Press Releases

Riverside, CA — The Inland Empire Democrats for Equality strongly condemn today’s Supreme Court decision in L.W. v. Skrmetti, which upholds Tennessee's cruel and discriminatory ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. This decision is not only a devastating blow to trans rights, it is also a direct attack on bodily autonomy, parental rights, and the freedom of families to seek medically necessary care for their children.

Once again, the far-right majority on the Court has sided with extremist politics over science, compassion, and constitutional protections. By allowing Tennessee’s ban to stand, the Court has greenlit a dangerous precedent that endangers the lives and well-being of trans youth, not just in Tennessee, but across the nation.

Gender-affirming care is backed by every major medical organization, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the American Psychiatric Association. These are not experimental treatments… they are lifesaving healthcare. The families impacted by this decision are simply trying to do what’s best for their children. Instead, they are being forced into impossible choices: leave their state, fight in court, or watch their children suffer.

This Supreme Court decision, paired with the announcement that the Trump Administration has removed LGBTQ+ specific care from the National Suicide hotline, is nothing more than a cruel show of power. Cruelty is the point of this administration. 

We refuse to accept a future where discrimination is codified, where fear dictates healthcare, and where vulnerable communities are targeted to score political points.

We stand in solidarity with the trans community and the families affected by this cruel ruling. The IE Dems for Equality remain committed to fighting for equality, justice, and dignity for all people, no matter their gender identity. We call on Congress and state legislatures to protect trans rights, expand access to affirming care, and push back against this coordinated campaign of hate.

This fight is far from over.