Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court granted an emergency stay request in Poe v. Labrador, siding with Idaho’s ultraconservative Legislature and allowing the state’s ban on transgender medical care for minors to go into effect for the first time since the case began more than two years ago. Although the stay will remain until litigation is resolved, it does not apply to the families who brought the lawsuit, as their children are in the process of receiving transgender medical care.
In response to the Supreme Court's decision, Cait Smith, director of LGBTQI+ Policy at the Center for American Progress, expressed her concerns, stating, "Idaho’s ban on transgender medical care is one of the most extreme in the country because it includes felony charges for medical providers. By siding with the state, the justices told transgender youth in Idaho and beyond that waging a culture war is more important than their health—and that decades of research into gender-affirming care does not matter. Transgender medical care is necessary and lifesaving. Transgender youth, like everyone else, deserve access to the care they need."
Smith highlighted the importance of transgender medical care by referencing a 2022 study, saying, "A 2022 study found that transgender youth ages 13–20 who were able to access care saw 60 percent lower odds of moderate to severe depression and 73 percent lower odds of self-harm or suicidal thoughts." She emphasized that decisions regarding medical needs should be made by doctors and families, not activist judges.
The Supreme Court's decision has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the well-being of transgender youth in Idaho and beyond. The implications of this ruling are significant, as it sets a precedent that could impact the access to essential medical care for transgender individuals.
For more information or to speak with an expert on this matter, please contact Jasmine Razeghi at [email protected]
