(NEW YORK, NY - June 17, 2021) - Today, the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) issued the following statement by Executive Director Andy Marra (she/her) in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Fulton v. Philadelphia:

“We are gutted to know that foster children will be denied loving homes in Philadelphia. Still, we are grateful that this ruling does not affect other publicly funded contractors and agencies. Across the country, governments can and must continue to enforce laws protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination."

“The next crucial step in protecting LGBTQ people is for Congress to listen to the overwhelming majority of voters who support non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people and pass the Equality Act to update our civil rights laws to ensure explicit protections from discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.”

At issue in the lawsuit was whether Catholic Social Services, a privately-run foster care agency that accepts taxpayer money, may legally cite religious beliefs to deny its services to LGBTQ families in violation of Philadelphia’s non-discrimination ordinance. In 2020, TLDEF joined an amicus brief with 27 LGBTQ advocacy groups making the argument that equal citizenship under the law applies to LGBTQ people who access services and care from religious agencies that have government contracts and accept taxpayer funding.

Join TLDEF tonight for the #DecisionDay Virtual Rally (7 pm Eastern) and Virtual Town Hall (8:30 pm Eastern). The rally is chance for us to gather as a community to react to the decision, support each other, and hear from speakers and performers. The Town Hall will feature experts providing analysis of the opinion, how it will affect our lives, and what comes next. You can RSVP at DecisionDay.org.

About TLDEF:

TLDEF is committed to ending discrimination based upon gender identity and expression and to achieving equality for transgender people through public education, test-case litigation, direct legal services, and public policy efforts. To learn more about TLDEF’s work, visit tldef.org.