Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! Today's a big one.
ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio makes history at the Supreme Court
It’s a big day; I already cried over my morning coffee.
For the first time, an out transgender person—ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio—will present oral argument before the Supreme Court. Chase and his co-counsel are making the case in United States v. Skrmetti that banning gender-affirming health care for transgender teens violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Mark December 4, 2024 in the books.
If you subscribe to this newsletter, I assume you have, at the very least, an open heart to the lives of transgender Americans. And also, I know you have questions. Maybe even some real concerns. The far-right has done a tremendous job of stoking fear over a small group of people. Debates over hormones and sports might seem isolated, but they come from the same political forces that overturned Roe—the fight for transgender rights is the fight for everyone’s bodily autonomy.
I urge you to take five minutes to read Chase’s guest essay, published yesterday in NYT Opinion: May It Please the Court: Trans Health Saved My Life (gift link).
This case has implications far beyond the courtroom. Will our sex assigned at birth dictate how we can live and identify? Must biology be destiny? Or will the court see that this argument over health care for transgender people is the next phase in a long struggle to shed ourselves of constraining sex stereotypes?
Pressing publish just minutes before the court goes into session.
Three ways to follow along today:
Follow Washington Post’s live coverage featuring staff reporter Casey Parks
Join journalist Erin Reed’s chat thread on Substack (and support her by subscribing!)
xx Kyle
