The United States Supreme Court has announced that they will consider arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, the case challenging Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth. Arguments will likely be heard in the fall of 2024, with a decision expected by the spring or early summer of 2025.
An estimated 38% of transgender youth in the United States – and 93% of trans youth in Southern states – live in a state that has passed a ban. Click here for a map of where bans have passed and where they are in effect or on hold pending litigation.
Since March 2023, the Campaign for Southern Equality has supported families of transgender youth through the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project (STYEP), which serves as a resource center for families, helping them access out-of-state healthcare options so their child can continue to receive uninterrupted care, and providing emergency grants of $500 to defray the financial burdens resulting from these bans. Since the launch of the project, CSE has distributed more than $500,000 in direct emergency grants to nearly 1,000 families and individuals across fifteen states. STYEP is currently serving 83% of transgender youth nationwide who live in a state with a ban. The organization proudly collaborates with partner organizations in every state to make this program possible – you can see all of these partners here.
A report from the Campaign for Southern Equality, “How Far? The Extreme Travel Burden of Bans on Medically Necessary Care for Transgender Youth,” details the many ways that accessing gender-affirming care has become increasingly difficult for families living in states with bans.
Allison Scott (she/her pronouns), Director of Impact & Innovation at the Campaign for Southern Equality, said:
“This is a high-stakes moment for transgender youth and their families, and we’re glad that trans youth and their families will have their day in court to make the case that the bans are unconstitutional, interfere with private medical decisions, and severely harm families. Everyone who needs gender-affirming care should be able to access it affordably, and close to home, and our team will never stop working to make that happen.”
Since Tennessee’s ban passed in March 2023, the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project, led in Tennessee by the Campaign for Southern Equality in partnership with inclusion tennessee and OUTMemphis, has provided rapid response support to families. Tennessee families can access support at www.southernequality.org/TNResources. Families of transgender youth across 15 states who need support can learn more at www.southernequality.org/styep.
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