NEW YORK, NY – Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's unconscionable ban on gender-affirming care for minors in United States v. Skrmetti. Although New Yorkers still have access to gender-affirming care thanks to state-level protections, families in states with these discriminatory and restrictive laws may now be forced to leave their homes and take on costly expenses just to access health care. Every major medical association, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association, supports gender-affirming care. Even the Republican-dominated Utah Legislature released a more than 1,000-page study last month confirming that gender-affirming care is safe and effective.

In response, Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC President Gabriel Lewenstein released the following statement:

“The Supreme Court put vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth, their families, and health care providers serving our community in danger. This cruel decision betrays trans kids and allows politicians to interfere with deeply personal medical decisions that should be made by doctors, patients, and parents – all while ignoring proven science and the medical consensus. We will continue to fight for our community’s right to access health care in New York and across the country as this devastating ruling inflicts harm on families who want to give their kids the health care they need and deserve.”

SDNYC Executive Vice President Melissa Sklarz said:

“The Supreme Court, and other reactionary forces within our nation, continue to look backwards into the past to solve problems. The Supreme Court struggles to embrace the idea that the 14th amendment guarantees equal protection to all. Gender affirming medical access for teenagers can create a more stable life where a person's identity is not questioned over and over again. For those of us that did not transition young know how much effort it takes to keep one safe and protected in our American culture.”