, and the rights of transgender youth to make health decisions free from political interference. In the face of this ruling, we urge federal agencies to enforce nondiscrimination protections under Section 1557, state leaders to reject similar bans, and healthcare institutions to preserve access through policy, training, and direct services.

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