Press Statement  AG Campbell Issues Statement On Supreme Court Decision In United States v. Skrmetti

BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following statement in response to today’s ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States in United States v. Skrmetti, upholding a Tennessee law prohibiting transgender minors from receiving medically-necessary gender-affirming care. The law unfairly and dangerously denies transgender youth access to life-changing medical treatments, such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers, which are afforded to non-transgender youth.

“I am deeply disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Tennessee’s harmful ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. This ruling denies trans youth access to medically necessary treatment and ignores overwhelming evidence of its life-saving benefits, as well as the medical judgment of doctors and parents. In the face of this cruel setback, I stand with trans youth and their families and remain committed to defending their rights and well-being in Massachusetts and across the country.” said AG Campbell.

In today’s decision, the Supreme Court affirmed a previous ruling by the Sixth Circuit upholding Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, asserting that the law is not subject to heightened anti-discrimination protections under the Constitution's equal protection clause.

ON BACKGROUND:

• Gender-affirming care for transgender minors continues to be legal in Massachusetts. 
• Massachusetts has enacted laws that recognize the right to access gender-affirming care and shield individuals who access or provide gender-affirming care from civil or criminal penalties by out-of-state jurisdictions. 
• Additionally, the Commonwealth’s non-discrimination laws apply to health insurance and specifically advise commercial health insurers not to exclude services used to treat gender dysphoria when those services are medically necessary or when the same services are covered for the treatment of other conditions.  
• Since taking office in 2023, AG Campbell has continued to champion LGBTQ+ rights, including access to gender-affirming care for youth. 
• In 2023, AG Campbell established a first-of-its-kind Reproductive Justice Unit, which is focused on expanding and protecting access to reproductive and gender affirming care.
• AG Campbell has issued a Know Your Rights document on gender-affirming care. 

In the face of anti-LGBTQ+ actions by the Trump Administration, AG Campbell has continued to defend access to gender-affirming care for youth, including by co-leading a coalition of 18 attorneys general in supporting a lawsuit against the Administration’s attempt to halt funding for institutions that provide life-changing gender-affirming care to minors.