Reproductive Equity Now Blasts Supreme Court’s Attack on Gender-Affirming Care
Today’s decision in United States v. Skrmetti will have devastating consequences for transgender youth
BOSTON (June 18, 2025) – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court released their decision in United States v. Skrmetti, a case determining whether or not Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution. The Supreme Court upheld SB1, a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. Similar care is not banned for cisgender youth. The ruling will not impact gender-affirming care for transgender youth in states where it is not currently banned.
“Transgender youth deserve our compassion, support, and protection. Today’s Supreme Court decision is cruel, inhumane, and yet another example of the Court greenlighting politicians' interference with our personal health care decisions,” said Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now. “When the Dobbs decision came down almost three years ago, we knew it was never just about abortion – it was the beginning of a campaign to roll back our inherent right to bodily autonomy and self-determination. My heart goes out to the trans kids in Tennessee – and in all 27 states that have restrictions on care for transgender youth, including New Hampshire – and their parents, who must now navigate accessing life-affirming care in a country that grows more hostile with each passing day. I want to say clearly to everyone in the trans community: you are loved, and we will never stop fighting for you.”
Here are statements from some of our partners following this decision: ACLU National and Lambda Legal & GLAD Law and NCLR.
In May 2022, Connecticut enacted a first-in-the-nation “shield law,” protecting access to gender-affirming care and reproductive health care in the Nutmeg State. This law both enshrines protected access to these forms of care and prevents authorities within the state from cooperating with investigations and criminal or civil proceedings targeting providers or patients of that care from other states. Earlier this month, the Connecticut Legislature passed legislation to establish the Safe Harbor Account, to be administered by the Connecticut State Treasurer’s office, which would provide practical support funding, such as travel and lodging, for those seeking gender-affirming care and abortion care in Connecticut.
In July 2022, Massachusetts enacted an expansive telehealth “shield law,” protecting access to gender-affirming care and reproductive health care. Under Massachusetts law, access to both gender-affirming care and reproductive health care, including abortion care, is enshrined in law, regardless of the location of the patient, allowing providers within the Bay State to provide telemedicine abortion and gender-affirming care to eligible patients and protecting Massachusetts-based providers from hostile out-of-state litigation. Gender-affirming care for transgender youth is safe and is supported by major medical associations, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association.
In New Hampshire, then-Governer Sununu signed HB 619 into law in July of 2024, legislation restricting youth access to transgender health care in New Hampshire. This ban went into effect in January 2025. Next week, the New Hampshire House and Senate will vote on final passage of two more pieces of legislation further restricting access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth (HB 377 and HB 712). Reproductive Equity Now campaigned against these efforts, and released a statement in coalition with other LGBTQ+ advocates after their passage through the Senate.
###
