Seven years ago, my parents and I drove down to Legislative Hall to testify before the Delaware State Senate and to urge them to pass the Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Act. (1/9)
Standing on the floor of the Delaware State Senate and with tears in our eyes, my parents and I shared our family’s story and asked for something simple: the equal protection of our laws. (2/9)
Fighting for your basic rights can be a demoralizing and dehumanizing experience. When there is no one like you in government, it can be lonely and scary. (3/9)
But in the end, with a mix of compassion and courage and with not one vote to spare, we were able to pass our bill. Transgender Delawareans were finally protected from discrimination. (4/9)
At the time, some were hostile to an out trans person merely testifying before the State Senate. It was certainly out of the ordinary for everyone. (5/9)
For that nervous but hopeful 22 year old woman, the thought that I could one day serve in that body seemed so impossible that it was almost incomprehensible. (6/9)
And, yet, this weekend, just seven years later, I returned to Legislative Hall together with my parents for the first time since we worked on that bill -- now, as a newly elected member of that same senate. (7/9)
As a newly elected state senator, it is now my job to stand in that chamber and to fight for opportunity and dignity for every single one of my neighbors. I do so with the hope and knowledge that change is possible because I’ve seen it, I’ve fought it, and I’ve lived it. (8/9)
As they say, “change is always impossible until it’s inevitable.” But only if we work for it.
Donald Trump's roll back of health care protections for LGBTQ people puts millions at risk.
These protections were my late husband Andy's life’s work - an advancement he didn't see before he passed away from cancer. (Thread)
I know the fear of discrimination in health care. I’ve felt it myself. And I saw it in Andy’s eyes as he battled cancer as a transgender man -- the creeping fear that his disease might meet discrimination that could be deadly.
Despite Andy’s cancer eventually taking his life, we were still both lucky -- lucky not to have faced discrimination, lucky to have care, and lucky that his care bought us time to live and love as much as possible. Many aren’t nearly as lucky.
This happened to me earlier today. We had just concluded a really powerful meeting with parents of transgender youth and members of Congress and I won't let this incident diminish the love, pride and solidarity that filled that room just moments before. gaystarnews.com/article/video-…
The sad truth is that this kind of harassment is the reality for far too many transgender people, particularly trans women of color, across the country and around the world.
Throughout the incident, I thought about the trans youth who have to experience their hostility and bullying day-in and day-out in the United Kingdom.