Supreme Court Declines to Hear Appeal on Trans Teen Custody Case

The case highlights the complex intersection of parental rights, religious beliefs, and child welfare.

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Indiana parents who lost custody of their transgender teen, emphasizing the ongoing debate over gender identity and parental rights.
Indiana officials argued the custody loss was due to the necessity of treating the teen's severe eating disorder, not the parents' religious beliefs.
The parents, self-described devout Christians, argued that government actions infringed upon their religious beliefs and parental rights.
The case began in 2021 after reports of abuse related to the teen's transgender identity, leading to the teen's removal from the parents' custody.
The Indiana Court of Appeals sided with the state, asserting that parental rights do not extend to actions causing harm to the child.