What's Happening

Legal

SCOTUS To Hear Case That Could Determine the Future of Trans Care for Minors

What's going on: Today, the Supreme Court will consider for the first time whether or not states can block medical care for trans youth. The case comes out of Tennessee, where officials passed a law in 2023 prohibiting medical professionals from prescribing puberty blockers and hormones to minors for gender-dysphoria treatment. The question before the court: Does the legislation discriminate on the basis of sex? The Biden administration and American Civil Liberties Union (representing three Tennessee families) argue that it does. They say the law violates the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection since these treatments are allowed for other medical purposes. (This is also the first time a transgender lawyer will be arguing a case at the Supreme Court.) However, Tennessee’s Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said the law’s language does not include any classification of sex and applies to both male and female minors.

What it means: This is the first major transgender rights case to reach the Supreme Court since GOP-led states have passed a flurry of anti-trans laws in recent years. Today’s hearing also comes on the heels of the 2024 election, during which anti-transgender policies became a key campaign issue for Republicans. The ramifications of the court’s decision, which is expected by June, will answer whether or not the Constitution’s equal protection clause includes transgender people. It could also determine the fate of similar legislation in at least 20 other states, affecting more than 100,000 transgender minors. Some trans advocates worry upholding the Tennessee law could pave the way for some states to look into banning gender-affirming care for adults. The last time the Supreme Court weighed in on an LGBTQIA+ rights case was in 2020 when it ruled workplace protections include all workers, regardless of sexual orientation. 

Related: What a Second Trump Term Could Mean for Transgender Rights (NPR)

International

It's Been a Tumultuous 24 Hours in South Korea

What's going on: South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing an impeachment motion and calls for his resignation after declaring “emergency martial law” on Tuesday night. Martial law temporarily places military authorities in charge during emergencies and can restrict political demonstrations and media freedom. Yoon initially justified his declaration by citing threats from “anti-state forces” allegedly attempting to “overthrow the free democracy.” But by Wednesday morning local time, he lifted the decree after widespread protests and Parliament declared it invalid. South Korea’s currency also took a hit, rocking the country’s economy. Now, opposition lawmakers, who have accused Yoon of undermining democracy, are pushing for his impeachment if he doesn’t step down. The country’s biggest labor unions are also threatening to strike until Yoon leaves office.

What it means: For the first time in over 40 years, a South Korean president declared martial law. Some experts view Yoon’s move as an extreme power play amid a “lame duck” presidency and low approval ratings. Yoon has also faced several challenges, including scandals involving his family and administration. His policies, including his strong stance against North Korea, have alienated much of the public and sparked accusations of authoritarianism. Meanwhile, the events over the last 24 hours could put a strain on US-South Korea relations. South Korea is one of the US’s key allies in Asia (Yoon once sang “American Pie” to President Joe Biden at a White House state dinner), but American officials say the Biden administration didn’t receive a warning about the martial law declaration.

Related: Why Yoon's Wife Got in Trouble Over a Dior Handbag (NBC News)

Career

Dermatology Is Having a Glow-Up

What's going on: In the year 2008, Grey’s Anatomy’s Dr. Izzie Stevens declared her hospital’s dermatology wing a “magical world where doctors are happy and patients are pleasant and no one is screaming.” Sixteen years later, doctors are finally heeding her endorsement — applications for dermatology jobs among medical residents gained a 50% bump over the past five years, per The Association of American Medical Colleges. Most of those applications are from women (71% of applicants who selected dermatology as their first choice were women, up from 63% two years ago), thanks, in part, to flexible hours. The beaucoup bucks (and free skincare samples) don’t hurt either — the median salary for a dermatologist in the US is $541,000 per year, vs. pediatricians who earn a median annual salary of $258,000, The Wall Street Journal reports. This money often comes from a mix of cosmetic and medical procedures, especially since the Food and Drug Administration approved Botox for wrinkles back in 2002. 

What it means: The rise in popularity of careers in dermatology can tell us a lot about our society. For one, this new generation of job-seekers is looking for work-life balance, rather than the cutthroat, round-the-clock vibes of, say, surgery. The boom is also informed by our collective obsession with skincare (catch us slugging all winter), creating a pipeline of “dermfluencers” who blend medical advice with social media savvy. The field’s glow-up, much like a chemical peel, has pros and cons. Doctors — especially women, who statistically are more likely to take on extra responsibilities at home or with childcare — should have an option that involves regular hours and good pay. On the other hand, the specialty has historically been an extremely white one, ranking near the bottom for racial representation. While the cosmetic side of the industry boosts confidence, it also fuels the idea that beauty requires endless products and procedures (looking at you, PRP facial) to feel beautiful. And despite Izzie’s sentiments, that does kind of make us want to scream. 

Related: Women in Business Are Making Gains, But Still Only Cracking the Ceiling (WSJ Gift Link)