The Supreme Court has thrown out appellate rulings in favor of transgender people in four states following the justices' recent decision upholding a Tennessee ban on certain medical treatment for transgender youths. But the justices took no action Monday in cases from Arizona, Idaho and West Virginia involving the participation of transgender students on school sports teams. The court could say by Thursday whether it'll take up the issue in its next term. The high court ordered appellate judges to reexamine cases from Idaho, North Carolina, Oklahoma and West Virginia involving access to medical care and birth certificates. Those rulings all found violations of the Constitution's equal protection clause, the legal question raised in the Tennessee case.
Election victories for Donald Trump and other candidates whose campaigns demeaned transgender people reinforced a widespread backlash against trans rights. For America's LGBTQ-rights movement, it adds up to one of the most sustained setbacks in its history. For transgender Americans, it's personal. There is palpable fear of potential Trump administration steps to further marginalize them. But there is also a spirit of resilience. Anti-trans momentum has been growing for several years, with Republican-governed states enacting dozens of laws restricting trans people's options for medical care, sports participation and public restroom access. Activists fear the movement will grow, with the Trump administration taking power as many Americans question the trans-rights agenda.
