The move allows the state to implement a law that could lead to prison sentences of up to 10 years for physicians who provide hormones, puberty blockers, or other gender-affirming treatments to individuals under the age of 18.

While the court's order gives the green light to the statewide ban, it does not impede the ability of the two transgender teenagers who filed the lawsuit against the law from accessing necessary care. The law had been previously blocked in its entirety by a federal judge in Idaho, who believed that such action was necessary to safeguard the well-being of the teenagers, who remain anonymous in court documents.

According to court filings by the teenagers' lawyers, the gender dysphoria experienced by the individuals has significantly improved with the help of puberty blockers and estrogen therapy. The American Civil Liberties Union, representing the teens and their families, expressed disappointment with the Supreme Court's order, stating that it would be detrimental to transgender youth and their families across the state. The ACLU added that the ruling would not only disrupt access to medical care but also create confusion and distress.

In response, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador defended the law, stating that it aimed to protect children from undergoing "life-altering drugs and procedures." Labrador emphasized the importance of providing love, support, and medically sound care grounded in biological reality for those with gender dysphoria. However, major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychiatric Association, support gender-affirming care for youth.

Gender dysphoria is defined by medical professionals as psychological distress experienced by individuals whose gender expression does not align with their gender identity. Despite the widespread medical consensus on the importance of gender-affirming care, at least 23 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, and Texas, have enacted laws that restrict or prohibit such medical interventions for transgender minors. Legal battles surround these laws, with Arkansas' ban already being declared unconstitutional by a federal judge, while Montana's ban remains temporarily suspended.

The Supreme Court's decision in favor of Idaho comes as it considers potential appeals regarding bans on gender-affirming care in Kentucky and Tennessee. As the legal landscape continues to evolve, the rights and well-being of transgender youth remain at the forefront, with ongoing debates across the nation.