Supreme Court Upholds Tennessee Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors in 6-3 Decision

Washington D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court on June 18, 2025, affirmed a Tennessee law prohibiting gender-affirming medical care for minors, a decision reached by a 6-3 majority along ideological lines. The ruling upheld the state's Prohibition on Medical Procedures Performed on Minors Related to Sexual Identity (SB1), impacting similar legislation in numerous other states. This judicial outcome stands as a significant development in the ongoing national debate over transgender rights and healthcare.

The Supreme Court's decision was highlighted in a social media post by user Wokal Distance, who claimed that former President Donald Trump experienced "the best month of his political career" in June 2025. The post cited several achievements, including "won the supreme court about banning sex-changes for kids," alongside claims of "0 border crossings," "record deportations," "economy growing," and "destroyed Iran nuke program." These assertions reflect a particular perspective on recent events under the Trump administration.

Regarding border security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported record low nationwide encounters in June 2025. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that CBP had the lowest number of nationwide encounters in its history at 25,243, with U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions along the Southwest Border dropping to 6,070. Officials also noted "zero releases" of illegal immigrants into the U.S. interior, reinforcing the administration's commitment to ending "catch-and-release" policies, though actual crossings were not zero.

Conversely, economic indicators for the U.S. in June 2025 do not support the claim of a "growing economy." The U.S. economy contracted at an annualized rate of 0.5% in the first quarter of 2025, marking the first quarterly contraction in three years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Forecasts from EY, PwC, and Deloitte project a continued slowdown, with real GDP growth expected to decelerate significantly throughout 2025, driven by factors like anticipated trade restrictions and cooling consumer demand.

In international affairs, Iran's nuclear program faced significant military action in June 2025. Israeli strikes on June 13 targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, followed by U.S. military strikes on June 21, including the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan sites. While the U.S. claimed "obliteration" of key facilities, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported "severe damage" but not total destruction, noting that Iran subsequently suspended cooperation with the agency.

The Supreme Court's majority opinion, penned by Chief Justice John Roberts, concluded that Tennessee's SB1 does not classify on the basis of sex or transgender status, and therefore is subject only to rational basis review. The Court found that the law's distinctions were based on age and medical use, upholding the state's objective of protecting minors' health and welfare. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a dissenting opinion joined by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and partially by Justice Elena Kagan, argued that the law clearly discriminates on the basis of sex and transgender status, necessitating a higher level of scrutiny.

The ruling allows bans on gender-affirming care for minors to remain in effect in approximately 25 states that have enacted similar laws, leaving access to such care largely dependent on state residency. Legal challenges are expected to continue on other grounds, including due process claims, while the Trump administration has also issued executive orders aimed at limiting gender-affirming care and recognizing only biological sex.