Let’s raise funds for BAGLY today

This election cycle, Republicans spent nearly $215 million on attack ads targeting and scapegoating the trans community. They used trans youth as political pawns to stoke fear and divide us. And this week they’ve doubled down with their playbook, banning bathroom access in the Capitol.

Let’s be clear: Blaming the most marginalized among us is never the answer. 

As my colleague Congresswoman-Elect McBride eloquently put it “I’m not here to fight about bathrooms, I’m here to fight … to bring down costs facing families.”

Here’s the thing. By taking up airtime debating issues that Republicans have put front and center to marginalize and fearmonger, what we aren’t talking enough about are the issues that working people and the LGBTQ+ community  are facing right now. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. And when you actually talk to our neighbors, from all walks of life we want the same things. 

What we want is to provide for the people we love. A secure job that allows us the time to live full lives and care for our children, or aging parents, or both. We want the option to buy a home in the community that raised us. We want the healthcare we need to survive a crisis and to thrive and live a long healthy life. To go through the checkout line without having to put groceries back. 

Housing, rising costs, health care, and job security – those are the issues that are most important to trans people, working families, and people from all walks of life across this country. 

It’s important that we do the work of healing our country right now, and for me, that's about leading with humanity. Fostering empathy and understanding. It certainly is not about scapegoating a community that is already vulnerable. 

Our trans siblings deserve to have their dignity and humanity respected. They deserve health care. They deserve to show up as their full authentic selves, to live proudly and freely. They deserve equality. Just like we all do. 

I will always stand with the entire LGBTQ+ community. I will always stand with my constituents. I will always stand with you.

If you agree, will you join me in supporting trans youth by donating to The Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth (BAGLY), an organization that is working to make life better, safer, and more possible for trans people? As they face extremism, protecting our families and friends has never been more important.

With a new Trump administration looming before us, rights and protections for our trans neighbors are at stake. People are afraid. Calls to LGBTQ+ crisis hotlines skyrocketed by 700% in the days following the election. 

As Transgender Awareness Week comes to a close, I want our trans siblings to know this: Your Congresswoman sees you and loves you. 

I stand with you, and I will always fight for you.

Together we can fight back and refuse to let Republicans deny our neighbors their humanity. Make a gift to support BAGLY today as they fight for trans youth.

Onward,

Ayanna