Metro East Sun

Vice Chair of Madison County Republicans, Jennifer Korte, said that the transgender treatments described in the U.S. Supreme Court case U.S. v. Skrmetti are "dangerously experimental," viewing the case as an opportunity to protect vulnerable children. Korte shared her statement with the Metro East Sun on January 8.

"The transgender surgeries and puberty blockers in U.S. v. Skrmetti pose grave risks to vulnerable children, promoted under the guise of a woke agenda," said Korte. "These experimental treatments lead to irreversible harm, including sterility, physical damage, and emotional suffering, without reliable evidence of their benefits. This Supreme Court case is a crucial chance to protect children from ideology masquerading as care. Our kids deserve protection, not experiments."

According to the Federalist Society, on December 3, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, which addresses the constitutionality of Tennessee law SB1. This law bans medical treatments enabling minors to identify with a gender different from their biological sex. The law, upheld by the 6th Circuit, faces challenges under the 14th Amendment’s Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses. Government attorneys argued that SB1 constitutes sex-based discrimination requiring intermediate scrutiny, while Tennessee defended it as age-based, warranting rational basis review. The Federalist Society reported that conservative Justices seemed skeptical of intervening, while liberals viewed SB1 as discriminatory.

Alliance Defending Freedom reported on Dr. Hilary Cass’s review commissioned by England’s National Health Service (NHS). The review critiques the evidence supporting puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries for children with gender dysphoria. Dr. Cass found no reliable long-term outcome data and noted that systematic reviews expose the poor quality of existing studies. She said medical decisions should involve parents unless their involvement risks the child’s safety and concluded that children deserve better care, urging a cautious, evidence-based approach over ideology in treating gender-related distress.

Jennifer Korte was first elected to her role as Vice Chair of Madison County Republicans in 2024. As Vice Chair, Korte focuses on boosting party communication, helping new candidates, and educating the public about various legislation impacting the community. She is an advocate for children, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. Korte and her family reside in Edwardsville.