Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti, upholding Tennessee’s ban on affirming healthcare for transgender youth. The Court agreed with the Sixth Circuit court that allowed the law to take effect, finding that Tennessee’s SB1 does not draw a sex-based (or a trans status-based) line and thus only necessitates rational scrutiny. That means SB1 can remain in effect.  

‍Vivian Topping, Equality Federation Director of Advocacy & Civic Engagement, released the following statement:

“This is a devastating moment for transgender youth, their families, and the people who care about them. The Supreme Court has failed to protect families’ freedoms, allowing politicians to target transgender youth’s healthcare needs. To transgender youth across this country: know that the majority of us support your right to thrive. This is a painful setback, but we will continue to work with our state and national partners to fight for all families’ ability to get the health care they need, and for transgender people’s rights to control their own futures. The fight for justice takes place not just in courtrooms, but in our communities, in our legislatures, and in the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens and neighbors. We must join together as a collective - across race, class, and gender - to stop extremists from furthering their campaign of hate. This fight is all our fight.”

Equality Federation is an advocacy accelerator rooted in social justice, building power in our network of state-based lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) advocacy organizations. https://www.equalityfederation.org/

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