The Supreme Court heard arguments today in a landmark case on transgender rights.

The justices are weighing whether a Tennessee law barring gender-affirming care for minors

violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Roughly 300,000 young people identify as transgender in this country.

And a decision in this case would have major implications for them, their families, and medical

providers.

Laura Barone Lopez reports.

Eli Givens has been camping outside the Supreme Court since late last night.

Hi y'all.

It's Eli reporting in from the Supreme Court.

Joined by other activists and advocates, Givens is urging the conservative-dominated court

to protect the rights of transgender youth like themselves.

Many kids just like me have had such a difficult time making it to 18. Many of us will not make it to 18. Inside the court,

justices heard arguments in the most significant trans rights case to ever reach the bench.

The question at the heart of today's arguments, whether a Tennessee law banning

gender-affirming care for transgender people younger than 18, like puberty blockers, hormone

treatments, and surgery, violates the equal protection clause under the 14th Amendment. The Tennessee law

also allows people to take legal action against medical providers.

Since 2021, 26 states, including Tennessee, have banned or restricted access to gender-affirming health care for minors,

a wave of laws enacted by Republicans that affect roughly 40 percent of the nation's trans youth. The only genders recognized by the United States government are male and female, and they are assigned at birth.

Now, after an election in which Donald Trump and Republicans promised to roll back protections for transgender Americans,

the Supreme Court is waiting into the issue.

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