Governor Gianforte Praises U.S. Supreme Court for Protecting America's Children

Previously filed brief in support of Tennessee Youth Protection Act

HELENA, MT - Governor Greg Gianforte today praised the U.S. Supreme Court for ruling in support of Tennessee laws protecting children from permanent, life-altering, and experimental medical and surgical procedures that remain unsettled science. Gov. Gianforte filed an amicus brief with the Court in October.

“Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decisive ruling, siding with states seeking to protect minor children from invasive medical treatments that can permanently alter their healthy, developing bodies,” Gov. Gianforte said. “The Court’s majority opinion includes arguments we made in our brief, pointing out that many European countries have retreated from providing these permanent, life-altering, and experimental medical and surgical procedures. As the Montana Youth Health Protection Act works its way through the judiciary, I hope judges will recognize this decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, uphold the law, and protect children across Montana.”

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear United States v. Skrmetti, a challenge brought by the Biden administration to a Tennessee law which, like Montana’s Youth Health Protection Act, aims to protect children from permanent, life-altering medical and surgical treatments. Once President Donald J. Trump took office, the federal government reversed its position in support of Tennessee.

In 2023, Gov. Gianforte signed into law Senate Bill 99, Montana’s Youth Health Protection Act, as part of his commitment to protect children from invasive medical treatments that can permanently alter their healthy, developing bodies. In February 2025, the governor filed a brief before the Montana Supreme Court defending the “commonsense law” and asking the Court to allow it to go into effect.

In his October 2024 brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, the governor asked the Court to uphold the Tennessee law as it is specifically targeted to protect minor children, writing, “Society has an interest in protecting its children because family is the building block of a free society. This interest is made legally tangible in the recognition of the States’ policy power to protect health and safety of its citizens, which necessarily includes children.”

Gov. Gianforte also emphasized, “Children who struggle with gender identity deserve love, compassion, and respect. They deserve no ridicule, animus, or seclusion. They are entitled to protection, not exploitation. While their young minds and bodies are still developing, they should not be subjected to experimental and permanent, life-altering medical and surgical procedures.”

The governor continued, affirming, “It is within this framework that Tennessee, like Montana and other states, has adopted laws that prohibit certain medical treatments for minors as a response to gender dysphoria. In doing so, they join other more progressive countries, like Norway, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Denmark, which have likewise prohibited or restricted such treatments for children through either law or medical policy.”

The governor concluded, “Montana joins Tennessee (and other states who have similar laws) in its effort to ensure the next generation has the ability to perform great feats, solve thorny problems, create things of great beauty, and persevere through any struggle.”

The governor’s full amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court may be viewed here. The opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court may be viewed here.