When Justice Abandons the Most Vulnerable

The ruling in United States v. Skrmetti is not about safety. It’s about control and the government’s growing role in the most private decisions a family can make.

Today’s Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Skrmetti is not just a blow to transgender youth in Tennessee. It is part of a larger erosion of personal liberty in America.

By upholding a state ban on gender-affirming care, the Court has endorsed a dangerous precedent: that the government, not families and doctors, should decide what kind of healthcare a young person can receive.

This is not about protecting children. It is about expanding state control over deeply personal decisions. That should concern every American who believes in privacy, family autonomy, and personal freedom.

What is often described as “gender-affirming care” is, in reality, a broad spectrum of medical and psychological support tailored to individual needs. For most young people, it begins with counseling, peer support, and guidance from medical professionals. In some cases, with the full involvement of parents and physicians, it may include puberty-delaying medication - a well-established, reversible treatment that has been safely used for decades.

What it is not: experimental. What it is not: surgery for minors.

Despite the misinformation, this care is supported by every major medical association in the country. It is evidence-based. It saves lives. And it should not be subjected to political interference.

This ruling does not create a federal ban. States like California continue to protect access, and so do many others. But we must understand the implications. When the rights of one group can be stripped away in the name of politics, no one’s freedoms are truly secure.

At Vet Voice Foundation, we’ve worked with our partners to lift up the voices of those most directly impacted by this issue - trans veterans, military family members, parents, and care providers. We’ve shared their stories, amplified their truth, and we will continue to do so. Because when we talk about freedom, we have to mean it for everyone.

To any transgender person reading this - especially any trans veteran who has recently been discharged simply for being yourself, or any military family with a trans child now caught in the crosshairs of politics: You may feel unseen, unheard, or unsafe. But you are not alone. We see you. We honor your courage and your service. And we are standing with you.

If you or someone you love is struggling, please know there are people ready to help:

• Trans Lifeline (peer support): 877-565-8860

• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ youth): 1-866-488-7386 or text "START" to 678678

• PFLAG (for parents and families): www.pflag.org

• Project TRANS at The San Diego LGBT Center: www.thecentersd.org/programs/project-trans

• SPARTA (support and advocacy for transgender service members and veterans): www.spartapride.org