I’m not a politician, but I am a trans person.
Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments of US v Skrmetti. This is the first ever case addressing the constitutionality of bans on medical care for transgender youth. In March 2023, Republican Tennessee Governor, Bill Lee, signed in Senate Bill 1, a bill banning gender-affirming care directly pertaining to trans youth. In April ’23, the ACLU, amongst other institutions, sued the State of Tennessee to block the state’s ban on the grounds of its unconstitutionality. This challenge, along with other challenges to state laws that attempt to ban trans healthcare, have been making their way through the federal court system.
While this specific case is pertaining to Tennessee state law, the outcome could determine, essentially, whether or not it is permissible by law to legislate/treat transgender people differently than non-transgender people. This precedent could lead to sweeping bans of hormone therapy for trans people, legal recognition, and legal protections that non-transgender people enjoy, relative, access to. This doesn’t consider the existing bans on drag performance, military service, public education, bathrooms and so on.
Trans people are no different than the rest of Americans, the rest of global citizens, the rest of YOUR community, if not by their desire to live freely as their true selves. Medical establishments across the globe, including WPATH, the French Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, the Endocrine Society, the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association, and many others, all support trans health care for trans people and trans youth. Unfortunately, there are still numerous attempts to undermine those freedoms we all fundamentally should have access to.
I ask you to help spread word of this attempted violation of trans people’s right to exist, and get involved in whatever way possible. Be it sharing this post, be it contacting your representatives, be it supporting local/national efforts to provide community, help and love to trans and LGBTQ+ people.
I offer this link that will assist you in sending an email to Congress to resist anti-LGBTQ+ extremists and block legislation that could further discriminate against LGBTQ+ people.
I also offer love towards the board of Out on the Lakeshore (OOTL), a community center for the LGBTQ+ community within West Michigan, residing within Holland, MI. This link contains further information about the efforts, programming, and education provided by OOTL.
A4TE (Advocates 4 Trans Equality) is the merging between the National Center for Transgender Equality and Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. This link contains further information about trans people, as well as what issues plague trans people, and the trans community as a whole.
Erin Reed is a trans journalist that reports on anti-LGBTQ+ legislation around the world, helping people become better advocates for their queer family, friends, colleagues, and community. This link directs to her newsletter, including the ‘Post-Election 2024 Anti-Trans Risk Assessment Map’.