Statement from the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ
In Response to Supreme Court Decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti
June 18, 2025
Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth is a moral failure and a heartbreaking injustice. This ruling abandons vulnerable children and their families to the political whims of state governments, disregarding the lived realities, medical consensus, and human dignity of transgender youth.
As people of faith committed to justice and radical inclusion, the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ grieves this ruling and the harm it inflicts. We reject the idea that any government has the right to deny life-saving, evidence-based healthcare because of a young person’s gender identity. We reject a theology that would permit such cruelty. And we reject the misuse of power that seeks to control, erase, and endanger trans lives.
This decision is not just a legal setback—it is a spiritual wound. Trans and nonbinary youth are beloved children of God, created in the divine image, worthy of care, protection, and the fullness of life. Every attack on their rights is an attack on the sacredness of creation itself.
We are clear: Our trans and nonbinary siblings are not alone. We will not abandon you. The church, when it is truly living into the Gospel, must stand with the marginalized, defend the oppressed, and speak boldly against unjust laws. We remain steadfast in our commitment to creating sanctuaries of love, safety, and affirmation—especially in states where this care is now banned.
This ruling does not end the fight. It intensifies our call to action.
We call on every Open and Affirming congregation to:
🏳️⚧️ Preach and teach boldly that trans lives are sacred.
🏳️⚧️ Create concrete safety plans for supporting trans youth and families.
🏳️⚧️ Partner with local advocacy groups working on legal, medical, and emotional support.
🏳️⚧️ Proclaim without apology that our faith compels us to resist hatred in all its forms.
To our transgender and nonbinary youth: You are not a political issue. You are not a debate. You are loved, needed, and holy. We see you. We fight for you. We will never stop.
Let justice roll down. Let love rise up. And let the church be known not for silence, but for sacred resistance.
Rev. Derek Terry
Acting Executive Director
Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