Dear MoveOn member,
A shocking new anti-trans bill in Florida could require every student athlete in the state to "verify their biological sex through an anatomical exam, genetic or hormone testing."1
It's part of a twisted new coordinated right-wing strategy to attack children in states across the country. The scary part is that the Florida legislature is controlled by legislators intent on passing the bill. That's why we're writing to you today.
Equality Florida is the state's largest organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and they're fighting tooth and nail to stop this despicable bill, along with others that attack fundamental rights for LGBTQ people.
But there's a huge problem: We don't have much time to stop these bills. Equality Florida has set a goal of raising $40,000 this week to support rapid response programs to mobilize activists and pro-equality Floridians to call out the harm these bills do.
Which is why we're coming to dedicated MoveOn members like you with an urgent question:
John, as Equality Florida's director of transgender equality, Gina Duncan, said, this bill "isn't about sports, it's another way to marginalize and demonize the transgender community," especially trans kids.2
The bill is part of a nationally orchestrated attack on LGBTQ rights that is being fueled and funded by right-wing bigots.
In 2021 alone, conservative legislators in 20 states across the country are pushing nearly 100 anti-transgender bills that would ban trans kids from accessing medically necessary health care, prohibit trans girls from participating in girls sports, and more.3
Just weeks ago, Arkansas passed a shocking law that allows medical workers to deny care to people in the LGBTQ community.4 And in Mississippi, the governor just signed into law a bill banning trans athletes from school sports entirely.5
We simply can't let the right-wing bigots attack trans kids and trample on the values of justice and equality.
Equality Florida has a hard-hitting plan to stop these bills right in their tracks. But without the cash to fuel their campaign, the right wing will win.
Thanks for all you do.
–Jenn, Casey, Liia, Sana, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Florida trans community speaks out against youth sports bill," Axios, March 24, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/153099?t=4&akid=295103%2E40999114%2ElNNMOz
2. Ibid.
3. "NCAA LGBTQ OneTeam facilitators publish open letter condemning anti-transgender legislation," Human Rights Campaign, April 5, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/153100?t=6&akid=295103%2E40999114%2ElNNMOz
4. "Arkansas governor signs bill allowing medical workers to refuse treatment to LGBTQ people," PBS, March 26, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/150534?t=8&akid=295103%2E40999114%2ElNNMOz
5. "Mississippi governor signs bill banning trans athletes from school sports," NBC News, March 11, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/153101?t=10&akid=295103%2E40999114%2ElNNMOz
Want to support our work? With our nation ravaged by the pandemic and the cruelty of the Trump administration, we need to make huge and historic investments to revive our economy and ensure our communities can thrive. Democrats are in control of Congress and the White House, so we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to pass bold legislation to raise the minimum wage, tackle the climate crisis, close corporate tax loopholes, and dismantle systemic racism. But Mitch McConnell and centrist Democrats are trying to stand in the way, and we can't let them stop us from passing these critical laws.
Will you chip in to power our campaigns to press Congress and the White House to act boldly to overcome the pandemic and enable our communities to thrive?
Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.
Contributions to MoveOn Civic Action are not tax-deductible for income tax purposes. This email was sent to John xxxxxx on April 15, 2021. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. MoveOn's privacy policy was recently updated. To read our new privacy policy, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.