OUTMemphis' response to the Disheartening Supreme Court Decision: US v. Skrmetti

On June 18, 2025 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth—a law that puts a politician’s right to be cruel above what families and doctors decide.

OUTMemphis and ACLU Team on the steps of the SCOTUS on Dec 4, 2024

But this ruling, U.S. v. Skrmetti, reaches beyond trans youth in Tennessee and has chilling implications for every American. If politicians are allowed to sort access to health care based on demographics, anyone can become a target. Fascism uses cruelty as a strategy, whether it’s making life hard for queer youth or separating families based on immigration status. Transgender youth and their families want to live their lives in dignity and freedom. The LGBTQ+ community has survived political persecution before, and we’re not going anywhere.

OUTMemphis has been active in the fight against this bill from the very beginning. Our participants, staff, and volunteer leadership fought this bill when it was in committee over two years ago—with one of our board members bringing the original case to the court as a lead attorney. We launched PRYSM Care Navigation and additional services for trans teens in direct response to this bill.

We want to speak directly to affected young people and say:

OUTMemphis will continue to provide support every way possible, any time a family needs us. We’re committed to you, and we won’t let anyone stop us.