Chase Strangio spent election night with close friends, apprehensive about Donald Trump’s potential return to the presidency, a prospect that worried him due to Trump’s prior attacks on the transgender community. Defending this community is his lifelong passion.

As the night progressed, Strangio sensed that his ideal outcome was slipping away.

To manage his anxiety, he focused on finalizing his written arguments for the Supreme Court, advocating against Tennessee’s prohibition on puberty blockers and hormone treatment for transgender minors. The Supreme Court is set to hear this case in early December.

He appreciated the distractions that the impending deadline provided.

“I had my cheese and crackers. I had my reply brief and my compartmentalization,” Strangio shared with YSL News. “It was a reminder that there is work to do regardless.”

However, with Trump winning and the Republican Party controlling Congress, the advocacy landscape became even more complicated.

Besides battling Republican-controlled states aiming to restrict gender-affirming care, participation in sports, and bathroom access for transgender individuals, advocates now have to brace for the prospect of federal measures mirroring these restrictions. Trump has dedicated significant resources in his campaign to dismantle transgender rights, vowing to “end left-wing gender insanity.”

Following the election of the first openly transgender member of Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., implemented new regulations aimed at limiting Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., from accessing women’s restrooms.

‘Target on Day One of the Trump Administration’

<p+A week post-election, Strangio took to Instagram to express the fears within the transgender community, offering practical advice and acknowledging the obstacles ahead.

“When we think about who’s going to be the target on Day One of the Trump administration, it is going to be immigrants and trans people,” Strangio stated, dressed somberly in a black hoodie during his livestream.

Strangio believes the core issue in the upcoming Supreme Court case—whether Tennessee’s ban is a form of sex discrimination—is a crucial strategy to challenge government measures against transgender individuals.

Tennessee, along with over 20 states with similar policies, contends that it is safeguarding youth from potentially harmful medical interventions.

“The Constitution does not prevent states from regulating medical procedures that involve contentious social matters,” stated Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. “Individuals who oppose these restrictions on irreversible pediatric procedures for gender transitions are welcome to seek change via state elections.”

The ACLU, representing families contesting the ban, argues that the law is excessively restrictive. While some may experience regret from any medical procedure, they assert that the majority of those seeking this care will derive significant benefits.

First Openly Transgender Lawyer to Present Before the Supreme Court

The Justices will address this significant matter on December 4, marking it as one of the most noteworthy cases during the current Supreme Court term that commenced in October.

Additonally, Strangio will make history as the first openly transgender lawyer to argue before the Supreme Court, as he collaborates with the Biden administration’s legal team to present their case.

However, this is not his first experience in the courtroom.

Strangio contributed to the legal teams in 2019 that successfully defended three employees dismissed due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, resulting in a groundbreaking ruling against workplace discrimination for LGBTQ workers.

In the previous cases, Justice Neil Gorsuch, who later authored the 6-3 ruling, raised the question of whether the potential for significant social changes should influence judicial decisions.

A transgender woman who lost her job highlighted the fact that there were transgender lawyers present in the courtroom. These lawyers were adhering to the male dress code and using the men’s restroom without causing any issues.

Strangio, one of the two transgender lawyers present, stated that his appearance that day—and again on December 4—demonstrated that “trans individuals have always been present in various environments, even among those who believe they’ve had no contact with trans people.”

“We’re just going about our lives, fulfilling our professional duties,” remarked Strangio, a 42-year-old father. “Although we may currently play a significant role in discussions about politics, that doesn’t alter the everyday experiences of individuals regarding the presence of trans people.”

Combating Legal and Cultural Challenges

For Strangio, the fight for legal rights is deeply intertwined with the struggle against cultural misconceptions. Although he initially hesitated to speak publicly during the start of his career, he recognized that advocating for equality required a greater societal comprehension of transgender identities.

“Our understanding of laws is influenced by how culture shapes our interactions with people, relationships, and communities—and the reverse is equally true,” he explained.

As the co-director of the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project, Strangio not only formulates legal strategies but also serves as a public advocate and education resource for the transgender community.

In a 2016 Slate article titled “What is a `Male Body’?”, Strangio mentioned that he was assigned female at birth, but has never identified with having a female body.

“I would rather take the time needed to change the world’s perception than settle for a simpler narrative that says I was born with a female body but am now male,” he noted. “Engaging in this longer process is ultimately beneficial for everyone, as it enables us to challenge the notion that our body parts define who we are.”

In 2019, Strangio was featured in a Google advertising campaign, photographed by Annie Leibovitz. In the image, a shirtless Strangio is seen taking a selfie in a mirror, expressing to Out magazine his desire to “disrupt expectations surrounding bodies as a whole.”

A Legacy of Queer and Trans Advocacy

The photograph showcases Strangio’s many tattoos, each representing something significant to him and helping him connect with his body, especially given that he often finds himself deep in thought.

Among the tattoos are depictions of Amelia Earhart and Princess Leia; the former is an homage to Strangio’s long-standing interest in a historical figure renowned for her “gender defiance” as a pilot, while the latter reflects his admiration for Star Wars.

Strangio recently added a new tattoo featuring a line from the poem “Prophecy” by Pauli Murray, a pioneering legal figure who influenced Thurgood Marshall’s strategy to dismantle the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case.

Strangio considers this tattoo a reminder that queer and trans individuals have always contributed to the fight for civil rights, a sentiment that resonates with him as he prepares to enter the Supreme Court.

Renowned Authority on Transgender Rights

Strangio has argued pivotal issues related to this case before four different appellate courts and was part of the team that initially challenged a similar prohibition.

He also contributed to the case that led to the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage, as well as to the legal challenge against North Carolina’s law forcing transgender individuals to use bathrooms aligned with their birth certificates, and efforts to prevent the Trump administration from banning transgender individuals from military service.

The ACLU’s legal director, Cecillia Wang, praised Strangio, calling him “the foremost legal authority on the rights of transgender individuals, without a doubt.”

As he prepares for oral arguments, Strangio is not only focusing on rigorous practice but also ensuring he eats regular meals and follows his brother’s advice—a military veteran—to stay hydrated.