On Wednesday, the Supreme Court began hearing a significant case known as US v. Skrmetti. This case centers around a Tennessee law from 2023 that prevents healthcare professionals from providing gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, to minors. One voice supporting the law comes from Max Lazzara, a 28-year-old woman from Seattle who transitioned to male at age 16 but later detransitioned.
Lazzara, who describes herself as “staunchly left-wing” and supports medical care for transgender adults, emphasizes the importance of protecting children. “We have a duty to children to make sure they’re taken care of,” she stated, highlighting her belief that the situation for minors is distinctly different.
Reflecting on her past, Lazzara shared her journey. Growing up in Minneapolis in a Catholic family, she exhibited a tomboyish nature and expressed feelings of wanting to be a boy at a young age. However, her strong feelings of being in the wrong body emerged during puberty, influenced in part by her attractions to girls and struggles with her identity.
At age 11, she experienced debilitating menstrual cycles and significant mental health challenges, even attempting suicide on several occasions. Discovering communities online dedicated to transgender experiences led her to believe transitioning was the solution to her troubles.
By 15, after encountering serious trauma and further mental health crises, Lazzara sought gender therapy, where she felt pressure to conform to the expectations of the healthcare providers regarding her identity. Despite her mother’s fears following her suicide attempts, she soon began medical treatments, including testosterone and a double mastectomy prior to her 17th birthday.
Even after transitioning, Lazzara continued to struggle with significant mental health issues, including being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and OCD. While she enjoyed some personal milestones, like attending prom and graduating high school, her battles with substance abuse and mental health didn’t end.
A turning point came when she stumbled upon stories of other women who had detransitioned. This led her to a profound realization about her identity, and by age 24, she began living as a woman again, now identifying as a lesbian and enjoying a fulfilling relationship.
Lazzara’s motivation for speaking out in support of the Tennessee law is grounded in her belief that minors may not fully understand the implications of gender-affirming care and that parental concerns are often overlooked in the push for such treatments. She emphasizes that there are many significant decisions minors are not allowed to make, and the same caution should apply when it comes to gender transitions.
