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First Transgender Lawyer to Argue Before Supreme Court Against Tennessee's Transgender Care Ban

Dec 2, 2024, 04:55 PM

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Wednesday in a landmark case challenging Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. This case, United States v. Skrmetti, will address whether the state's law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The ban prohibits health-care providers from facilitating a minor's transition to another sex through puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries. Chase Strangio, an attorney from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), will be the first openly transgender lawyer to argue before the Supreme Court, representing families who argue that the ban leaves their children terrified about the future. Strangio has been a prominent figure in the fight against Republican policies targeting transgender rights. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for similar laws in 26 states that have enacted restrictions on youth access to gender-affirming care, most of which are currently facing legal challenges.