Protect Trans Rights
Petition to Congress:
Pass the Equality Act to protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination and allow trans people to access the gender-affirming care they need.
The nationwide GOP attack on trans people is dangerous, and is picking up steam in state legislatures. In Ron DeSantis’s Florida, Republicans are pushing state laws to restrict gender-affirming care and allow the state to take temporary custody of children who may be receiving gender-affirming care.1
Florida would be following Missouri’s hateful lead. The state recently passed an anti-trans law heavily restricting gender-affirming care for trans people. It forces people into 18 months of therapy before receiving care2 — a GOP restriction on care that sounds dangerously similar to conversion therapy. People seeking gender-affirming care would first have to be screened for autism and “social media addiction,” and any psychiatric symptoms, all which would have to be “resolved” before getting care.3
The freedom of trans people to get the care they need is under attack. Congress can pass legislation to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in medical care, employment, housing, and much more. With Republicans ramping up their attacks on trans people, we need federal action now.
Sign the petition: Pass the Equality Act now to protect the trans community from GOP attacks.
It’s not just DeSantis and the new hateful law in Missouri.
Nebraska is trying to pass a similar law while punishing a lawmaker, Megan Hunt, with a trans son who filibustered the anti-trans bill.4 There’s even currently an absurd investigation into Hunt for a conflict of interest because it could be easier for her son to access care if the bill fails. What an absolutely ridiculous premise for an ethics probe. It would be like investigating a lawmaker for advocating for Medicare or Social Security expansion because it could benefit their loved ones.
The Montana GOP just banned a trans lawmaker from speaking on the statehouse floor after protesting an anti-trans bill.5 The bills targeting the trans community and the extremist, hateful rhetoric from the right wing are not going to stop any time soon. Congress can take a big step towards protecting trans health care by passing the Equality Act now.
Add your name: Congress must pass the Equality Act now!
Sources:
- The Guardian, "Trans people, students and teachers are besieged by DeSantis’s crusade. But he’s not done yet,” April 13, 2023.
- NBC News, "Missouri to limit gender-affirming care for minors and adults,” April 14, 2023.
- Associated Press, "Transgender adults brace for treatment cutoffs in Missouri,” April 14, 2023.
- Washington Post, "Democrat with trans child opposes anti-trans bill — and draws ethics probe,” April 27, 2023.
- CNN, "Montana House Republicans ban Rep. Zooey Zephyr from House chamber for remainder of legislative session,” April 26, 2023.