Gun Safety Groups Urge SCOTUS To Strike Down Ban on Gender-Affirming Medical Care in Skrmetti v. U.S

Brady, GIFFORDS Law Center, Team ENOUGH, and March for Our Lives Highlight Disproportionate Impact of Gun Violence on Transgender Youth.

WASHINGTON, September 3, 2024 — Today, in a joint amicus brief in United States v. Skrmetti, GIFFORDS Law Center, Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Team ENOUGH, and March For Our Lives urged the United States Supreme Court to strike down a Tennessee law that makes it unlawful for doctors to prescribe puberty blockers or hormones as part of gender-affirming medical care, even when individual patients, their parents, and their healthcare providers agree that such care is medically necessary.

“This legislation is an egregious violation of LGBTQ+ rights, an affront to the mental and physical wellbeing of transgender youth, and a reckless act that will increase the risk of gun violence for young people in Tennessee.

“Creating the conditions that foster dignity, freedom, and mental well-being for young people can reduce the risk of gun violence just as background checks, extreme risk laws, and other gun safety measures do. That’s why Brady and our Team ENOUGH youth activists are adding our voices to this life and death issue. We are committed to addressing gun violence with a public health approach – allowing everyone to get the care they need and deserve. SCOTUS must strike down this ban and put the rights, health, and lives of transgender youth first,” said Kris Brown, President of Brady.

“Transgender youth should be able to access medically necessary care, which includes gender-affirming care. Laws that deny gender-affirming medical care endanger youth and make them more susceptible to gun violence and suicide. Forty percent of transgender people report having attempted suicide, and we know with firearms in the mix, suicide attempts are significantly more fatal. We urge the Supreme Court to strike down these dangerous bans of gender-affirming medical care and put the lives of trans youth first,” said Billy Clark, Senior Litigation Attorney for GIFFORDS Law Center.

“The Tennessee law, known as SB1, is a transphobic and deadly law that must be overturned. Transgender youth have the right to access essential medical treatments, including gender-affirming care. Denying them this care is not only unconstitutional, but jeopardizes their health and heightens the risks they face, including increased exposure to gun violence and a higher likelihood of suicide. It is imperative that the Supreme Court overturns these harmful bans on gender-affirming care and prioritizes the well-being of trans youth. March for Our Lives won’t stop fighting until trans youth, like all people, can live safe, healthy, and authentic lives in a world free from gun violence,” said Yvin Shin, Judicial Associate at March For Our Lives.