Appeals Court Upholds Tennessee Birth Certificate Policy

A divided federal appeals court upheld Tennessee's ban on changing the sex listed on birth certificates for transgender individuals, stating there is no fundamental right to alter gender identity information. The ruling rejected claims that the policy violated due process and equal protection rights. The decision emphasized state discretion in defining record-keeping terms, with the attorney general welcoming the outcome. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear a case challenging Tennessee's law prohibiting gender-transition procedures for minors, which has implications for similar bans in other states.