Today, I reported from the chaotic scene outside the US Supreme Court, where possibly the most important trans civil rights case in this country's history was argued: US v. Skrmetti. It’s a challenge to Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming health care for minors—and, as my colleague Madison Pauly reported, under our conservative Supreme Court, the outcome of this case might set a precedent that threatens trans adults’ health care and civil rights, too.
Hundreds of trans people and allies gathered outside the court in freezing weather to wave rainbow flags and show solidarity as arguments continued throughout the day. I met a trans college student named Ari there, who told me that in their view, “legislation like this only leads to more dead kids.” This is personal for Ari: They grew up in Tennessee, under the very laws in question in today’s case. “Tennessee, being one of the most poorly educated, most under-resourced states in the country, is ignoring its own problems in order to terrorize children and families who just want to support their kids.”
Across the plaza from the pro-trans-rights group was a smaller, more somberly dressed crowd. These were anti-trans activists, hoping for a ruling in favor of Tennessee’s law—and against medical access for kids like Ari’s peers. Among them was Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who announced that she was reintroducing a bill criminalizing any gender-affirming care for minors. This time, she said she would have the support of President-elect Donald Trump. “Those that worship evil are abusing our children, brainwashing our children to believe the lie that comes directly from Satan,” she said.
But for the trans young people I spoke with, this isn’t about Satan or brainwashing or ideology—it’s about survival. “I know that the suicide rates are higher now than they ever have been among trans youth now,” Ari said.
—Sophie Hurwitz
