Friend,
Imagine being a LGBTQ+ child and your teacher outs you. Or you want to join your school sports team and can’t. Or you get taken away from your parents because they love you for who you are.
That’s the world Republican politicians want to create. It’s a vision rooted in fear, hate, and contempt for the very people they are charged with protecting. And today, we are seeing these failed leaders try to enact their ugly ideas in Texas and Florida. I’m heartbroken, and I’m angry.
In Texas, the Republican Attorney General issued an opinion earlier this week that classified gender-affirming medical care for young people as child abuse. The Republican Governor just backed him up, directing state agencies to investigate families who are receiving treatment, and ordering teachers, doctors, and caregivers to report trans children.
Meanwhile, the Florida legislature is advancing a bill that would forbid any mention of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. Until last night, it also included a provision that essentially required school personnel to out LGBTQ+ kids to their parents.
We won’t stand for these politically motivated attacks on children. LGBTQ+ youth deserve to live their truth – not to be used as political pawns. And this kind of rhetoric is exactly why 2021 was the deadliest year on record for trans and non-binary people. 375 trans people were murdered last year, including right here in Massachusetts.
I want every child watching to know that they are valid, beautiful, and loved. Will you share my tweet to help fill their social media feeds with love, rather than hate?
