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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.
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 Keisling, Executive Director of the NCTE Action Fund 
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