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Publication Date

2024

First Page

829

Document Type

Comment

Abstract

As the antitransgender moral panic reaches a fever pitch, transgender civil rights are becoming increasingly fragile. A potential legal defense to these attacks lies within the First Amendment: if gender expression, or the way humans communicate their gender identity, is understood to be expressive conduct, it may receive protections under the Free Speech Clause. Using the framework of Spence v. Washington, this Comment argues that gender expression is a form of speech deserving of First Amendment protection. First, a speaker can use gender expression to share information about their identity. And second, an audience is likely to understand the speaker’s general message due to the nature of human communication. The implications of this doctrine extend beyond clothing and accessories, encompassing a spectrum of elements such as naming, hairstyle, gender transition, and bathroom use, offering a comprehensive approach to safeguarding transgender individuals’ expressive rights.

Included in

Law Commons

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