Yesterday the Supreme Court published a devastating 6-3 decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti, upholding Tennessee’s hormonal therapy ban for transgender people under age 18. Naturally, we've heard from a lot of people with questions about what happens next.
What is the state of gender-affirming care in South Carolina? How are trans people handling the hate-filled political climate of our state and country right now? And for those of us who want to love and protect our LGBTQ+ neighbors, what are some steps we can take?
We don't have all the answers, but if you'd like to listen to a few people living and fighting through this moment, we have two podcast episodes worth listening to.
On the most recent episode of While I Breathe, the official podcast of the ACLU of South Carolina, we took questions from the general public and posed them to a panel of transgender South Carolinians from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. Our podcast co-host and executive director Jace Woodrum, who is also a trans man, served as the moderator and gave a few insights from his own experiences growing up and working in the Palmetto State.
Episode 13, "Meet Your Trans Neighbors," is out now on all podcast platforms. Just search for "While I Breathe" in your podcast app, or use one of these links:
The national ACLU's podcast, At Liberty, recently featured an interview with Chase Strangio, co-director of the ACLU's LGBT & HIV Project. Chase made history as the first openly trans lawyer to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court in Skrmetti.
On the June 6 episode, Chase joined host W. Kamau Bell as he reflected on the 10th anniversary of the landmark marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges and shared how people can show up for trans youth and their families in this critical moment. Like our own podcast, this was recorded before Wednesday's decision came down, but it gives vital food for thought. You can listen on the ACLU website or on any podcast app.
As Jace put it yesterday in the wake of the Skrmetti decision,“No matter what the Court or politicians say, transgender people are not alone in this fight." He means that. We mean that. Trans people belong here in South Carolina, and we will never stop showing up to defend your rights and autonomy.
