Statement Regarding the Supreme Court Decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti
Today’s Supreme Court decision to uphold Tennessee’s discriminatory ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth is a distressing setback for health equity and for the rights of young people and their families to access evidence-based medical treatment.
We want to be clear: this ruling does not affect any services currently offered by Mazzoni Center or within Pennsylvania, where no such ban has been passed. Families and youth receiving care through Mazzoni Center should know that your access to comprehensive whole-person care remains unchanged.
As Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her powerful dissent, today’s decision allows Tennessee “to deny essential medical care to transgender adolescents even where the child, their parents, and their doctor all agree that treatment is medically necessary.” This marks a dangerous intrusion of politics into the exam room—where science, not ideology, should guide care.
Every major medical organization, from the American Medical Association to the American Psychological Association, agrees that this care is not only safe and effective, but also essential. These treatments rely on the same medications used to treat a range of pediatric conditions and are subject to comprehensive mental health evaluations, consultations, and medical oversight before any interventions occur.
The decision also fails to address a crucial point: the rights of parents to make medical decisions for their children in consultation with qualified providers. No family should have to face the fear of losing access to medically necessary care because of political interference.
We know this ruling will cause anxiety and confusion for many. We stand in solidarity with the trans youth and families affected by this decision and remain committed to delivering the affirming, lifesaving care our communities deserve.
This is not the end of the fight. Mazzoni Center will continue to advocate fiercely for the rights, dignity, and health of our LGBTQ community, here in Pennsylvania and across the country.
Simon Trowell, Interim CEO, Mazzoni Center
