"How irresponsible" - Martina Navratilova condemns ACLU Lawyer's Chase Strangio 'dangerous' stance promoting gender-affirming care for toddlers

Tennis icon Martina Navratilova has reignited the debate over gender-affirming medical care for young children by taking a strong stance against ACLU attorney Chase Strangio. Strangio recently argued in favor of allowing such care for children as young as two years old, prompting Navratilova to criticize his views as "dangerous" and "irresponsible."

The discussion comes in the backdrop of United States v. Skrmetti, which challenges a Tennessee law banning the use of puberty blockers and hormone treatments for minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

While these treatments remain permitted for other medical conditions, opponents argue the law unfairly targets transgender youth. Strangio, representing private plaintiffs alongside U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, made the historic Supreme Court appearance to argue against the law.

In a recent CNN interview, Strangio defended the use of gender-affirming care for minors and emphasized that decisions regarding treatment are made by parents and doctors, not the children themselves.

"These are young people who may have known since they were two years old exactly who they are, who suffered for six, seven years before they had any relief. And what's happening here, it's not the kids who are consenting to this treatment. It's the parents who are consenting to the treatment," Strangio said.

"And as a parent, I would say we when our children are suffering, we are suffering. And these are parents who love their children, who are listening to the advice of their doctors, of the mainstream medical community and doing what's right for that for their kids," he added.

The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion took to X (formerly Twitter) on December 6, 2024, to share her disapproval. Posting a clip of Strangio’s interview, she wrote:

"Omg—a two-year-old. Who cannot form a full sentence knows they are the wrong sex? How irresponsible to say that as well as dangerous. Wow. Cray cray…."

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Martina Navratilova criticizes actress Annette Bening’s remarks on transgender parenting during United States v. Skrmetti protest

Martina Navratilova (Image source: Getty)

Martina Navratilova criticized actress Annette Bening for calling having a transgender child "interesting." Bening commented on a protest outside the Supreme Court as it heard the landmark case United States v. Skrmetti.

Bening described parenting her transgender son, Stephen Ira, as the greatest gift of her life, saying it has made her wiser and "interesting."

"I think the greatest gift of my life is to have kids and to have a transgender child has made me so much more interesting, so much more wise," the 66-year-old said.

Martina Navratilova, a known advocate for women's rights and against transgender inclusion in women's sports, found Bening's statement "cringeworthy."