Landmark Trans Rights Case Argued Before Supreme Court Today
(December 4, 2024) - Chase Strangio, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, made history today as the 1st Transgender lawyer to argue In front of Supreme Court. Strangio is representing 3 Trans teens and a doctor challenging the constitutionality of the state of Tennessee’s ban on medical intervention for Trans affirming care. As the country anxiously awaits the Supreme Court decision, the looming take-over of Trump's cabinet brings the likelihood that the AG he approves will ban medical transition on a Federal level to very closely resemble the Tennessee ban thats being argued. Over 100 people waited in line overnight to sit in the gallery seats to hear arguments today. Many of the 30 who were allowed in were paid line-standers waiting on behalf of legal orgs. Both supporters and protestors gathered outside in frigid weather while the case was being argued inside the court. Surgical intervention is not permitted for youth and nearly 2/3 of minors who do receive gender affirming care don't receive medication or hormone blockers as part of their care. Studies also show that very few youth go on to regret their transition and it is regarded by most medical organizations as life-saving care for Trans youth. Arguments started at 10AM with Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar is arguing on against the Tennessee ban. The questioning seemed to clearly demonstrate Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. in support of the ban and Justice Sonia Sotomayor in opposition to it. Justice Elena Kagan seemed to suggest the ban being discriminatory based on sex. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson brought up the parallels between this case and 1967’s Loving v. Virginia that challenged interracial marriage. As arguments ended and crowd outside grew, Strangio and his team came outside joyfully addressing the crowd,
“Our fight for justice did not begin today. It will not end in June, whatever the court decides,” he said. “But here’s the thing — we are in it together. We’re in it together. Our power only grows."
The Supreme Court decision, which will likely be to uphold the state ban should be announced in the summer of 2025.