NNU Condemns Supreme Court Ruling on Tennessee Transgender Care Law

Supreme Court Decision on Tennessee Law Sparks Outcry from National Nurses United

The U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling to uphold Tennessee's 2023 legislation, which limits access to gender transition care for minors, has been met with strong opposition from National Nurses United (NNU), the largest nurses' union in the country. The decision, made by a 6-3 majority, determined that the law was not discriminatory, setting a precedent that may enable similar state-level restrictions on transgender care for adults to survive future legal scrutiny.

NNU has voiced its support for transgender patients, asserting that "care is a human right." The union emphasized that decisions regarding transgender health care should be made collaboratively between patients and their health care providers, rather than dictated by government mandates. Highlighting the critical nature of gender-affirming care for transgender youth, NNU described it as lifesaving.

According to NNU, legislation that obstructs access to medically approved health care, including both gender-affirming and reproductive services, represents a deliberate effort to undermine, rather than enhance, patient well-being. The organization has reaffirmed its commitment to standing alongside transgender members, patients, and the wider transgender community in the fight for gender and health justice.

National Nurses United, with over 225,000 members nationwide, is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States. Its affiliates include the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.