The U.S. Supreme Court backed a Republican-backed ban in Tennessee on gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors on Wednesday in a setback for transgender rights that could bolster efforts by states to defend other measures targeting transgender people.

The court split 6-3 along ideological lines on a case from Tennessee. About two dozen states have similar bans in place.

"[The Court] authorizes, without second thought, untold harm to transgender children," Justice Sotomayor wrote in a dissent.