SFCHC is Outraged as Supreme Court Endangers Trans Lives in United States v. Skrmetti Ruling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2025
SFCHC is Outraged as Supreme Court Endangers Trans Lives
in United States v. Skrmetti Ruling
San Francisco, CA—Today, in a destructive decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s law (SB1) banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The ruling in United States v. Skrmetti strips away access to care for our young people and places their lives in grave danger. It legally bars transgender youth in Tennessee and in other states with similar bans from receiving essential health care.
This decision is inhumane and deliberately in opposition to medical consensus[i][ii] and lived experiences of transgender youth. The ruling denies gender-affirming care to transgender youth regardless of how severe the mental health impact may be. So, even if a young person is facing a mental health crisis and their physician recommends puberty blockers or hormones as the most effective, evidence-based intervention, this ban bars that care.
When we say that gender-affirming care is lifesaving, we are not using it as a metaphor. Denying access to this care not only increases the risk of suicide and depression,[iii][iv] it can also lead to long-term psychological trauma. This is backed by decades of research. Transgender youth already face alarmingly high rates of suicide, and by denying them access to medically necessary care, this ruling will only push those numbers higher. For many young people, this is a matter of life or death.[v]
Lance Toma, CEO of San Francisco Community Health Center, expresses, “I am heartbroken and outraged. This decision is mean and harmful for all young trans people and their families across our country. Every young person is worthy and deserving of life, opportunity, and quality health care, and now the Supreme Court has said this is not the case. We will do everything we can to ensure we protect and fight for the preservation of health care and safety for the entirety of the trans community.”
While transgender youth living in states where there are no bans will not be affected by this ruling, we understand that it sets broad implications nationally and has opened the door to further harm. This is why our fight matters.
At San Francisco Community Health Center, gender-affirming care is not a debate and is at the core of our health care practice. At our Wellness Clinic, we affirm our patients and believe in addressing health care needs while working to break down the systemic barriers that cause harm for our transgender patients.
We know that when transgender youth feel connected to a supportive community, especially one that affirms their gender identity, they experience dramatically better mental health outcomes.[vi][vii] This is why we continue to fuel the programs at TransThrive, our drop-in center for the transgender and gender non-conforming community.
We know that marginalized gender identities face barriers to safe housing, ranging from discrimination to outright violence at conventional shelters. That’s why sustaining spaces like the Taimon Booton Navigation Center aren’t optional. They’re essential to protecting our community members experiencing housing insecurity, affirming identity, fostering safety, and building belonging.
To our transgender young people: your safety is non-negotiable. There is a future for you. There is a community for you. You belong, and we will not stop fighting for you.
To our fellow organizations in states with protections: this is a call to action. Our transgender youth are watching, and we must build sanctuary and solidarity. We must be safe harbors and expand our access. As the highest court turns its back on our communities, we turn toward them with care, with commitment, and with unwavering love.
San Francisco Community Health Center will continue to fight for a world where transgender people are safe, seen, and free to thrive.
Contact: dlieu@sfcommunityhealth.org
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[i] A longitudinal cohort in this study showed reductions in suicide attempts and ideation following gender-affirming medical treatment. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10027312/
[ii] Transgender individuals who received gender-affirming care had lower rates of suicide attempts (5%) compared to those needing but not receiving care (9%). https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/press/ga-trans-suicide-press-release/
[iii] 104 trans and nonbinary youth (ages 13–20) showed 60% lower odds of depression and 73% lower odds of suicidal thoughts over 12 months with gender-affirming care. https://epi.washington.edu/news/gender-affirming-hormones-and-puberty-blockers-improve-mental-health-in-transgender-youth/
[iv] Puberty blockers were associated with significantly lower rates of suicidal ideation. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/145/2/e20191725/68259/Pubertal-Suppression-for-Transgender-Youth-and
[v] A 2024 peer-reviewed study by The Trevor Project, published in Nature Human Behavior, found that anti-transgender laws, such as bans on gender-affirming care for youth, are linked to a significant increase in suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth aged 13–17. In states that enacted such laws, suicide attempts rose by up to 72% within the first year, with similar or worsening increases in the following years (72% in year two, 52% in year three). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-01979-5
[vi] A 2016 meta-analysis showed that social support from peers, family, and community organizations is one of the strongest buffers against anxiety, depression, and suicidality among LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those who are transgender. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308926972_Families_Matter_Social_Support_and_Mental_Health_Trajectories_Among_Lesbian_Gay_Bisexual_and_Transgender_Youth
[vii] Trans youth involved in peer-led or trans-led support groups report stronger feelings of identity pride, belonging, and resilience, even when facing external discrimination. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2014.00150.x