This website is best viewed in a browser that supports web standards.

Skip to content or, if you would rather, Skip to navigation.

Listen Live
Donate
MARYVILLE

KXCV-KRNW


News Brief

June 23, 2025 |  By: Gavin McGough

Ruling to preserve ban on providing gender-affirming healthcare to trans youth has implications in multiple states

Individuals gathered to show support for gender-affirming care for Trans Youth

Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector

A broad decision by the Supreme Court last week has implications for all four states in our listening region. It released a ruling on Wednesday allowing Tennessee to preserve its ban on providing gender-affirming healthcare to trans youth in the state.

In doing so, the court allowed similar bans to remain in Missouri, Nebraksa, Kansas, Iowa, and over 20 other states.

Advocates for trans youth in Missouri had been watching the Tennessee case. Communications Director with the American Civil Liberties Union in Missouri, Tom Bastian told KCUR Radio the decision was "devastating." He noted the ACLU will continue its legal advocacy.

The ACLU has also been working to overturn Kansas's ban on care, but has faced recent setbacks.

In Missouri, meanwhile, state legislators have put a ballot measure before voters asking them to ban gender-affirming healthcare in the state's consitutution. That would make the state's current ban permanent.