In December, an openly transgender attorney will advocate for the rights of the LGBTQI+ community against a Tennessee law before the United States Supreme Court.
Chase Strangio, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), will become the first transgender attorney to argue before the nation’s highest court. The case centers on a controversial law passed by the Republican-controlled state legislature that bans gender-affirming medical care for minors.
Strangio represents a group of transgender individuals challenging the law, which prohibits treatments such as hormone therapy and surgical procedures for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. Medical associations warn that this condition can lead to significant psychological distress and, in some cases, self-harm or suicide. Conversely, conservative supporters of the law argue that these treatments are experimental and potentially harmful to minors.
The case is set to be heard by the Supreme Court on December 4. The law, enacted in 2023, had initially been blocked by a federal judge, but an appellate court overturned that decision, temporarily allowing its enforcement. The federal government, through the Department of Justice, has appealed to the Supreme Court to reinstate the block, arguing that the ban violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by discriminating against transgender youth.
Since joining the ACLU in 2013, Strangio has been involved in numerous legal battles for LGBTQI+ rights, including the landmark ruling by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of Gavin Grimm, a transgender student who successfully asserted his right to use the bathroom corresponding to his gender identity.
Many medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, contend that gender-affirming care is crucial for the mental and physical health of transgender youth, while Republicans claim they aim to protect minors from interventions deemed too risky and premature.
