The Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v. Skrmetti — which upheld Tennessee’s ban on chemical and surgical gender transitions for minors — was major news.
But while legacy media outlets rushed to cover the decision Wednesday, their coverage belied the fact that their position on the matter was clearly biased.
Despite the fact that the majority of Americans, regardless of political party, believe children should not be subject to such irreversible procedures, mainstream media reporters still referred to the High Court’s ruling as a “major setback” or a “devastating loss.”
The Washington Post attempted to spin the issue as “polarizing national issue the Trump administration has seized on” — in spite of overwhelming support for reserving gender transition for adults — and claimed the 6-3 decision was the product of a “divided court.”
Breaking news: A divided Supreme Court cleared the way for states to ban certain gender transition treatments for minors, a polarizing national issue the Trump administration has seized on in initiatives targeting transgender rights. https://t.co/er1uhGQE0W
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 18, 2025
Critics pointed out that The Washington Post had landed a bit wide of the mark.
“Polarizing” https://t.co/gdm0syKbnt pic.twitter.com/vaVWR7wl5x
— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) June 18, 2025
It’s the opposite of polarizing—it’s a unifying issue (according to WaPo’s own polling).
These numbers go up when asked about surgeries, by the way. https://t.co/l2P0FpZIPK pic.twitter.com/yor0CmPXl4
— Cody Sargent (@codydsargent) June 18, 2025
The New York Times, after leading with the breaking news, followed with a second paragraph that gave away the game: “The decision, which came amid the Trump administration’s fierce assaults on transgender rights, was a bitter setback for their proponents …”
And from The Associated Press? “The Supreme Court upholds a Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors in a huge setback for transgender rights.”
BREAKING: The Supreme Court upholds a Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors in a huge setback for transgender rights. https://t.co/moVnfy3auH
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 18, 2025
“This headline is an opinion,” Michelle Tafoya noted.
This headline is an opinion: https://t.co/GpZzYPM92g
— Michele Tafoya (@Michele_Tafoya) June 18, 2025
“Ban on child abuse. The phrase you’re looking for is child abuse,” Red State’s Bonchie posted.
Ban on child abuse. The phrase you’re looking for is child abuse. https://t.co/iA7XCfGMQq
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) June 18, 2025
“The AP was hoping for more child abuse, not less. Tough day for them,” Seth Dillon added.
The AP was hoping for more child abuse, not less. Tough day for them. https://t.co/xFq6cEebhw
— Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) June 18, 2025
NBC News offered similar fare, publishing a piece declaring that the “Supreme Court upholds a Tennessee law restricting gender transition care for minors, delivering a major blow to transgender rights.”
BREAKING: Supreme Court upholds a Tennessee law restricting gender transition care for minors, delivering a major blow to transgender rights. https://t.co/QiUjyPfDlQ
— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 18, 2025
“This is activist commentary, to be clear. However, it’s also very misleading. Medically interfering with the physical development of children for an artificial, hypothetical future outcome based on gender identity is in no way connected to, ‘transgender rights,’” Chad Felix Greene posted.
This is activist commentary, to be clear.
However, it’s also very misleading. Medically interfering with the physical development of children for an artificial, hypothetical future outcome based on gender identity is in no way connected to, ‘transgender rights.’ https://t.co/fBwtND1eKj
— Chad Felix Greene 🇮🇱 (@chadfelixg) June 18, 2025
Even Scientific American lamented the decision in the second paragraph of coverage — under the header “Why this matters” — writing, “The ruling is a major blow to transgender Americans’ rights and protections, which have been under attack at the state and federal level.”
