Just Schools Condemns Supreme Court Decision Restricting Gender Markers on U.S. Passports

PHOENIX, AZ - Just Schools strongly condemns yesterday's Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to restrict gender markers on U.S. passports, forcing individuals to list their sex assigned at birth rather than a marker that aligns with their lived identity.

“This decision isn’t just about passports; it’s about the right to live freely and authentically,” said Carol Tappenden, Executive Director of Just Schools. “Transgender people know exactly who they are. What this ruling shows is that some in power still refuse to recognize that truth. Our message to young people is clear: your identity is real, your rights matter, and we will keep fighting alongside you.”

By upholding this discriminatory policy, the Court has made it harder for transgender Americans to travel safely and with dignity. Forcing people to carry documents that do not reflect their gender identity increases the risk of harm and reinforces government-sanctioned stigma.

For the nation’s students, particularly queer and trans youth, this ruling underscores why affirming spaces are so critical. “In classrooms and communities, young people are watching how adults respond,” Tappenden said. “Schools can and must remain places where every student is respected for who they are.”

Just Schools calls on educators, policymakers, and community leaders to reaffirm inclusive practices in every school. The organization urges districts to adopt and enforce policies that affirm students’ gender identities through chosen names, pronouns, and documentation consistent with who they are.

“At a moment when national leadership is signaling exclusion, schools can be powerful sites of affirmation,” Tappenden added. “Every queer and trans student should know that they are recognized, valued, and supported, no matter what the Supreme Court says.”

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ABOUT JUST SCHOOLS

Just Schools is a statewide education justice organization that envisions a future where all queer and trans students thrive in school. Every student has the right to be affirmed and supported at school—but for many queer and trans students, this promise is broken. When these students are free to learn without discrimination, the entire school community thrives. Just Schools educates, advocates, and organizes for inclusive schools where queer and trans students are valued and inspired to reach their full potential.