Friend,

Right-wing extremists are taking advantage of a partisan, radical Supreme
Court to intensify their attacks on transgender rights to a national
level.

Just this year, a record-breaking 162 bills restricting trans rights have
been introduced across the country, 21 of which have been enacted.(1) In
Texas, where the GOP platform now defines homosexuality as an "abnormal
lifestyle choice,”(2) family protective services is actively investigating
parents who may have provided their trans kids with gender-affirming
care.(3)

We need to stand with trans people and their families! Representatives
Pramila Jayapal, David Cicilline, Marie Newman, Mark Takano, and Ritchie
Torres have introduced a Trans Bill of Rights in the House to protect
transgender and nonbinary Americans’ access to health care, employment,
and housing.(4) Congress can stop this discrimination -- but only with
grassroots support can we make this a priority to pass now.

[ [link removed] ]Trans kids and adults need support now more than ever. Join us in
calling on Congress to pass the Trans Bill of Rights!

52% of trans youth have contemplated suicide in the last year.(5) But
access to gender-affirming hormone therapy is associated with 40% lower
odds of depression and suicide among transgender and nonbinary youth.(6)

However, anti-trans state legislators have been blocking access to
gender-affirming care. Three governors have tried unsuccessfully to veto
the anti-trans bills enacted in their states -- including Republican Gov.
Spencer Cox of Utah, who pointed out in his veto that suicide rates are
improved when students are shown “even a little acceptance and
connection.”(7)

That’s why we need federal legislation that would stop these anti-trans
bills. The Trans Bill of Rights would add gender identity and sex
characteristics to the Civil Rights Act protections against employment
discrimination. It would protect rights to gender-affirming health care
and ban forced surgery on intersex children. It would ban conversion
therapy and establish a transgender liaison at the Civil Rights Division
of the Department of Justice.(8)

We must do everything necessary to stop states from chipping away at trans
people’s rights to health care, sports, and employment. Unless Congress
passes protections, trans Americans will continue to find their lives and
rights limited again and again. Republicans want us to believe this is a
fringe issue, but a two-thirds majority of Americans oppose laws attacking
trans rights.(9) We need to raise those voices to Congress so that
leadership takes up the Trans Bill of Rights.

[ [link removed] ]We need to protect our trans community before an extremist Supreme
Court rolls back more fundamental rights. Add your name now to demand that
Congress act!

Thanks for fighting for a more equitable country for all Americans.

–Irene, along with Amber, Angela, Annie, Mai, Isidra, Jay, Lindsay,
LisaMarie, Mai, Raquel and Scottie (the Courage team)

Footnotes:
1.
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2.
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4.
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5. Ibid.
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7.
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8.
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Courage California (formerly Courage Campaign) makes sure our democracy works for ALL of us by fighting corruption in California politics. We believe the solution lies in exposing and solving systemic problems through strategic organizing, enhancing coordination between progressive organizations, and mobilizing civic engagement from our communities, particularly voters of color, young voters, and self-identified progressives.

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