The justices vacated an appeal’s court decision in favor of a transgender boy, Gavin Grimm, and sent the case back for further consideration.
What this is: Disappointing, infuriating, and a direct result of President Trump’s decision to withdraw President Obama’s previously issued guidance on transgender youth.
What this isn’t: The end of the road. The past few months have seen a historic growth in support for transgender protections at the highest level. Thousands of individuals and organizations have signed on to the amicus briefs—major medical associations, unions representing millions of teachers, national religious leaders, elected officials at the local, state, and federal level, and ordinary citizens concerned about the rights and dignity of their fellow human beings.
This decision does not void any existing Title IX legal protections for transgender students, and similar cases regarding the fundamental rights of transgender students in schools are pending throughout the circuit courts.
The momentum on this issue is clear, and it isn’t going to be readily reversed—at least not if we all continue to work for what’s right. We remain committed to standing with Gavin, to supporting the ACLU, and ultimately toward the passage of explicit, comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for all LGBTQ Americans. It’s more important now than ever before.
Here’s how you can keep up the fight:
Show your support for equal access to public spaces by joining the #EveryoneWelcome campaign.
Support and share resources like The Trevor Project, which offer crisis intervention for trans people.
Stay informed and help educate others. An excellent place for news and educational resources is the National Center for Transgender Equality.
