The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has sued the state of Tennessee over its law protecting minors from harmful and experimental transgender medical interventions.
The DOJ is suing over Tennessee’s new law (SB1) that prevents healthcare providers from performing medical procedures on minors that enable “a minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor’s sex.”
In passing the law, the Legislature said its goal was to “protect the health and welfare of minors,” since “medical procedures that alter a minor’s hormonal balance, remove a minor’s sex organs, or otherwise change a minor’s physical appearance are harmful.”
The DOJ complaint argues that SB1 violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by “discriminating on the basis of both sex and transgender status.”
“No person should be denied access to necessary medical care just because of their transgender status,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in a statement.
From Assistant Attorney General Clarke’s statement, you’d think that transgender-identified individuals were being denied annual physicals, medications, and routine surgeries because they are “transgender.”
No. This is certainly not “necessary medical care.”
SB 1 only prohibits irreversible and harmful puberty blockers, opposite-sex hormones and surgeries from being performed on minor children, who cannot consent to these harmful interventions.
The assistant attorney, using all the usual talking points of the Left, added:
“The right to consider your health and medically-approved treatment options with your family and doctors is a right that everyone should have, including transgender children, who are especially vulnerable to serious risks of depression, anxiety and suicide. The Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department will continue to aggressively challenge all forms of discrimination and unlawful barriers faced by the LGBTQI+ community.”
Of note, the idea that gender-confused children will commit suicide if their chosen identity is not fully embraced and affirmed is wrong for a myriad of reasons, and various studies bear this fact out. You can read more about why that is here.
In response to the DOJ’s lawsuit, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said that Tennessee will be fighting the DOJ’s lawsuit in court, since the state is “committed to protecting children from permanent, life-altering decisions.”
Tennessee is committed to protecting children from permanent, life-altering decisions. This is federal overreach at its worst, and we will work with Attorney General Skrmetti to push back in court and stand up for children. https://t.co/ByrXpTeNUU
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) April 27, 2023
It’s truly tragic that the full weight of the United States federal government is being used to force states to permit body-damaging procedures on young children.
Let’s pray that justice will prevail and Tennessee’s SB1 will be upheld in court.
The case is United States of America v. Jonathan Skrmetti.
If you or someone you know need help dealing with the transgender issue, check out Focus on the Family’s Transgender Resources page here.
Focus on the Family offers a free, one-time counseling consultation with a licensed or pastoral counselor. To request a counseling consultation, you can call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) or fill out our Counseling Consultation Request Form.
Related articles and resources:
Counseling Consultation & Referrals
Transgenderism and Minors: What Does the Research Really Show?
Three More States Protect Children From Damaging ‘Transgender’ Medical Procedures!
Tennessee and Mississippi Pass Bills to Protect Children from Harmful ‘Sex Change’ Procedures
