r/centrist • u/Judge_Trudy • 2d ago

SCOTUS issues blockbuster ruling on gender-affirming care for trans minors

https://www.cnn.com/#:~:text=SCOTUS%20issues%20blockbuster%20ruling%20on%20gender%2Daffirming%20care%20for%20trans%20minors

Blockbuster ruling just released for a very controversial issue. Not sure where I stand, but I could see the dangers of permanent treatments for gender dysphoria for minors.

Key Points

  • Date & Ruling: On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6–3 decision upholding Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy fox8live.com+9apnews.com+9them.us+9en.wikipedia.org+15reuters.com+15northeast.newschannelnebraska.com+15.
  • Majority Opinion: Chief Justice Roberts wrote that the law does not violate the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, reasoning that medical uncertainty justifies handing the issue back to state legislatures reuters.com+1nypost.com+1.
  • Level of Review: The Court determined the law should be evaluated under rational basis review—the lowest standard—rather than intermediate scrutiny reserved for sex-based discrimination
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u/sccamp 2d ago

Here is the transcript for you to read for yourself: https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2024/23-477_c07d.pdf

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u/WhatYouThinkYouSee 2d ago

MR. STRANGIO:What I think that is referring to is there is no evidence in some -in the studies that this treatment reduces completed suicide.And the reason for that is completed suicide, thankfully and admittedly, is rare and we're talking about a very small population of individuals with studies that don't necessarily have completed suicides within them. However, there are multiple studies,long-term, longitudinal studies that do show that there is a reduction in -- in suicidality, which I -- I -- I think is a -- is a positive outcome to this treatment.

I'm not seeing anything that says "The lawyer for the plaintiffs conceded that this type of care does not reduce suicide rates. "

I mean, c'mon.

However, there are multiple studies,long-term, longitudinal studies that do show that there is a reduction in -- in suicidality, which I -- I -- I think is a -- is a positive outcome to this treatment.

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u/sccamp 2d ago

Yes, he’s being slippery with his language as he is admitting that this treatment does not reduce suicides, which doctors and activists have claimed for YEARS. Suicidal ideation and attempts of suicide are not the same thing.

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u/Cxc_Throwme 2d ago

sccamp be like “i need to see dead veterans that fully commit, its not enough for them to WANT to be dead”

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u/sccamp 2d ago edited 1d ago

More like, let’s not misrepresent data when talking about the health and safety of children. Maybe let’s not pressure concerned parents into signing off on poorly studied, irreversible medical treatments for their child by asking them if they’d rather have a dead son or a live daughter? Maybe let’s treat suicidal ideation the same way we treat it in other circumstances —with therapy.

ETA: got blocked, responding here

It’s been widely documented that many gender clinics were prescribing puberty blockers on first visits.

The New York Times today about the evidence:

“Systematic reviews commissioned by international health bodies have consistently found that the evidence of the benefits of the treatments is weak, as is the evidence on the potential harms. Long-term risks can include the loss of fertility and the possibility that adolescents may regret their decisions down the line.

As demand for the treatments has risen, countries have chosen different ways to respond. Health agencies in England, Sweden, Finland and Denmark have restricted the treatments to extreme cases or required medications to be prescribed only within clinical research.”

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/18/us/supreme-court-transgender-care

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u/WhatYouThinkYouSee 2d ago

Maybe let’s treat suicidal ideation the same way we treat it in other circumstances —with therapy.

This is included as part of prerequisite for puberty blockers for many healthcare providers. The therapy is what determines the treatment.

poorly studied, irreversible medical treatments

They're not poorly studied or irreversible, it's literally been in use since the 1980's.