From Courtrooms to Communities: Defending Transgender Health Care Rights



by Aryanna Cheeseboro

08/01/2025

In the United States, there is an ongoing fight between state laws and federal rules when it comes to transgender health care. More than 20 states have passed laws that ban or limit gender-affirming care for transgender youth, meaning young people in those states do not have access to treatments, such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy, even when recommended by their doctor. At the same time, SCOTUS upheld that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, protects against discrimination based on gender identity. (Bostock v. Clayton County, 2020).

In United States v. Skrmetti, the Supreme Court looked at whether Tennessee’s law banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth was legal. The case was brought by the then Solicitor General, Elizabeth Prelogar, who argued that the law violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by treating transgender youth differently than other young individuals. On the other side, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti defended the law. In June 2025, the Court ruled 6-3 in favor of Tennessee, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing the majority opinion. This decision means states can move forward with similar bans, even if they target transgender youth.

People who support these bans claim they are trying to “protect” the youth, but many medical experts agree that gender-affirming care, when done properly, is safe and helpful. Puberty blockers, for example, have long been used for precocious puberty, allowing children more time to mature before major physical changes. If they’re safe for cisgender youth, there’s no medical reason they should be harmful for transgender youth. The only difference is the reason for using them, revealing the bias; these laws ban care not because it’s unsafe, but because it’s for transgender youth.

If SCOTUS allows the bans to remain, the door for more laws and the undoing of past rulings that once protected people’s rights will be wide open. States will have the ability to take away other forms of health care, such as birth control or fertility treatments, especially since the overturning of Roe’s “right to privacy” protection was struck down with the Dobbs decision, stating that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. It will make life harder for many, especially those in vulnerable groups like low-income families, LGBTQ+ youth, and people of color. People included in these groups already face higher rates of discrimination, poor access to care, and mental health struggles, barriers that are only made worse when access to gender-affirming care is restricted.

The Ruth Collective is so important because it gives young people the tools to speak up, understand their rights, and fight for fair, equal access to healthcare. As a compassionate nonprofit, The Ruth Collective supports individuals needing reproductive or gender-affirming care. Our mission is to help them overcome the disparate barriers that may require out-of-state travel. 

Through a national network of trained volunteers, The Ruth Collective offers assistance with transportation, safe housing, trauma-informed support, and guidance throughout their journey. Our mission is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves bodily autonomy and care, no matter where they live or what obstacles they face. In a time when transgender rights are under attack, The Ruth Collective is showing up, standing with communities, and ensuring no one is left behind.

References

Associated Press. (2025, July 22). US Olympic officials ban transgender women from women’s events. AP News. 

Macur, J. (2025, July 21). U.S. Olympic Committee changes rules to bar transgender women from women’s sports. The New York Times. 

Office of Transgender Initiatives. (n.d.). Trans women in sports: Facts over fear. City and County of San Francisco