Trans Youth Under Siege in the Land of the Free (If You're Binary)
We’re exhausted of feeling saddened by the constant attacks coming from far-right extremist groups, we are worthy of existence, free to make our own conscious decisions about our bodies, minds, and artistic expressions.
The ongoing efforts by far-right extremists to dictate what Trans People can do with their bodies must end. Just as other Americans have the autonomy to do with their bodies as they do, so should we. We have the right to have full access to competent health care, and to live authentically in the Land of the so-called Free!
Tennessee has become the FIRST state to criminalize Drag performances and the FIFTH to pass a law banning gender-affirming care for trans youth.
In an effort to force LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender and non-binary people, back into hiding and in essence the closet with the stigmatization as being “dangerous”, it is harmful rhetoric and practice to restrict LGBTQ+ culture, activities, and safe spaces, including drag performances.
Trans youth who were already getting gender-affirming medical care as of July 1, 2023, will be required to stop receiving it in the state of Tennessee as of March 31, 2024, under its new law SB0001. According to House Bill 9 by July 1, 2023, trans youth not receiving medical treatment will be unable to start receiving care in their home state.
The last two years have been the deadliest on record yet for transgender people, especially Black transgender women. About 1 in 5 of all hate crimes are now motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry. On June 11, 2022, white nationalists attacked a Pride celebration in Idaho, and Proud Boys interrupted Drag Queen Story Times at neighborhood libraries to yell homophobic and transphobic epithets on June 12th, 2022. Finally, the frightening rates of melancholy, anxiety and suicide within our community are also linked with the nation's anti-LGBTQ+ stigma. In the previous year, 45% of LGBTQ+ youth had seriously considered suicide. The percentage of LGBTQ+ youth having at least one accepting adult in their life can be impactful, and that is now at 40% According to Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
This is only the most recent attempt by extremist lawmakers in Tennessee to wage war against the LGBTQ+ community, particularly targeting transgender children, and attacks on the fundamental freedoms of millions of LGBTQ+ people have been ongoing for almost a decade. These radical legislators have knowingly made it more difficult and unsafe for trans children to live their lives. Age-appropriate, life-saving, medically essential care that is gender-affirming is only given with the parents' and physicians' permission.
We won't stand on the sidelines while this harmful law is in place. Several politicians, including Gov. Lee, have made it clear their desire to discriminate against transgender youth and their willful ignorance of the life-saving medical services they wish to outlaw. Instead, they have prioritized hate over the rights of families and the lives of transgender children in Tennessee over incitement, lies, intimidation, and extreme politics. The TransLatin@ Coalition is committed to invalidating this illegal statute, and we are convinced that the state will be unable to defend it in court. We want transgender youths to understand they are not in this battle alone. We stand in solidarity with all the Trans people of Tennessee together we will fight back.
Love yourself, and keep being the beautiful you that you are.
