U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Tennessee Law Protecting Children From Sex-Change Procedures

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Little Rock, Ark. — On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision upholding a Tennessee law that prohibits medical professionals from performing sex-change procedures on children or giving them puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.

Family Council President Jerry Cox issued a statement, saying, “This is a victory for families and children everywhere. The court’s decision points out there are ‘fierce scientific and policy debates’ about performing sex-change surgeries on kids or giving them puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. In the past five years, public health experts in Europe and America have begun sounding the alarm about these procedures. The U.S. Supreme Court is doing the right thing by letting Tennessee protect children.”

Cox pointed out that Arkansas was the first state in the nation to pass a law protecting children from sex-change procedures. “In 2021, the Arkansas Legislature overwhelmingly passed the Save Adolescents From Experimentation Act. This good law protects children in Arkansas from puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex-change surgeries. Since then, roughly half the states in America have passed laws similar to the SAFE Act. Unfortunately, the SAFE Act has been tied up in court since 2021. Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Tennessee’s version of the SAFE Act, we believe Arkansas will be free to protect children from these procedures as well.”

Cox praised Arkansas’ lawmakers and attorney general for passing and defending the SAFE Act. “Arkansas’ lawmakers stood up for children by passing the SAFE Act in 2021. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has worked tirelessly to defend the SAFE Act in court. Since 2021, scientific research has continued to show Arkansas was right to pass a law protecting children from sex-change procedures. Public opinion polling shows Arkansans support laws like the SAFE Act. Today’s supreme court victory means Arkansas will be able to protect children. That is something to celebrate.”

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Corporate “Pride” Fizzles in 2025

News outlets report that major corporations are more subdued when it comes to celebrating LGBT “pride” this year.

We wrote last week about how retailer Target has reduced its pro-LGBT merchandise — and they are not alone. According to CNN, “many retail chains and brands are going quiet” when it comes to LGBT “pride.” Some say nearly 40% of companies are scaling back their pro-LGBT marketing this month.

Ironically, many corporate pundits are blaming President Trump and the GOP for businesses opting out of “pride month” this year. Some claim the president is “weaponizing” federal agencies to go after pro-LGBT businesses. The truth is public backlash against pro-LGBT pandering has been happening for years, and businesses are finally catching on.

Back in 2022, Disney encountered pushback from families who did not appreciate the entertainment giant force-feeding liberal messages to moviegoers.

In 2023, Bud Light singlehandedly ousted itself as the best-selling beer in America after a pro-LGBT marketing disaster. Two years later, there is evidence that the Bud Light brand has never fully recovered.

Last year Target began to quietly reduce its pride-themed merchandise after experiencing significant pushback from customers in 2023.

Last July, John Deere — the world’s largest seller of farm equipment — announced it was moving away from pro-LGBT and pro-DEI activity. Not long after that, companies like Lowe’s and Walmart did the same.

The list goes on.

As we keep saying, it’s troubling when multimillion dollar corporations use their wealth and influence to promote radical LGBT ideologies — but it’s encouraging to see consumers are still willing to vote with their feet by choosing not to support that agenda.

As some have said, it proves that the “silent majority” is real when it comes to the transgender issue.

Maybe Corporate America is finally getting the picture.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Nebraska Passes Law Similar to Arkansas’ Protecting Women’s Sports

On May 29, Nebraska’s legislature passed L.B. 89 protecting fairness in women’s sports. The law is similar to a measure Arkansas passed in 2021. It generally prevents biological males from competing against girls in women’s athletics at school.

Our friends at The Washington Stand write,

Since 2008, SheWon.org has catalogued 2,242 female athletes losing out on 3,126 medals to males in 1,311 competitions in 46 sports. The website has tracked almost 900 first place finishes in women’s competitions that have been claimed by males who identify as transgender.

As the trend of males being allowed to compete against females has grown, the number of injuries sustained by women and girls while competing against males has also grown accordingly. Recent examples include a field hockey player and multiple basketball players in Massachusetts, a volleyball player in North Carolina, dozens of players in an Australian soccer league, and more.

We have written repeatedly about how women’s athletics is in jeopardy.

Female swimmerspowerlifterscyclistssprintersvolleyball players, and others have seen their sports radically changed by men who claim to be women.

Letting men compete in women’s sports is unfair and reverses more than 50 years of advancements for women. In some cases, as The Washington Stand notes, it can even be dangerous.

That’s why it is so important that Arkansas passed Act 461 in 2021 to prevent male athletes from competing against girls in women’s athletics at school.

This good law was one of the first of its kind in the nation. To date, some 29 states have passed similar measures protecting fairness in women’s sports.

It’s also worth noting that pollsters at Gallup have found most Americans agree that athletes should compete according to their biological sex — not their gender identity.

We appreciate our lawmakers who work hard to protect fairness in women’s sports both in Arkansas and across the country.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.