SC leaders react to Supreme Court ruling on gender-affirming care for minors

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) — The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s law banning gender-affirming medical care for minors, in a decision with nationwide implications, on Monday.

The 6-3 vote gave states the authority to enforce similar bans, directly affecting the future of transgender health care for youth across the country, including in South Carolina.

In response to the ruling, Jace Woodrum, Executive Director of the ACLU of South Carolina, expressed deep concern.

“The decision by the court today feels like it is a slap in the face,” Woodrum said. “But no matter what the court or politicians say, transgender people are not alone in this fight.”

Tennessee’s law prohibits the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender individuals under 18-years-old. Opponents argued that the law strips away access to medically necessary care, while supporters argue it protects children from what they describe as irreversible and experimental procedures.

This Supreme Court ruling solidifies the legal standing of South Carolina’s recently passed law, the Help Not Harm Act. Signed by Governor Henry McMaster in May 2024, the law mirrors Tennessee’s legislation by banning gender-transition medications and surgeries for minors.

Governor McMaster celebrated the ruling, calling it a “major victory” for South Carolina and the nation.

“Protecting our children from irreversible gender-transition procedures should not be controversial — it’s common sense,” McMaster posted on social media platform X.

State Senator Danny Verdin (R – Laurens), who sponsored South Carolina’s legislation, agreed.

“The facade of so-called ‘gender-affirming care’ is collapsing as Americans begin to see this ideology for what it really is: dangerous,” Verdin said.

Advocates for transgender rights argue the ruling, that it sets a dangerous precedent that endangers the well-being and rights of transgender youth.

“Transgender young people will be denied access to appropriate health care,” Woodrum said. “Importantly, this is health care that all major medical associations in this country have determined to be safe.”

The American Civil Liberties Union has vowed to continue challenging these laws in court, arguing they violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Legal experts say the Supreme Court’s decision to let Tennessee’s law stand signals a green light to other states pursuing similar bans.

It also raises questions about future federal challenges and whether the court will revisit the broader constitutionality of such laws.

As of June 2025, more than 20 states have enacted restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, while lawsuits continue across several jurisdictions. In South Carolina, the ruling likely shields the Help Not Harm Act from being overturned in the short term, though legal challenges remain ongoing.

For families and young people in the transgender community, the fight is far from over.