JOHN,

Reflecting on the state of LGBTQ+ rights during this Pride Month, I still find myself unable to understand why folks like Ann Wagner on the Right simply cannot accept people for who they are. It speaks to a frightening lack of empathy for others—that, or a willful ignorance rooted in maintaining some perceived political advantage. Either way, it is completely unacceptable. 

Take, for example, this exchange between a 14 year old testifying against yet another in a long series of anti-trans "bathroom bills" and a Missouri legislator whose questioning exemplifies the unwillingness to understand or empathize with LGBTQ+ individuals:

MO Legislator: "Are you going to have the procedure?"

Youth: "You think we're going around forcing our genitalia in people's faces. We're trying to go to the bathroom."

Parent: "You're asking a 14-year-old on public record about genitals...[i]t's frankly inappropriate."  

These transphobic legislators are interrogating our courageous LGBTQ+ youth about their genitals, forcing them to come forward and explain why they are not a threat to hypothetical strangers in bathrooms. What do they think gives them the right? This bigotry must be condemned and opposed as strongly as possible. 

Listen, I know the last thing we want to think about is elections, much less a candidate reaching out asking for contributions. But the truth is, if allies like myself are going to be in positions of power and influence to fight back against anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, we need to run the strongest campaigns possible. If you can, please help me unseat Ann Wagner, one of Missouri's staunchest anti-LGBTQ+ representatives, with a contribution to my campaign for MO-02:

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Thank you for supporting this grassroots campaign. 

P.S. This campaign is not bankrolled by billionaires or special interest groups with their own agendas. We are entirely grassroots funded, and we need your support to win. Please consider donating whatever you can to help flip this seat in November.