Tennessees

Supreme Court’s Landmark Ruling on Transgender Rights: Tennessee’s Ban on Gender-Affirming Care Upheld in Controversial Decision

by

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court has charted new territory regarding the equal protection principles as they relate to transgender individuals in its recent decision on a Tennessee law that bans gender-affirming care for minors. In the case of United States v. Skrmetti, the Court’s conservative majority upheld the law, marking a pivotal moment for transgender rights and the future of sex discrimination laws. The ruling centers on how constitutional standards should be applied to laws discriminating against transgender individuals. LGBTQ+ advocates had hoped the Court would adopt a more stringent review standard. Instead, … Read more

Federal Judge Halts Tennessee’s Controversial Law Targeting Assistance for Minors Seeking Out-of-State Abortions

by

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A federal judge has intervened to block a Tennessee law that would have made it a criminal act to assist minors seeking abortions in other states. The ruling came amid national debates on reproductive rights following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Campbell delivered the ruling on a law implemented by the state legislature that prevented adults from providing support, including financial aid, to minors traveling out of state for abortion services. The law’s proponents argued it aimed to curb what they deemed as … Read more

Federal Court Eases Free Speech Restrictions in Tennessee’s Controversial Abortion Law

by

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A federal judge has partially blocked a Tennessee law that criminalized the recruitment or transportation of a minor for an unlawful abortion without parental consent, marking a significant ruling regarding free speech rights. The judge deemed that the law’s provisions relating to “recruitment” impose unconstitutional restrictions on protected speech. The decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed in June 2024 by Tennessee State Representative Aftyn Behn, a Democrat from Nashville, alongside family law attorney Rachel Welty. They contested the law, asserting it violated their First Amendment rights and was vague in its language. … Read more

Supreme Court to Review Tennessee’s Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors on December 4

by

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court has scheduled December 4 to review a contentious case regarding a Tennessee law that prohibits gender-affirming medical procedures for minors. This case, invoking legal challenges from multiple civil rights organizations, including the ACLU and Lambda Legal, targets the legislation signed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee in 2023. The law in question, Senate Bill 1, explicitly bars healthcare providers from administering gender-affirming surgeries or prescribing hormone therapies and puberty blockers to individuals under the age of 18. Advocates for the bill argue that minors are not equipped to make … Read more