Trans Youth Statement on U.S. v. Skrmetti Oral Arguments

On December 4, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in U.S. v. Skrmetti, a landmark case challenging Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Gender-affirming care refers to the range of treatments to support and affirm a person’s gender identity, which includes hormone replacement therapy, fertility preservation and more. 24 states, including Tennessee, have banned gender-affirming care for transgender youth since 2021. Gender-affirming care and hormone therapy for transgender, non-binary and gender-expansive youth are proven to be lifesaving medical treatments.

In response, Victor Ultra Omni, an URGE Our Folks fellow, said:

“The government has no right to deny me or any transgender people the health care they need, just as they have no right to tell someone if, when, or how they start a family.

Young people are capable of making decisions about their bodies and deserve autonomy and self-determination. Trans youth especially deserve love, support, and the right to live as themselves. Families should be able to support their children and provide them with the care they need safely and with dignity—and without fear of arrest, jail or investigation. We envision a future where gender-affirming health care is accessible, affordable, and free from stigma or fear: where everyone is supported in getting the care they want, no matter who they are, where they live, or where they come from.

Today I’m asking our legislators to work toward creating policies that help us thrive and not to punish us for trying to live our lives and make decisions the best we can. We need policies that support people’s whole lives, including better access to hospitals and clinics, health care provided by people our communities trust and insurance that covers our real needs.”