WASHINGTON – Over 200 demonstrators stood outside the Supreme Court Tuesday morning, watching guest speakers, performances and lawmakers speak to their respective sides.
To the right of the center barricade, demonstrators against transgender athletes gathered. (Cayla Labgold-Carroll/MNS)
(Cayla Labgold-Carroll/MNS)
Split down the center of the Supreme Court, a barrier divided the opposing sides of the rally. To the left, supporters gathered by the ACLU, Lambda Legal, GSA Network and the Transgender Law Center, among other groups, held signs and trans flags.
Activist Raquel Willis welcomed the crowd and spoke to them about why they were gathered.
“These are trans girls who deserve to play with their friends in sports. They deserve to walk with their heads held high. And they deserve to know that we are not going to let anyone come for them and their future,” said Willis.
The court heard oral arguments for two cases Tuesday morning that will determine the future of athletic participation for transgender students.
Among trans youth activists and legal representative speakers, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Texas, addressed the crowd.
Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Texas, the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to Congress from the South addressed the crowd.(Cayla Labgold-Carroll/MNS)
Rep. Johnson, the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to Congress from the South, said, “When the government targets transgender kids, it doesn’t make anyone safer, it simply makes life harder and more dangerous for kids who are already vulnerable.”
Multiple conservative organizations organized rally participants. (Cayla Labgold-Carroll/MNS)
On the other side of the barrier, the “Save Women’s Sports” rally welcomed speakers and politicians, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Education Secretary Linda McMahon and conservative activist Riley Gaines.
Speaker Johnson expressed his desired outcome for the case.
“House Republicans will always stand for American women and girls, and we hope and pray that this Supreme Court will do exactly the same,” said Johnson.
Johnson spoke about his daughters and said he was proud to fight to protect “female-only” spaces.
Capitol police stood watch as the demonstrators gathered for hours, arguing across the barrier and leading chants of “Save women’s sports” and “Trans rights are human rights.”
Cheer DC volunteers performed in front of the left side of the crowd, leading chants as they performed cheerleading stunts.
Near the end of the rally, Advocates for Youth activist Marlin spoke about his high school experience as a young trans man.
“I was once so scared of rejection and judgment that I couldn’t participate in any extracurricular activities. Even opportunities I desperately wanted to pursue felt impossible because I knew that my accomplishments wouldn’t be credited to a name I could truly call my own.”
Youth activist Marlin spoke about his high school experience as a transgender student. (Cayla Labgold-Carroll/MNS)
Organizers of the left side of the barricade rally offered ASL and Spanish language accessibility translation.(Cayla Labgold-Carroll/MNS)
This year, Marlin said he is celebrating the third anniversary of coming out as himself.
The rallies began to disperse around 1 p.m. The court is expected to announce its decision by summer.