WASHINGTON, D.C., June 18, 2025—Brent Leatherwood, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, celebrates the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling on the case, United States v. Skrmetti, maintaining that Tennessee’s ban of radical transgender procedures on children is constitutional.
“When a child needs to be protected, states have a right to step in with common sense laws to save that child from harm,” said Leatherwood. “That is the essence of today’s landmark ruling from the Supreme Court, and it aligns with a view long held by Southern Baptists. The protection of children from harmful transgender surgeries and interventions is not only an entirely appropriate action by the state, it is desperately needed in a culture that believes a person’s identity can be divorced from biological realities simply on a whim. Southern Baptists have been unequivocally clear about the dangers of ‘gender transition’ procedures and interventions on minors and the devastating effects they have on children. This case was a top priority for the ERLC before the court, and we were honored to partner with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board to file a strong brief supporting it.”
The ERLC originated a brief, ensuring it was authored by a Southern Baptist constitutional lawyer, in order to provide the justices with a compelling legal argument built upon the framework of biblical convictions regarding gender and sexuality. The brief defended against medical experimentation on children, defended the historic and biological definition of sex, and affirmed the state’s action as both constitutional and necessary.
In its ruling, the court determined that the Tennessee law was not subject to heightened scrutiny because the law addresses the age of an individual rather than sexuality. The court also upheld the rational basis of the Tennessee law, which emphasized that these medical procedures may lead to permanent consequences minors cannot fully grasp.
The Tennessean published an op-ed authored by Leatherwood on Dec. 4, 2024, about the ERLC’s brief to stop “gender transition” surgeries for children. Leatherwood also co-wrote an opinion piece on April 17 with Randy Davis, the executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, published by Christian Post on the importance of protecting children from harmful gender ideology.
Learn more on the ERLC’s work on this case at erlc.com/scotus.
