Floor Leader Daniels praises SCOTUS decision restricting gender transition surgeries for children

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Majority Floor Leader Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, on Thursday commented after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law prohibiting health care providers from performing certain gender transition procedures on minors.

The Tennessee law is very similar to Senate Bill 613, which passed the legislature with overwhelming support in 2023. The federal district court allowed the law to go into effect. Oklahoma is now awaiting a decision from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Senator Daniels is the author of SB613. She said she is pleased and not surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision, which states the Tennessee law does not violate the due process clause of the Constitution. The 6–3 decision in U.S. v Skrmetti also affirms that states have the authority to ban minors from accessing prescription drugs or medical procedures as part of a gender transition.

“The court said the state has a legitimate, substantial and compelling interest in protecting minor children from physical and emotional harm,” Daniels said. “Our law protects children and families from making these life-changing, irreversible decisions until a child turns 18. They must be mature enough to understand the risks and long-term effects of gender transition procedures.”

The Supreme Court also acknowledged the limited scientific research on performing surgery or providing puberty blockers to children struggling with their sexual identity.

“These procedures are far from settled science,” Daniels said. “We shouldn’t be experimenting with our children in this manner. These children are in real distress, and in Oklahoma, we are prioritizing their behavioral and mental health care rather than offering surgeries they may regret for the rest of their lives.”

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For more information, contact: Senate Majority Floor Leader Julie Daniels at 405-521-5634 or email Julie.Daniels@oksenate.gov