Liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor compared the risks of puberty blockers and sex reassignment surgeries for minors to taking Aspirin during oral arguments in the case United States v. Skrmetti. This case, brought by the Biden administration, challenges Tennessee's law that prohibits sex change drugs and procedures for minors who identify as transgender. Tennessee Solicitor General Matthew Rice argued that the risks of such treatments must be weighed against potential benefits and questioned how many minors could suffer irreparable harm from unproven treatments.
Sotomayor remarked that all medical treatments carry risks, using Aspirin as an example, and noted that a certain percentage of people will experience negative side effects from any treatment. The Mayo Clinic has indicated that no thorough studies on Aspirin's effects have been conducted for children, and the drug has potential side effects, some of which might need medical attention.
Transgender activists often claim that sex change drugs and surgeries can reduce suicide rates and improve mental health for confused minors; however, growing evidence suggests that these claims may not be accurate. Research indicates that most children experiencing gender confusion tend to outgrow it by adulthood. Countries in Europe that previously endorsed sex change procedures for minors have begun reversing their positions due to concerns about long-term effects.
The push in the U. S. for minors to undergo these treatments, often referred to as "gender-affirming care," appears to be driven by prominent figures and organizations, including the Biden administration, academic institutions, major hospitals, and medical associations. These groups and social media have promoted the belief that individuals can change their sex from what they were born as, asserting that taking drugs and undergoing surgeries will align their physical appearance with their internal feelings.
The sex reassignment surgery market in the U. S. was valued at $267 million in 2019, with projections for significant growth in the coming years. The Biden administration is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling from the 6th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld Tennessee’s law that safeguards minors from these treatments.
Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton noted the issues surrounding the variable nature of care for newly recognized diagnoses like gender dysphoria and expressed difficulties in predicting the long-term consequences of removing age restrictions for treatments. With almost half of the states enacting laws against minors receiving transgender drugs and surgeries, the eventual Supreme Court ruling will have significant implications for gender-affirming care and parental rights. The case is designated as United States v. Skrmetti, No. 23-477 in the Supreme Court.
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