In a divisive decision, the Supreme Court allowed Idaho to enforce a ban on gender-affirming treatment for minors. The conservative majority of justices voted to lift the block on the law, signaling a willingness to enter the ongoing culture wars surrounding transgender rights. This decision highlights the ongoing debate over the rights of transgender individuals, with at least 20 states enacting legislation that limits access to gender transition care for minors.
The law in question, known as the Vulnerable Child Protection Act, makes it a felony for doctors to provide transgender medical care to minors, including hormone treatments. Idaho officials appealed to the Supreme Court after a temporary block on the law was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Attorney General Raúl R. Labrador argued that the freeze on the law’s enforcement was overly broad, impacting millions of people beyond the plaintiffs directly involved in the case.
The plaintiffs, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, argued against the universal injunction on the grounds that it would force them to disclose their identities as transgender individuals every time they sought medical care. The decision to temporarily allow the ban exposes the ongoing struggles faced by transgender individuals in accessing necessary medical treatments, showcasing the complexities of balancing individual rights and broader societal concerns surrounding transgender rights.