Protect Trans Kids. Fight For Trans Lives!
Less than a year ago, the United States government addressed the transgender community directly for the first time in history. The President created guidelines for schools across the country, instructing them to allow transgender children to use the bathroom corresponding with their gender identity, or they would lose federal funding. They told us, “We see you, we stand with you, and we will do everything we can to protect you going forward,” in a profoundly moving address by the Attorney General. For many of us, it was the first time we felt recognized and safe in our own country.
Yesterday, the current administration sent a very different message when they officially rescinded these historic protections granted to us. They claimed that it was federal overreach and that states should have the right to choose, as if they actually believe some states have a higher proportion of transgender people than others. This simply isn’t true. Transgender people are everywhere and the ones who are going to be most affected by this news are those living in the states who need these protections the most. No matter how much they try to spin it, the message is very clear to us — “We don’t want you here.”
While this message is certainly a hateful one, it is still just a message. No laws have been enacted to enforce it, and the fight for transgender rights will continue as always. Keep standing for Gavin Grimm. Keep protecting trans kids. Continue to support organizations directly servicing the transgender community, and make sure the transgender people in your life know they are loved every single day.
To those impacted by the devastating news, Trans Lifeline is here for you. The transgender community has been through this before. We have been thrown under the bus time and time again, and we always get back up stronger than ever. We are resilient. We are beautiful. We are powerful. And we aren’t going anywhere.
With love and solidarity,
Trans Lifeline
