Dear friend,

This evening at 6pm Pacific Time, I’ll be speaking on a radio show for Transgender Awareness Week, which starts today—“Moment of Truth with Ami Chen Mills," which broadcasts across the California Central Coast on KSQD/KSQT 90.7 FM and livestreams from the KSQD website. Joining me will be Erin Reed, a huge trans voice at the moment. Click here to tune in!

Although there are roughly 5 million transgender people in America today, fewer than half of Americans say they personally know someone who is trans or nonbinary. Only a quarter of adults say they have a transgender friend.

There’s a long way to go before the country as a whole even reaches a basic understanding of what it means to be trans, let alone acceptance and equal rights.

But that’s why we continue to fight for recognition, equality, and justice.

Why do I call something as basic as getting to know your neighbors a “fight”? Because my trans and nonbinary siblings are being used as weapons in the GOP’s culture war.

Republican politicians like House Speaker Mike Johnson keep pushing wildly unpopular legislation to cut funding to schools and libraries over inclusive education, outlaw gender-affirming care, and challenge same-sex marriage, adoption, and marital benefits.

We need to fight back.

The first piece of legislation I’ll introduce in the House of Representatives is the Protect LGBTQIA+ People Act, which bans discrimination, protects gender-affirming care, recognizes non-binary identity in the legal system, and more.

Stand with me and all your trans friends and family members this Transgender Awareness Week; educate yourself, get involved in your local orgs, and stand strong as a friend or ally to any trans people in your life.

And, if you are able, consider donating to our 100% grassroots, community-driven campaign:

In solidarity,

Maebe Pudlo