The Texas Legislature is Going After Trans Children. Here’s How We Fight Back.
by Mara Keisling, Executive Director
The Texas legislature is going after trans kids — again — and we’re revving up for a major fight.
Tomorrow, Texas lawmakers will return for a special session for another shot at passing an anti-trans bathroom ban. The legislators aren’t wasting any time: they’ve already filed three bills before the session has even started. And these are part of a full buffet of bills eroding Texans’ basic civil rights and attacking vulnerable communities — bills going after immigrants and women, suppressing voters’ rights, and more.
Bathroom bans like the ones we’re seeing in Texas aren’t new — we’ve been seeing (and defeating) dozens of these sorts of attacks all over the country, from Arkansas and Washington to Massachusetts and, of course, North Carolina. These bathroom bans vary in their details, but they all have one goal in common: shutting transgender people out of public restrooms.
Using the restroom isn’t a special perk: for many transgender people, not being able to use the right restroom means we can’t go to school or work or even do things like going to a restaurant with our family. And the North Carolina legislature learned the hard way that these sorts of bills don’t hurt only transgender people, they harm the entire state, its economy and its residents.
We’re making it a top priority to fight back in Texas.
The stakes in Texas are very high — maybe higher than ever. There’s a very real risk that a bathroom ban might pass very soon. That could be devastating not just for trans Texans, but people across the country who might see more anti-trans bills spread if this sort of measure gets adopted by one of the largest states in the country.
We sent one of our best community organizers, Kory Masen, to help mobilize trans folks and our allies. We’re helping local trans advocates share their stories and experiences with key policymakers and the public. We’re running our Texas Action Center, where you can find the latest information about what’s going on in Texas and what you can do to help. And we’re working with our partners at the Transilient Project, who are amplifying the stories of the Texas trans community during the special session.
We cannot afford to be complacent. We must show the country that we will not be bullied and we cannot be held down. The next few weeks, maybe even days, will be critical and we need all hands on deck.
How to get involved:
If you live in Texas, contact your legislators and tell them to stand on the right side of history, and join us in Austin tomorrow to rally against the attacks on trans Texans.
Wherever you live, visit our Texas Action Center today to join the fight for equality.
Sign up to receive NCTE’s emails, and follow NCTE on Twitter, Facebook, and Medium for the latest news on issues affecting the transgender community. Visit transequality.org for in-depth resources and information on what you can do to support the transgender people in your life.
