Welcome to the NewsHour. The Supreme Court is upholding Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

In a 6-3 decision today, the justices ruled that the state's law, which prevents children from accessing treatments like puberty blockers or hormone therapy, did not violate the Constitution's equal protection clause.

In the court's majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote,

The voices in these debates raise serious concerns.

The implications for all are profound.

But he went on to add that the court will leave the issue to the people,

their elected representatives and the democratic process.

Tennessee is one of 27 states that have enacted some form of legislation

limiting gender-affirming care for minors.

And advocates say today's ruling is a huge setback for trans rights across the country.

John Yang has more.

The challenge to the Tennessee law came from three transgender teens, their parents, and a physician.

The ACLU said today's ruling was a devastating loss for transgender people

and creates a class of people who politicians believe deserve health care and a class of people who do not.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Scermetti, who defended the law in court,

said the decision recognizes that the Constitution lets us fulfill society's highest calling,

protecting our kids. PBS News Supreme Court analyst Amy Howe is co-founder of SCOTUS blog,

and Lindsay Dawson is Director of LGBTQ Health Policy at KFF. Welcome to you both. Amy,

let's start with you and talk about what the justices said today. Now, in 2019, this court

said that transgender people had workplace protections against discrimination. Why a different

outcome today? We don't know exactly. And that was a six to three decision as well.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was in the majority today in upholding Tennessee's ban, was the author of that decision.

...