On June 18, 2025, in a 6 to 3 decision, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on giving puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors in the landmark case, U.S. v Skrmetti. The three dissenters were the female liberal justices – Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson.

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This decision is a HUGE WIN for the truth of Scripture, for evidence-based science, for gender-confused children who will now be protected against this transgender treatment lie, and for commonsense returning to America.

Thank you for praying with IFA for God’s will to be done in this case.

To “quote” James 5:16, we can say… The fervent prayers of righteous intercessors are powerful, effective, and avail much. Thank you!

A Landmark Decision

U.S. v Skrmetti is the first case involving transgender medical issues that the Supreme Court has decided to hear. Oral arguments were heard on December 4, 2024.

Thankfully, the court rejected the arguments put forth by Biden’s Solicitor General and the attorneys of the three Tennessee families and their physician. They had argued that denying these hormones to children with gender dysphoria violated their Constitutional guarantee under the 14^th Amendment of equal protection. The court said Tennessee’s ban did not and rejected the petitioner’s claim that the ban discriminated against people on the basis of gender identity.

For more details on the case, you can read prior IFA articles here, here, and here.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, recognizing the dispute “carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments in an evolving field.” Chief Roberts also noted Britain’s extensive Cass Report denouncing transgender care as being based on faulty science, and the National Health Service’s banning of prescribing gender hormones to minors in response to the Cass Report.

But Chief Roberts went on to say, “Our role is not ‘to judge the wisdom, fairness, or logic’ of the law before us … but only to ensure that it does not violate the equal protection guarantee of the Fourteenth Amendment. Having concluded it does not, we leave questions regarding its policy to the people, their elected representatives, and the democratic process.”

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in her dissent, wrote that the court’s ruling would cause “untold harm to transgender children.” Apparently, the scientific evidence of the harm, pain, infertility, and irreversible bodily changes caused by the hormones was not persuasive to the liberal judges. Nor was the evidence that 98% of children struggling with gender identity grow out of their confusion if left alone.

The Ripple Effect of the Court’s Decision

Today, 24 states have laws banning the use of these hormones for minor children. This means that the bans in every state can be upheld. The treatment will be banned in half the country, and whatever legal challenges working their way through the courts regarding individual state bans are now moot.

However, the ripple effect of this ruling could extend to other legal battles over bathroom access and boys playing on girls’ school sports teams. We shall have to see.

The Supreme Court will also be deciding another trans case this month regarding parental rights and transgender issues. In Mahmood v. Taylor, the Supreme Court will decide if parents have the right to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ school curriculum based on their religious beliefs.

With this ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti, there is no legal challenge that would prohibit the Republican Congress and President Trump from banning transgender treatments for minors nationwide.

A Big Win to Protect Children

The White House responded to the ruling. “President Trump will continue to speak out and take action to protect innocent American children from these barbaric procedures that are based on junk science.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “This Department of Justice will continue its fight to protect America’s children and parental rights. I encourage other states to follow Tennessee’s lead and enact similar legislation to protect our kids.”

Tennessee State Attorney, Jonathan Skrmetti, cheered, “This is a big win for democracy, for letting state governments decide what state laws should be. This type of ban is necessary because of the irreversible nature of gender transition treatments.

IFA was at the Supreme Court

On that cold day in December, IFA’s Chief Program Officer, Kris Kubal, and her team of IFA State Leaders were at the Supreme Court to pray. They faithfully prayed for the justices and the proceedings for five hours. IFA intercessors all across America were praying.

At the time Kris said, “It was a blessing to be there onsite praying with other believers from all over the country, plus knowing IFA Intercessors in every state were with us in spirit and in prayer. We truly felt the peace of God and His presence at the Supreme Court. The Court had been well-soaked in prayer, and I felt the ground had been tilled and prepared by God.”

Upon hearing the news of our answered prayer in this case, Kris responded,

“Praise God for this answer to so many intercessors’ prayers! We are seeing an increase in righteousness in our government, but we cannot let up on the intercession. As Isaiah 60 says, thick darkness covers the earth, but God’s glory is increasing! We are part of that spiritual phenomenon.”

We give all glory to God for this amazing decision. Thank you, Jesus. And God bless our intercessors.

“Indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:3-5

Keep Praying

While we rejoice and thank God for the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding a state’s right to ban transgender treatments for minors, we must keep praying.

1. Pray that every state will move towards banning these treatments for minors.

2. Pray that this decision will open the eyes of medical professionals to reexamine their current care for transgender youth and declare puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex change surgeries harmful and dangerous to children… and adults.

3. Pray that the wisdom of this ruling will cause the transgender activists and pro-trans lawyers to realize the folly of trying to biologically change one’s sex by denying God’s sovereignty and destroying healthy bodies.

4. Pray that this ruling is a cultural turning point in our nation and the world, and a restoration of God’s creation covenant of only two sexes, male and female.

5. Pray that our lawmakers in Congress would pass a nationwide law banning transgender treatments on minors. Pray that seven Democratic senators would vote yes to close debate so the bill can proceed to a vote.

6. Pray for the petitioners in this case that their blindness and confusion will be lifted, and they will see God’s truth. Open their hearts to the holy lessons God would have them learn from this case. 

7. Pray for every child who is currently experiencing gender dysphoria and is confused about whether they are male or female. Pray that God will lift this confusion and suffering from their minds and bodies. Ask God to heal them, redeem them, and show them the abundant life waiting for them in the loving embrace of Jesus, within whom their true identity lies.

The wisdom that comes from heaven is, first of all, pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)

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Belinda Brewster analyzes cultural, political, and world events from a biblical worldview. Belinda’s passion is to equip, support, and encourage parents and grandparents who are courageously battling against the spiritual and cultural forces impacting children and grandchildren. Photo Credit: Intercessors for America.