Oregon Nurses Association Condemns Supreme Court Ruling Upholding Tennessee Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors

Portland, Oregon- The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) expressed concern Monday following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow Tennessee to enforce its ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors. The ruling, which leaves in place a state law that restricts treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for individuals under 18, has drawn strong reactions from both supporters and opponents of the measure.

In a statement, the ONA said the court’s decision goes against long-standing medical research and expert guidance. “This ruling directly contradicts the overwhelming medical consensus and disregards decades of scientific research supporting this care as safe, effective, and lifesaving,” the organization said.

ONA pointed to endorsements from major U.S. medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the Endocrine Society, all of which support gender-affirming care as medically necessary for some transgender youth. Citing studies published in JAMA Pediatrics, The Lancet, and Pediatrics, the organization highlighted evidence that such care can significantly reduce depression, anxiety, and suicidality in transgender adolescents.

One widely cited study found that transgender adults who had access to puberty blockers during adolescence faced a 73% lower risk of suicidality compared to those who did not.

However, supporters of the Tennessee law argue the state is acting to protect children from medical interventions they believe are too significant and irreversible to undertake during adolescence. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti praised the ruling, saying it affirms the state’s right to regulate medical practices involving minors.

“The state has a legitimate interest in ensuring that medical treatments for children are safe and based on the best available evidence,” Skrmetti said. “This decision allows Tennessee to continue exercising caution when it comes to irreversible procedures on developing minors.”

The law prohibits healthcare providers from prescribing puberty blockers or hormone treatments to minors for the purpose of gender transition. While gender-affirming surgeries for minors are rare, the law also bans those procedures. Proponents of the legislation argue that long-term outcomes of these treatments are not yet fully understood and that such decisions should be made once individuals reach adulthood.

Several legal and advocacy organizations supported the state’s position, saying the ruling reflects a growing national debate over how states should approach medical care for transgender youth.

The ONA, which represents more than 15,000 nurses and allied health professionals in Oregon, said it will continue advocating for care it believes is based on sound medical research. “ONA believes that all young people deserve access to medically necessary care, free from political interference. Today’s decision is not based on science, public health, or the well-being of children; it is rooted in ideology, and it places vulnerable youth at serious risk” the association said in a statement.

What the Court Said

In the majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that Tennessee’s law “does not violate the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause” because it regulates medical treatment according to age and purpose—not based on sex or transgender identity—and thus is evaluated under the low “rational basis” standard. The decision allows similar laws in over two dozen states to remain in effect.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Jackson and Kagan, dissented. Sotomayor cautioned that the ruling “abandons transgender children and their families to political whims” and ignored precedent requiring heightened judicial scrutiny for policies targeting sex or gender identity.

The court’s decision does not create a national precedent but allows similar laws in other states to remain in effect while legal challenges continue in lower courts.