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US Supreme Court sets Dec. 4 oral arguments in challenge to transgender care ban for minors
A crowd protesting anti-transgender legislation staged a “die in” on the Kentucky Capitol grounds on March 29, 2023. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)
The U.S Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments on Dec. 4 in a challenge to state restrictions on gender-affirming medical care that has implications for Kentucky.
US Supreme Court review of gender-affirming care for youth could impact Kentucky law
The court agreed in June to take the appeal filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and others on behalf of Samantha and Brian Williams and their 15-year-old transgender child, two anonymous plaintiff families and Memphis physician Dr. Susan Lacy.
The Biden administration also asked the Supreme Court to review the law.
The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals had upheld bans enacted in Tennessee and Kentucky ending access to puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries for transgender minors. The laws were enacted by Republican-controlled legislatures in 2023.
In June, ACLU-KY Legal Director Corey Shapiro said, “Our clients and their doctors simply want to provide the best medical care that is necessary for these amazing youth. We remain optimistic that the Supreme Court will agree and ultimately strike down these bans.”
The Trevor Project, which aims to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, has trained counselors available around the clock. Reach them at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/, or by texting START to 678678.
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Sarah Ladd
Sarah Ladd is a Louisville-based journalist from West Kentucky who's covered everything from crime to higher education. She spent nearly two years on the metro breaking news desk at The Courier Journal. In 2020, she started reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic and has covered health ever since. As the Kentucky Lantern's health reporter, she focuses on mental health, LGBTQ+ issues, children's welfare, COVID-19 and more.
Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
