Lawmakers in 19 states seek legal refuge legislation for trans youth

This is the door that opens for y'all. Not me. For y'all. It just made me realize that I'm not alone and that I don't have to go through this one. This is what success looks looks like. This is what community looks like. Mm hmm. Mm hmm. What does it mean to be transgender for a prom queen? It means leaving the football team to become the woman she's always wanted to be for a high school soccer player. It means fighting to play the game she loves. And for hundreds of others, it means striving to find peace and safety in a world that's not always accepting. MJ Rodriguez has just made history becoming the first transgender actress to win a golden globe for her role on pose. A show that's broken barriers by portraying storylines with trans characters played by trans actors. That recognition is a long time coming for the transgender community. Rodriguez and her peers bring visibility and awareness nationwide. These two high school students are doing the same thing in their communities. So I played football for about like six years, 6-8. And I remember, you know, during practices, I'd stare at the cheerleaders because I wanted to be with them. Evan bile. Asuka Nia was crowned Olympia High School's first transgender homecoming queen in the fall of 2021 in florida. She started transitioning just a few months before and when her classmates voted to give her the crown and Sash, it meant everything. And so did having a supportive date by her side. It just made me feel like I was actually I actually belong, not just like a joke because I was one of my fears. I was like in bed one night and just like what if they're just doing this to laugh at me. He made me feel just like any other girl. I was talking to a person that's on prom committee and they said that you won prom queen And I was just like, are you being serious in 2018 at homestead high school in Wisconsin. Then jr Nikko Nelson was crowned Prom Queen. She transitioned in junior high and said that she had her family and best friends support something that not all trans teens are fortunate enough to have. I was a boy when I met her and then when I started transitioning, she, I didn't think of me differently. People love makeup. Like love her and I'm like glad people can see her as the way I see her. I didn't win prom queen for being a transgender girl. I went prom queen for being Nico nelson. These young women have found support in their communities, but that's not always the case for many others across the country who face discrimination and violence Around the country. There's been an epidemic of murder of trans people. In fact, this year is the highest year, 48 murders that we've been able to count this year since we've been recording trans murders. The human rights campaign began keeping track in 2013 Since then at least 250 transgender or gender nonconforming people have been killed, The majority being women of Colour. One was Marquesa Lawrence. She was shot and killed in Greenville South Carolina on November 4, 2021. I just wish people stop being so heartless, care more love more understand, we love our family and she was a big part of it. Another was bee, love slater who was murdered on september 4th 2019 and Clewiston florida. She was such a kind heart and for someone that young and so kind spirited to be taken away so early is very devastating to anyone transgender day of remembrance honors their memory and the other victims of violence. But activists say the true number is much higher than what we know they're very common. And the reason that they're not seen in the headlines is that trans people often go unnoticed. Their stories are not heard. The story that often gets attention. The effort to ban transgender students from playing sports. I think it sends a really dangerous message to trans Children. I think the message that is being sent right now is that they are not worth protecting and that and that they're somehow less than or wrong states are introducing legislation to ban transgender athletes from competing as young as elementary school students. We believe in the state of florida of protecting the fairness and the integrity of women's athletics florida is one of several states that have passed laws, supporters say it's about fairness. But opponents say these bills do the opposite. The biggest problem with this issue is that you're underestimating how how good girls are at sports. Like that is. The worst part about saying it's unfair is you're telling girls they're already weaker. Please don't deny other transgender girls the opportunity to have these experiences and ability to be on a team. Just having fun and being active and learning about sportsmanship. Everybody should be able to participate regardless of their gender identity. The Justice Department, the Human rights Campaign and the w have all challenged these bands in court on behalf of transgender teens who may have been sidelined. Many of the lawsuits are still pending as these lawsuits go forward. Members of the trans community are undeterred using their voices to fight for acceptance by having that flag being up where it is. It shows that we're not alone, that there is folks that support us that support our friends and family that support our community. We're just people right. We are people like everyone else and we want to feel safe and feel inclusion in our communities. Just know that there are people out there like me who love you and accept you for who you are and you will be forever loved by everybody out there. Mm hmm. Mm hmm

