News Release
For Immediate Release: 6.18.25
Contact: John Manning, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
Supreme Court Upholds States’ Rights to Ban Gender Transition Treatments for Minors
First Liberty Institute applauds the decision of the Court that protects children and parents from life-altering medical consequences.
Washington, DC—Today the Supreme Court of the United States delivered a 6-3 decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti, upholding Tennessee’s ban on gender transition surgeries, hormone treatments, and puberty blockers for minors experiencing gender dysphoria, gender identity disorder, or gender incongruence. In a statement from First Liberty Institute, Counsel Kayla Toney noted the importance of this case for parents with deeply held religious beliefs:
This is an important case for all parents whose religious views have been ignored and who have been barred from decisions about medical treatments for their own kids. The Supreme Court’s decision today ensures that states can protect children and parents from manipulation into life-altering medical treatments.
First Liberty filed a friend-of-the-court brief in this case on behalf of Abigail Martinez, a devout Christian who lost her daughter Yaeli to suicide. When school officials pressured Yaeli to secretly join an LGBTQ group, they also told her to keep the information from her mother. Instead of providing the medical care that Yaeli needed for depression, the state of California gave her testosterone, took her away from her mom, and placed her in a group home. Ms. Martinez was only allowed a one-hour weekly visit and told not to talk about God or she would never see her daughter again. After taking cross-sex hormones that made things worse, Yaeli committed suicide. Ms. Martinez shared her family’s tragic story in hopes that other families will not experience similar heartache.
The Supreme Court’s decision today is a significant step toward protecting vulnerable minors from harmful gender transitions. In his concurrence, Justice Thomas pointed out the “emotional blackmail” that parents like Ms. Martinez have experienced. If California had passed the bill which the Court upheld today, Ms. Martinez would likely have never lost custody of Yaeli, government officials could not have mandated gender-transition treatments over her objections, and her beloved daughter would likely be alive today.
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact John Manning at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
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