WASHINGTON, D.C., December 4, 2024 – Today the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in U.S. v. Skrmetti, a case challenging Tennessee’s ban on affirming care for transgender youth. It was apparent that there are justices eager to allow any and all discrimination against transgender people, and likewise that Tennessee’s reasoning would extend to prohibitions on care to transgender adults. The liberal justices were incredulous at Tennessee’s claims that its law doesn’t implicate sex and Justice Jackson, in particular, highlighted the parallels between their arguments and those in defense of Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage in Loving v. Virginia.
Alliance for Justice Interim Co-President Keith Thirion issued the following statement:
“Today was a historic day for transgender rights as the Supreme Court heard arguments challenging Tennessee’s discriminatory ban on care for transgender youth, and a transgender man argued before the Court for the first time. What we heard, however, was a disturbing eagerness from some justices to justify discrimination against trans people using commonly debunked claims about transgender care. Denying transgender youth care that is available to their peers clearly violates equal protection. A ruling against transgender people would be a setback for rights recognized by the Court’s own precedents and would jeopardize the health and well-being of youth across the country. It’s telling that Justice Alito cited Dobbs in his desire to have the Court once again interfere with medical decision-making given the deathly consequences from that opinion. Our country needs to move forward, and we deserve judges and justices who understand that the rule of law supersedes their personal biases.”