Protect Trans Kids. That's All

There’s a common misconception that humanity comes together in a crisis. Sure, some of us come together. And sometimes we collectively work toward the greater good. But in truth, crises just reveal who we are. In the past two years, humanity as a whole has shown itself to be an ugly, divided, selfish mess.

At a time when we needed to come together to stop something universally destructive, we decided instead to bicker over wearing masks and rally against life-saving vaccines. Yes, of course, some of you have it together and were great and perfect and did nothing wrong. But too many of us, we’re stuck in our own self-confirming silos where we only consume and spread information that we already believe. Our own comfort of thought has become so ingrained that any facts that contradict them are simply dismissed. Reality is only real if you believe it.

We’ve come to a point where people who on the surface seem perfectly ordinary have no shame sharing that, “Yes, I too think mandating a vaccine to protect you and others from a virus that has killed almost 6 million people globally is worse than Hitler! Send tweet! No notes!” (I mean, how could you have notes? You weren’t taught any history that made white people feel bad, so of course you think wearing a paper surgical mask or getting a routine vaccine is the same as exterminating 6 million Jews! That’s just history, folks!)

Anyway. Despite the pandemic’s negative impact on my view of humanity (seriously, we’re the worst), there are still plenty of things worth fighting tooth and nail for in this world. And one of them, quite simply, is trans kids.

Yesterday Republican Texas Gov. Abbott issued an order that essentially classified every parent of a trans child as child abusers. He also ordered state agencies investigate parents of trans children and required mandated reporters like doctors and teachers and caregivers to essentially tattle on them. Honestly, he said all Texans should tattle on them. Really.

The evolution of Republican wedge issues to trans kids using the bathroom, playing sports and getting gender-affirming healthcare (we queers know all about being used as wedges for simply existing) is as unsurprising as it is enraging. Humanity, it seems, is programmed to take sides as if life was a sporting event, and it’s only point to beat Team Other.

The relief of finally being rid of Trump has given way to an endless weariness about the continuation of all the evil he championed, and those empowered by his reign.

Did you like them separating kids from their parents at the border? You’re gonna love how Texas has now classified all parents of trans kids child abusers who must be ratted out by doctors, teachers and caregivers! Did you like how that Orange Stain said he could grab women by the pussy whenever he wanted? You’re gonna love how we’re gonna keep women from getting abortions even in cases of rape and incest! Did you like how the last administration openly courted those “very fine” white supremicists? You’re gonna love how school boards are now banning books about the Holocaust and forbidding the teaching of any history that might give white people a sads!

Think that’s enough for these so-called culture warriors? Too much is never enough. They won’t stop at abortion, they’re already questioning birth control coverage. They won’t stop at trans kids, they’re already pushing “Don’t Say Gay” bills. I hate that the only way to make people care, sometimes, is to say, “They're coming for you next.” But, they’re coming for you next.

Texas Republicans have decided hurting trans kids and families will get them more votes. If you think they won’t use you or your family if they think it will net them even one more vote (not that they believe in fair elections either, but still), then congratulations on being a rich, white, cis, male assault weapon owner, I guess.

I don’t know how to fix this. But I do know more kind, rational and empathetic people should be mad. We should be furious. We’ve been furious. We need to keep that fury. We need to be so mad that national journalists finally start interviewing us in coffee shops instead of and endless parade of Trump dead-enders. The GOP is great at whipping up a frenzy around absolute bullshit which then gets parroted by news organizations only concerned with covering the horse race of politics and not its actual impact. I wish I could fix this.

If you can, give to trans rights organizations, like Transgender Education Network of Texas. If you have the means to help, help the organizations on the ground. And just be mad. Tell people you’re mad. And don’t stop pushing back against the people who think taking loving parents away from their children for any reason is OK. Because it’s not OK. Protect trans kids. That’s all.