Pro-Choice Washington is outraged by the Supreme Court’s ruling in the U.S. vs. Skrmetti case. The ruling issued on Tuesday upholds a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors. The decision sets a dangerous precedent. It allows for government overreach into the health care decisions of trans youth that should be made by patients, in consultation with their families and doctors.
This decision has direct bearing on reproductive freedom. It sends the message that youth access to lifesaving health care can be decided by politicians. Gender-affirming care for youth is a convenient political wedge issue for anti-rights politicians, but trans youth are not political pawns. They are children who deserve equal protection, safety, and dignity.
We won’t be sitting this one out. We will fight for the privacy, dignity and self-determination of all individuals when it comes to these very personal issues. Our mission affirms every person’s right, regardless of age, gender expression, or place of origin, to make personal health care decisions that deeply impact their wellbeing and their future.
The slope could not be slipperier. Young transgender people need our support now, and the right to abortion and even birth control will be next. The risk is clear. Pro-Choice Washington will continue to voice our opposition and rally our repro heroes and elected officials to join us in making our voices heard.
To that end, Pro-Choice Washington joined in coalition with our friends at Gender Justice League, ACLU of Washington, GSBA, Lavender Rights Project, QLaw Foundation, Washington Education Association, UFCW, and others in leading Washington Families for Freedom, standing up against two harmful initiatives that would roll back privacy laws and impinge upon the safety of students in our state. Learn more, and join us here.
You can get involved in standing up for trans kids locally by joining our organizers at a Pride celebration near you. We hope to see you out there!
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Pro-Choice Washington is an independent organization solely focused on political and legislative advocacy for reproductive freedom in Washington state. We believe every person deserves equitable access to affordable, unbiased, quality reproductive and abortion healthcare within their community. Our organization is powered by the voices of more than 26,000 members across the state who are speaking up for reproductive rights through advocacy, community engagement, and education.
