ASBURY PARK, NJ — Today, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld Tennessee’s discriminatory ban on transition-related healthcare for youth. The 6-3 decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti means state legislatures can continue to deny medically necessary healthcare to young people.
The protections New Jersey has in place, including a “safe haven” executive order, mean this ruling will not directly impact healthcare for young trans people in the Garden State. However, many of these protections are not codified into law, and today’s decision makes it clear that the legislature must act immediately to protect and expand access to trans healthcare.
“I began medically transitioning as a minor. It was not easy. There were many hoops to jump through before I could even be referred out to any sort of specialist,” said Dominic G. (he/him), a young trans person from New Jersey. “There were many conversations between my parents, doctors, and therapist in order to ensure it was the right decision. And it absolutely was. I remember finally feeling like I was myself.”
“Transitioning is an act of self-love, not selfishness or irrationality. It saved my life. More than that, it made my life worth living. All kids deserve to live a life that they can be happy about. All kids deserve the chance to be themselves,” he said.
“I was a trans kid and am now a trans adult. I am so lucky to have been able to begin my transition as a minor and to have supportive doctors, teachers, friends, and family — but it should not be up to luck. Transgender people, including youth, deserve access to the same dignities as everyone else, including our life-saving healthcare. We deserve to live our lives authentically and to the fullest.”
“Legislators make laws like the one disputed in U.S. v. Skrmetti under the guise of protecting children,” said Eddi R. (she/her), another young trans person from New Jersey. “If this were their true desire, they would see the number of people positively affected by gender affirming care, and recognize the damage this decision will create not only to the children themselves but also to our collective perception of transgender individuals. To all my transgender and non-gender-conforming siblings, no decision can invalidate your reality. Stand up for yourself, because somebody has to.”
“This decision represents a betrayal and violation of our most fundamental values: equality, bodily autonomy, and the right to live freely and authentically,” said Brielle Winslow-Majette (she/her), Deputy Director at Garden State Equality. “Denying trans youth the right to access medically necessary healthcare is not only cruel, it is life-threatening. When young people are supported in their identities, they thrive. This decision must be a message to New Jerseyans, especially our allies, to take action to demand that the Reproductive Freedom & Health Equality Bill Package pass. We must show our transgender youth they are not alone in this fight and their lives are not up for debate. We must demand that our trans siblings, especially trans youth, have the right to live. We must demand to see our trans youth live out their right to become elders.”
“It’s devastating to see our highest court say that the medical care I needed as an adolescent, and what saved my life as an adult, isn’t worth serious review. It is moral bankruptcy repackaged as medical caution,” said Aisling MacDonald (she/her), Project Manager and Trainer for Trans Resiliency at Garden State Equality. “In the midst of the Supreme Court manufacturing legal permission to cause further harm, now is the time for New Jersey to pass the Reproductive Freedom & Health Equity Bill Package, fight disinformation, and affirm that trans youth deserve the same inalienable human rights as everyone else. And you are not alone in this fight. Care is the legacy of trans people, and we will continue standing with you. They will not succeed in politicizing our existence. Trans people have always existed, we are not going anywhere.”
“The Skrmetti decision sends a painful message to trans people, especially trans youth, that their rights and well-being are up for debate. But let us be clear: we will never stop fighting for our communities,” said Damien Alan Lopez (he/they), Director of Trans Resiliency at Garden State Equality. “Trans people deserve care, dignity, and the freedom to live as their full, authentic selves. This decision is a setback, but it’s not the end. We’re in this together, and we’ll keep showing up—with love, with courage, and with everything we’ve got.”
“Today, trans youth and their families in New Jersey—who have long found safety in our state—are learning the painful news that the highest court in the nation has turned its back on them,” said Christian Fuscarino (he/him), Executive Director of Garden State Equality. “While New Jersey has stood as a beacon of protection, the Supreme Court’s decision sends a chilling message that extremist attacks on trans youth are not only tolerated but legally permissible in much of the country. We need our lawmakers to meet this moment. We need our legislature to boldly and publicly stand with families of transgender youth by passing the Reproductive Freedom & Health Equity Bill Package.”
