For Immediate Release
June 13, 2024
Contact:
K Richardson, Communications Manager, [email protected]
Washington D.C.
The Transgender Law Center takes a moment to celebrate the Supreme Court’s opinion in FDA v Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine for its support to ensuring access to mifepristone to people of all genders across this country. We support our reproductive justice partners and advocates who have been working to secure access and autonomy in an increasingly divisive world where politically motivated attacks on the bodily autonomy of all people are at an all-time high.
In today’s unanimous decision by the Supreme Court, Justices have made it possible for safe and effective drugs, like mifepristone, to be available for people across the U.S.
This case, which was brought to the court by dark money-funded, far-right ideological groups, originated from a lawless decision by an anti-abortion, Trump-appointed district judge. Often funded by dark money groups, the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine sought to overturn decisions made by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to increase access to mifepristone. This drug is used for almost two-thirds of all U.S. abortion services and has been available for over 20 years. Without access to mifepristone as one of the necessary medications for safe abortion care, the Court would risk the lives and safety of pregnant people across this country, particularly those who have historically been marginalized by deadly and restrictive state laws.
This Supreme Court decision comes at a time of unprecedented attacks on transgender care and reproductive justice. Communities are managing an ongoing pandemic, increased anti-trans violence, and lack of accessible and affordable care. Transgender people experience disproportionate amounts of discrimination when accessing medical care, and decisions like this highlight what little guardrails people have to receive the life-saving care they need. And while we don’t depend on the Courts to preserve our rights, we do need a reminder that there is still protection and support for our most marginalized people.
“Today, we pause and celebrate this decision alongside our movement partners,” said Shelby Chestnut, Executive Director of Transgender Law Center. “Whether we’re fighting for safe and affirming care or our rights to make our own decisions about our bodies, we must remember that our power lies in our collective response to oppressed people everywhere. Let us take this moment to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of advocates and continue to show up for all people who seek abortion care.”
“The truth is that while there is access to reproductive care, that is not the reality for many Black, Indigenous, disabled people,” said Mickaela Bradford, Co-Director of Policy and Programs at Transgender Law Center. “The threats of criminalization for access to mifepristone and even gender-affirming care is real for BIPOC trans people across this country. People risk financial stability and safety to seek our abortion services, with people in rural areas traveling across state lines for this life-saving care. We must continue to work diligently to ensure that everyone across races, genders, and locations can access the care we deserve to exercise our bodily autonomy.”
“Today’s Supreme Court’s decision to rule in favor of the Food and Drug Administration based on standing reminds us that justice isn’t simply about the merits of a case, but who has the right to bring cases like this to the court’s attention, said Heron Greenesmith, Deputy Director of Policy. “While we will have access to this safe and effective drug, we’ll continue to push for laws that do not restrict our ability to make our own medical decisions but create a world where our autonomy is respected and honored.”
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