(Oakland, CA) — Today, six transgender youth from across the United States shared their personal stories with the Supreme Court through an amicus brief filed by the Transgender Law Center (TLC) and Akerman LLP in the case of U.S. v. Skrmetti. This pivotal case challenges Tennessee’s ban on medically necessary gender-affirming care for transgender individuals under 18.
The brief, supported by GSA Network, the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT), Camp Lilac, PFLAG, We Are Family, and TransFamily Support Services, highlights the experiences of these young leaders, aged 12 to 18, from Texas, South Carolina, Ohio, and Montana. They reveal how their states’ bans have disrupted their medical care and what it feels like to be targeted by their governments.
“As these young folks’ stories make clear, no matter where you’re from, what your family looks like, or how much money you have, everyone deserves to be empowered to make the healthcare decisions that are right for them,” said Shawn Meerkamper, TLC’s managing attorney.
Katie Lopez, a high school freshman from North Texas, shared, “It’s not fair. People who know nothing about me think there’s something wrong with me. You don’t know me, so why do you get to make decisions for me?”
Leo Walsh, an 18-year-old college student from Ohio and a counselor at Camp Lilac, emphasized that trans youth “are more than their identity” and need to be “allowed to be kids and teenagers, and these laws are taking that chance away from them.”
As these stories illustrate, Tennessee’s law is part of a broader trend, with 26 states now banning medical care for trans youths, a reflection of the ongoing legislative assault aimed at excluding, demeaning, and silencing transgender youth nationwide.
The Supreme Court is set to hear U.S. v. Skrmetti this fall, with a decision expected in the summer of 2025.
Download the Amicus Brief Filed in U.S. v. Skrmetti (PDF, 12.2MB).