Accountable.US Statement on Supreme Court Decision in United States v. Skrmetti

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold a ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender youth in Tennessee in the case United States v. Skrmetti. Last year, an Accountable.US research investigation revealed that several of the doctors cited by Tennessee were repeatedly rebuked by courts for their inexperience, bias, and reliance on pseudoscience. In response to today’s ruling, Accountable.US President Caroline Ciccone released the following statement:

“Today’s decision will harm vulnerable communities and strip protections from Americans who need it most. But the fact that the case hinged on discredited ‘experts’ and junk science to advance an agenda that takes away freedoms makes it all the more concerning. The Supreme Court must cut through the smoke and mirrors and finally start recognizing these types of deceptive tactics for what they are: a special interest campaign to weaponize the courts to push a narrow and harmful agenda.”

Among the doctors pushing junk science in the case was Dr. Paul Hruz, who has never treated transgender patients and whose testimony has been criticized as “deeply biased.” Another expert, Dr. Michael Laidlaw, has compared gender-affirming care to Nazi eugenics and has been dismissed as “far off from the accepted view” by a federal judge.

Accountable.US’s research uncovered that Tennessee’s defense was bolstered by a flood of amicus briefs filed by anti-LGBTQ+ groups, including the Leonard Leo-funded Do No Harm and the American College of Pediatricians, a hate group known for promoting conversion therapy, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. These briefs, supported by organizations like the Alliance Defending Freedom and right-wing think tanks tied to Leo’s dark money network, reflect a coordinated effort to advance harmful policies and undermine transgender rights nationwide.

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