What medical care for transgender minors is at stake in Supreme Court case?
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case involving Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender people under age 18.
At least 26 states have adopted laws restricting or banning such care for minors, and most of those states face lawsuits.
The nation’s top court will be weighing whether Tennessee’s law violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, requiring that people in similar circumstances be treated the same under the law. Both sides in the case claim they are acting to protect minors from harm.
Gender-affirming care is supported by the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups. Here’s a look at what’s typically involved:
Evaluation and diagnosis happen first
Young people who persistently identify as a gender that differs from their sex assigned at birth are often referred to clinics where teams from various medical specialties provide gender-affirming care.
Such care begins with an evaluation, which can include a pediatrician and a mental health specialist who assess the degree of distress, if any, the young person is experiencing.
Those who meet defined criteria may be diagnosed with what’s called gender dysphoria if their distress is continuous and significant.
Some young people and their families may decide to try a social transition involving a new hairstyle, clothing, name or pronouns. Experts agree that allowing children to express their gender in a way that matches their identity is beneficial.
Chazzie Grosshandler, 18, of Chicago, said she was 9 years old when she told her parents she was a girl and
What medical care for transgender minors is at stake in Supreme Court case?
