Washington, D.C. — In response to oral arguments today at the Supreme Court in United States v. Skrmetti, a case challenging Tennessee’s categorical ban on health care for transgender youth, American Atheists president Nick Fish released the following statement: Tennessee’s ban on gender affirming care is an extreme and dangerous assault on the wellbeing — and lives — of trans young people. Unfortunately, this law is just one in the tidal wave of legislation targeting trans Americans across our nation, largely driven by the Christian nationalist movement and its enablers. Denying anyone access to health care simply because of their LGBTQ status is unconstitutional discrimination, period. That’s exactly what this law does. If the Supreme Court has even a modicum of consistency or concern for their own decision in Bostock just four years ago, they should strike down Tennessee’s S.B. 1. Beyond what should be a straightforward legal question is this simple fact: singling out trans young people who simply want to live their lives as their authentic selves, free from discrimination, is wrong. Substituting the medical judgment of doctors and decision making of families with edicts from the state banning safe, effective, and life-saving health care is wrong. And weaponizing fear, misunderstanding, animus, and outright lies to threaten the very existence of an already marginalized minority as a cynical political ploy is wrong. American Atheists will continue to stand with our trans members, supporters, family, and loved ones in the face of these attacks.
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