The state has been a leader in the rollback of L.G.B.T.Q. rights.
In June, there were celebrations coinciding with Pride Month, where families and friends gathered to celebrate L.G.B.T.Q. life with rainbow tattoos and flags. Additionally, a federal judge granted a temporary injunction on a policy requiring passports to match the sex on a person’s original birth certificate.
However, on Wednesday, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on transition treatment for transgender youth, marking a significant setback for their families and heightening concerns regarding potential further restrictions on L.G.B.T.Q. individuals in the state.
For many in Tennessee, including transgender individuals, children, and their families, this ruling was anticipated due to the intense opposition they have faced in recent years.
Tennessee has been at the forefront of restricting L.G.B.T.Q. rights, as evidenced by its General Assembly, controlled by a Republican supermajority, which has enacted laws preventing changes to gender identification on driver’s licenses, limiting the locations of drag shows, and barring transgender students from using public school bathrooms that align with their gender identity.
Eli Givens, an 18-year-old who testified against the ban, expressed disappointment but not surprise at the ruling. “It’s been whiplash every single day,” they stated, reflecting on the rapid succession of decisions affecting the community.
Receiving treatment as a teenager “was a new chance at life for me,” Mx. Givens added, emphasizing the importance of medical support for transgender youth.
Tennessee Republicans argue that the ban on treatment protects minors from making medical decisions they may not fully understand.
State Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti remarked, “I understand a lot of people are disappointed with this ruling,” but emphasized that it is based on a careful review of medical evidence.
Skrmetti acknowledged the struggles faced by transgender youth but maintained that the legislation reflected the beliefs of a majority of the state’s residents.
In contrast, many families and activists expressed outrage at the ruling, which prohibits transgender youth from receiving medical treatment while non-transgender patients retain access. Olivia Hill, Nashville's first openly transgender woman elected to the City Council, described the ruling as a “gut punch” and voiced concerns about the additional trauma it may inflict on marginalized youth.
One anonymous mother articulated the emotional turmoil her family experienced upon hearing the ruling, struggling to communicate the rationale behind the court’s decision to her transgender child.
This family, like many others in Tennessee, has faced the implications of the transition treatment ban, which took effect in July 2023, allowing existing patients until March to discontinue care.
Some families have sought treatment in out-of-state clinics unaffected by such restrictions, while others have relocated entirely due to fears of being targeted.
In a broader context, the Trump administration previously rolled back certain transgender rights and cut funding for L.G.B.T.Q. organizations. On the same day as the ruling, the Trevor Project reported a stop-work order affecting its support for L.G.B.T.Q. callers to the national suicide prevention hotline. Additionally, Vanderbilt University Medical Center had recently submitted extensive medical records of transgender patients to the attorney general’s office as part of a separate investigation.
In response to the ruling, various groups in Tennessee and across the South began fundraising to assist families in obtaining treatment elsewhere. Others organized rallies and provided reassurance to community members that their support and commitment to living in Tennessee remained unchanged.
“I’m not going to go away, and I’m not going to hide,” stated Ms. Hill, affirming her resolve to continue advocating for the L.G.B.T.Q. community.