Democratic lawmakers in more than a dozen states are following California’s lead in seeking to offer legal refuge to displaced transgender youth and their families.The coordinated effort being announced Tuesday by the LGBTQ Victory Institute and other advocates comes in response to recent actions taken in conservative states. In Texas, for example, Gov. Gregg Abbott has directed state agencies to consider placing transgender children in foster care, though a judge has temporarily blocked such investigations. And multiple states have approved measures prohibiting gender-affirming health care treatments for transgender youth.To combat such moves, lawmakers in both Minnesota and New York recently filed refuge state legislation modeled after the bill proposed in March by state Sen. Scott Wiener in California. Democrats in 16 other states plan to follow suit, though about half of their legislatures are out of session or not currently accepting new bills.Wiener said he immediately began hearing from other states after coming forward with his bill, which would reject any out-of-state court judgments removing children from their parents�� custody because they allowed gender-affirming health care. It also would make arrest warrants based on alleged violation of another state’s law against receiving such care the lowest priority for California law enforcement.“We’re sick of just playing defense against what these red states are doing,�� Wiener said in an interview Monday. “We’re going on offense, we’re going to protect LGBQT kids and their families and we’re going to build a rainbow wall to protect our community.”Also joining the effort are LGBTQ lawmakers in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.Annise Parker, president and CEO of the Victory Institute, acknowledged that the legislation likely will fail in some states but said it was time to stand against the onslaught of bills targeting the LGBTQ community.“This is our opportunity to drive the conversation and the debate, and to call on our allies proactively to step up instead of allowing ourselves to be targeted,�� said Parker, who was the first openly LGBTQ mayor of a major American city when she led Houston for six years.“We would love to see these bills in states where there are more progressive legislatures,�� she said. “But we also think it’s important that trans kids and their families out there see and hear legislators from our community standing up and defending them.”Wiener said it is despicable that any family would have to consider moving to a new state to protect a child, but if that happens, he hopes as many states as possible will welcome them.“When your kid is being threatened with removal from your home, families are going to consider a lot of different options, and we just want to be clear that if you decide that’s the option for you, we’re going to do everything we can do to welcome you and protect you,�� he said.

Democratic lawmakers in more than a dozen states are following California’s lead in seeking to offer legal refuge to displaced transgender youth and their families.

The coordinated effort being announced Tuesday by the LGBTQ Victory Institute and other advocates comes in response to recent actions taken in conservative states. In Texas, for example, Gov. Gregg Abbott has directed state agencies to consider placing transgender children in foster care, though a judge has such investigations. And multiple states have approved measures prohibiting gender-affirming health care treatments for transgender youth.

To combat such moves, lawmakers in both Minnesota and New York recently filed refuge state legislation modeled after the bill proposed in March by state Sen. Scott Wiener in California. Democrats in 16 other states plan to follow suit, though about half of their legislatures are out of session or not currently accepting new bills.

Wiener said he immediately began hearing from other states after coming forward with his bill, which would reject any out-of-state court judgments removing children from their parents�� custody because they allowed gender-affirming health care. It also would make arrest warrants based on alleged violation of another state’s law against receiving such care the lowest priority for California law enforcement.

“We’re sick of just playing defense against what these red states are doing,�� Wiener said in an interview Monday. “We’re going on offense, we’re going to protect LGBQT kids and their families and we’re going to build a rainbow wall to protect our community.��

Also joining the effort are LGBTQ lawmakers in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.

Annise Parker, president and CEO of the Victory Institute, acknowledged that the legislation likely will fail in some states but said it was time to stand against the onslaught of bills targeting the LGBTQ community.

“This is our opportunity to drive the conversation and the debate, and to call on our allies proactively to step up instead of allowing ourselves to be targeted,�� said Parker, who was the first openly LGBTQ mayor of a major American city when she led Houston for six years.

“We would love to see these bills in states where there are more progressive legislatures,�� she said. “But we also think it’s important that trans kids and their families out there see and hear legislators from our community standing up and defending them.��

Wiener said it is despicable that any family would have to consider moving to a new state to protect a child, but if that happens, he hopes as many states as possible will welcome them.

“When your kid is being threatened with removal from your home, families are going to consider a lot of different options, and we just want to be clear that if you decide that’s the option for you, we’re going to do everything we can do to welcome you and protect you,�� he said.

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Lawmakers in 19 states seek legal refuge legislation for trans youth

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