John,

Bills aimed at attacking the LGBTQ community – specifically transgender children – have officially made their way to Washington.

Republicans have just introduced and passed a bill in the U.S. House to defund public schools that allow trans children to participate in sports or that allow books on LGBTQ history in their classrooms. This bill is a part of a growing movement to push transgender Americans out of public life, to label LGBTQ adults as “groomers,” and to isolate LGBTQ youth from any sense of belonging in our schools or communities.

Let me make myself clear: We will not allow extreme ideologues to turn our classrooms into a battlefield for waging divisive culture wars. Our students, educators, and LGBTQ youth deserve better – and we cannot allow more bills like this to advance through the House. 

I will continue to voice my outrage and disgust for bills like this, but I need you with me in this fight. Pitch in $5 or more to help me defend LGBTQ rights in Congress.

This month, I traveled around Vermont to speak with folks about the urgent issues people are facing – housing, child care, and protecting social safety nets like Social Security and Medicare. I also spoke directly with high school students about their need for additional support in schools for things like mental health.

Not one person, not ONE in all my travels around the state, advocated for less funding for schools, or for punishing and ostracizing trans children.

Increased visibility for LGBTQ Americans over the past several decades has allowed for great progress. But today, it is now being weaponized by partisan extremists across the country to target the most vulnerable in our communities: LGBTQ youth.

I am working my heart out to stand up to bigots, bullies, and hateful legislation aimed at LGBTQ Americans. If you stand with me, then please pitch in $5 or more today to help me keep up the fight in Congress.

Yours, 

Becca Balint