Why Skrmetti Matters
Outside of Tennessee, outside of states with laws against Gender Affirming Care, the ruling still matters.
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On the surface, it could be easy to write off the Skrmetti Supreme Court decision because it’s about a Tennessee state law or if you’re located in a sanctuary state, but Supreme Court decisions are larger than just one state and set a precedent and tone for the country.
Protests are being planned nationwide for Saturday to come together, as a country, against the decision and the implications of it.
The Supreme Court decision could encourage state governments to increase legislation of healthcare rights based on personal beliefs about certain demographics, ignoring statistics and medical guidance. By saying that their decision is based on diagnosis and not identity, they open the door to further interference between medical providers and their patients.
For trans youth and their support systems, this decision is a blow. By allowing states to intercede between doctors and their patients, families who are seeking to follow legitimate, researched medical guidance are forced to move in order to receive care. Moving is a privilege that many families cannot afford, leaving their children without lifesaving medical care.
Gender Affirming Care is lifesaving. Rates of suicide ideation drop by almost 60% with access to Gender Affirming Care (source). Children receiving Gender Affirming Care is actually quite rare with less than 1 in 1000 receiving that care including hormones (source) and the decision to provide that care is often only made after extensive therapy, medical discussion, and coordination with the family.
Luckily, the Supreme Court decision does not impose restrictions on Gender Affirming Care across the country, meaning that sanctuary states can still protect trans youth in their states. Illinois has affirmed its commitment to protecting trans youth.
In conservative states, this does open the door to more restrictions including possible future restrictions to Gender Affirming Care for adults as well (source).
Despite everything, it is important to remember that there are people and organizations out there working to protect trans youth. There are organizations partnering families from states restricting care who want to move with families in sanctuary states. ACLU and Lambda Legal are continuing to file lawsuits against discriminatory laws, executive orders, and organizations. Trans Up Front shows up for trans young people and their support systems in Illinois, advocating in schools, healthcare, legal, workplace, organization settings, and anywhere else needed.
