Education Action Alliance Statement on U.S. v. Skrmetti

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 18th, 2025

Phoenix, AZ -- Today is a truly sad day, especially for transgender youth in Tennessee. We see you and are in solidarity with you as the full impact of U.S. v. Skrmetti hits home. 

Today, U.S. v. Skrmetti, a closely watched case on a Tennessee law barring certain healthcare for transgender minors, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decided that Tennessee's law that discriminates and bans care only to transgender patients under 18 can remain in place.

In a 6-3 decision authored by Chief Justice Roberts, he compared the case to Geduldig v. Aiello, a 1974 decision that permitted pregnancy exclusions in disability insurance, asserting that Tennessee’s law targets medical procedures, not identities. That’s a bold statement when ruling on a state law that bans medical procedures only for certain patients - in this case transgender patients. 

Justice Sotomayor, one of the three dissents, noted “The majority subjects a law that plainly discriminates on the basis of sex to mere rational-basis review. By retreating from meaningful judicial review exactly where it matters most, the Court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims. In sadness, I dissent.”

For now, this means Tennessee’s discriminatory ban can be enacted and enforced. Current Arizona law prevents transgender patients from surgical procedures until they are 18, but allows patients and their families to seek other transition support from health providers. For the longer term, this decision green lights other states, including Arizona, to pass a similar law exclusively banning transgender patients from care. 

While this is not the decision we were hoping for, this advocacy journey fighting for legal protections against discrimination and violence for all trans is far from over. We see hope in that the Tennessee law is not the law of the land. We recognize that bans work when they replicate to other states and chill access to care for all youth.

“ Today’s decision turns the basic promise of equal protection on its head, telling transgender young people that their lives and health are negotiable. To every student and family now fearing what comes next: Education Action Alliance will keep showing up for queer youth - in classrooms, courtrooms, communities and at the Arizona State Capitol, until every child can access the care and affirmation they deserve. ”

 – Carol Tappenden, Executive Director, Education Action Alliance

There’s hope that similar bans failed the legislature this session. Bans on access to healthcare don’t work because patients need the care they need and families will continue to need access to those healthcare resources. 

Education Action Alliance will continue to advocate for all queer students to thrive in school, understanding that access to healthcare, shelter and food are basic human necessities and rights. We will fight on.

Media Contact: media@educationactionalliance.org

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Education Action Alliance envisions a future where all queer students thrive in school. Every student has the right to be affirmed and supported at school—but for many queer* students, this promise is broken. When these students are free to learn without discrimination, the entire school community thrives. Education Action Alliance educates, advocates, and organizes for inclusive schools where all queer students are valued and inspired to reach their full potential.

* We use the word queer to reflect a broad spectrum of LGBTQIA2S+ identities, including students who are intersex, asexual, nonbinary, questioning, or still exploring how they identify. This is the language many young people in our community use to describe themselves today—and we honor that by using the terms that reflect how they see and celebrate their own identities. We recognize that for some, queer carries painful history. We choose it with care, knowing that it has been reclaimed by a new generation as a word of pride, power, and possibility—and that it reflects the future we’re working to build.