March 31, 2022 is Transgender Day of Visibility. “This is a day dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of transgender and gender nonconforming people while raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to achieve trans justice.” (GLSEN)
As I read the news these days, I can see that there is a long way to go to achieve justice, not only for the trans community, but for all parts of the rainbow. It’s a scary time for members of the LGBTQ+ community. I’m scared. I’m scared for my nonbinary kid. I’m scared for their transgender friends. I’m scared for my friends with LGBTQ+ kids. I’m scared for all of us. We’ve had so many great strides in equal rights recently, that these large pieces of discriminatory legislation being passed in several states feel like blindside attack. Some of the ones getting more press include:
- Texas – a law making it illegal to provide gender affirming medical treatment to trans kids, including the ability to charge parents of said kids with child abuse for seeking gender-affirming treatment.
- Florida – a law where lessons about sexual orientation are banned outright in kindergarten through third grade. It also prohibits lessons in other grades unless they are “age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate.”
- Indiana – a bill to ban transgender girls from participating in girls sports in K-12 schools passed the state Senate.
These and other state bills/laws are already being fought against in the courts of law and the courts of public opinion. Florida students staged a walk-out to protest the “Don’t Say Gay” law. Countersuits are being filed in Texas.
Rainbow families, we are not alone! Seek support from your local resources, if they exist in your area. If not, connect with national organizations, like the ones on my Resources page. As elections come up, be sure to research the candidates, and vote for those who will safeguard LGBTQ+ rights. If you feel that you and your child are being discriminated against, whether in school or in seeking medical treatment or anywhere else, you have legal help. Don’t be afraid to contact either the ACLU or Lambda Legal.
The ACLU is the American Civil Liberties Union, and they work in the courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to ALL people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
Lambda Legal is a national, non-profit, organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
Both of these groups are here for us and are already helping. The Travis County District Court (Austin, TX) granted a temporary restraining order to block the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) from investigating the plaintiffs of a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas (ACLU of Texas), the ACLU, and Lambda Legal.
Our children are not going back into the shadows. They are here to stay. They are here to shine. They are here to be who they are. Stay safe and stay visible.
Marti Johns 