National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund

John,

Today, we had a monumental opportunity to show
the American people how strong transgender people can be. I wish you
all could
have been on the steps of the Supreme Court with me today while the
nine
Supreme Court Justices heard a case involving Aimee Stephens, a woman
who was
fired simply for being transgender.

For many, having the Supreme Court hold the
fate of our basic rights in their hands is a frightening prospect. But
after 20
years of working to fulfill the dream of transgender equality, I
believe we've never had a better chance to make our
dream a reality. When I began, transgender people were treated like
one of
society's dirty little secrets. If we were seen or talked about
at all, we were
a joke. We were forced into the shadows where our dignity, our health,
and our
lives were put at stake.

But we
have and will always move forward. This is because of
people like you. People like Aimee Stephens. Every transgender
person's
visibility and authenticity moves society to be more equitable for
transgender
people. I know it is hard.  Many of you
understand both the immense courage it took for Aimee to come out and
her loss.

Transgender people across the country are
seeing themselves in Aimee. Seeing themselves in her strength and her
perseverance. Seeing themselves in her refusal to accept defeat or
compromise
on her values and her authenticity. Transgender people know that when
society
closes door after door in your face, you have no choice but to kick it
in and fight
back.

We must
continue to fight because the fight is not over. Many transgender
people's lives are still
at stake-discriminatory laws create a crisis of poverty and
homelessness that fuels
the violence that has stolen at least 20 lives from our community this
year. Progress
for some is not progress for all.

Transgender people know all too well the
perils of being left behind. But when trans people are left behind, we
fight
back. When trans rights are under attack, we fight back. And when
trans people are
fired from their jobs for living their lives authentically, we fight
back. Please donate today to join us in the
fight. We won't stop until every transgender American can love,
work and live
safely without the fear of loss

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.

How the Justices rule on Aimee's case could tremeimpact on the
transgender rights movement, but no judge, no
lawmaker, no President can turn back the clock on the progress we have
made in
changing hearts and minds across the country. We all have to live as
exactly
who we are, no matter what. Thank you for your courage.

Best,

Mara Sig.png

Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the NCTE Action Fund




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