Hey there, this is Chloe, live tweeting the SB 99 hearing this morning: sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00309/Harmony/… #protecttranskids #mtleg
We've been following SB 99 closely, as it would have major impacts on trans youth and their families, doctors, teachers, and counselors - blocking minors' access to not only medical transition, but ALSO support with social transition
We've been hearing from proponents of the bill so far this morning, spewing stock nonsense about "protecting children" from..... being trans?
Check out @ErinInTheMorn's thread for some great commentary on these proponents' shockingly uninformed testimonies🙃
https://twitter.com/ErinInTheMorn/status/1618985998490402816?s=20&t=M_PMCmF69embDSHSAVqVMw
We're on Zoom testimony now and just heard from a Mom's For Liberty lady with a wildly unsuitable metaphor about transitioning.... and then a ton of zoom sign ups were just not there? which rules for us
Wow this is the first time I'm hearing about the government's fight to make hormones more accessible to young folks....
fact check on the last testimony citing a "swedish study" : transadvocate.com/fact-check-stu…
We're moving to opponents now! <3
A medical professional is up there addressing some misinfo:
- there is no one way to be transgender or transition
- there is no set outcome for gender-affirming care other than allowing someone to be who they are
- there is no one way to be transgender or transition
- there is no set outcome for gender-affirming care other than allowing someone to be who they are
“I do not need you to tell me how to protect my child."
Several opponents have made it clear that this bill puts young people's lives at risk.
Several opponents have made it clear that this bill puts young people's lives at risk.
20 healthcare organizations and associations, including the Montana Medical Association, Montana Nurses' Association, Billings Clinic, Bozeman Health, and more, are united AGAINST SB 99
Akilah Deernose testifying on behalf of the ACLU of Montana:
"The state cannot legislate morality, nor can it discriminate on the basis of sex"
Great job pointing out the ways that this bill violates the Equal Protection Clause 👏
"The state cannot legislate morality, nor can it discriminate on the basis of sex"
Great job pointing out the ways that this bill violates the Equal Protection Clause 👏
A Montana Medical Association representative brought to light the way this bill threatens medical privacy and patient choice
"SB 99 pierces this veil of privacy in ways that are unprecedented"
"SB 99 pierces this veil of privacy in ways that are unprecedented"
A doctor from Shodair Children's Hospital:
"SB 99 criminalizes the practice of evidence-based medicine"
Thank you to all the medical professionals showing up today to put a stop to SB99 💖 #protecttranskids #mtleg
"SB 99 criminalizes the practice of evidence-based medicine"
Thank you to all the medical professionals showing up today to put a stop to SB99 💖 #protecttranskids #mtleg
A young trans person is telling his story, making some great points:
"Gender-affirming surgery has been around for longer than a decent amount of people in this room today"
"Gender-affirming surgery has been around for longer than a decent amount of people in this room today"
More young trans people redirecting the false narrative of doctors "handing out hormones" by telling us what their actual experience was seeking gender-affirming care - and the overwhelmingly positive impact that care had on them 🏳️⚧️💞
A medical professional is reminding folks that you can't even get bottom surgery in Montana!
Montana Federation of Public Employees rep: this bill is overly broad, would do damage to the state of Montana, and would criminalize public employees for serving the public with fairness
The last woman who testified interviewed trans folks in Montana for this study, check it out!: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
Keegan Medrano, a proud Two-Spirit person from the ACLU:
“I hope everyone… sees laid bare the paradox being presented here. We reject this attempt to extinguish our self-determination"
"OUR LAUGHTER KNOWS NO SHAME, OUR JOY IS ENDLESS"
“I hope everyone… sees laid bare the paradox being presented here. We reject this attempt to extinguish our self-determination"
"OUR LAUGHTER KNOWS NO SHAME, OUR JOY IS ENDLESS"
Izzy from Forward Montana is up!
In all their work, they've never heard from a single young trans person that they've felt pressure to transition....
In all their work, they've never heard from a single young trans person that they've felt pressure to transition....
.... and the truth is that these brave trans kids are choosing to be their true selves despite hateful and transphobic policies and peers, and “seeing that bravery has been one of the greatest honors of my life” 🥲🥹
I'm really wishing I could type faster rn
“I ask you to love. I urge you to love…. If you do choose to pass SB 99 know that there will be people who will not feel safe around you”
On transitioning as a "fad" :
"There was a rise in left handedness when we stopped punishing people for being left handed"
"There was a rise in left handedness when we stopped punishing people for being left handed"
ahaha sign of a great testimony is being asked to "tone it down" after comparing bigotry to cannibalism
Several opponents have pointed out that health care providers could leave the state of Montana because of this bill, which would only add to the workforce shortage that Montana is experiencing
So many people are sharing their stories in such honest, vulnerable ways
“If you pass this bill, you will be taking away the medication that is allowing her to live…withholding this crucial medical treatment is inhumane and is a violation of our rights.”
“If you pass this bill, you will be taking away the medication that is allowing her to live…withholding this crucial medical treatment is inhumane and is a violation of our rights.”
A pediatrician with a non-binary patient:
“medical providers have a duty to provide life-saving care. This bill would force me to choose between providing life-saving care and keeping my practice. I don’t see a future...
“medical providers have a duty to provide life-saving care. This bill would force me to choose between providing life-saving care and keeping my practice. I don’t see a future...
.... practicing in a state that is willing to force that choice.”
we see you, love you, and fight with you, too! 🥹🏳️🌈
we see you, love you, and fight with you, too! 🥹🏳️🌈
Beautiful testimony from Rep. Zooey Zephyr that @ErinInTheMorn typed out way faster than me - check it out on her page!
wow wow some absolute transphobic and lowkey incoherent vitriol in the proponent zoom testimony 🤮 I thought that part was over
A pastor out of Great Falls:
“Our trans siblings embody co-creation in a way that me and my cisgendered siblings will never get to experience.”
Lots of great local (!) folks opposing SB 99 virtually today, too <3
“Our trans siblings embody co-creation in a way that me and my cisgendered siblings will never get to experience.”
Lots of great local (!) folks opposing SB 99 virtually today, too <3
"I request that you table this bill and leave your ego, your politics, and your religious beliefs out of the equation"
A transgender man who transitioned at 41 years old:
“I want the kids listening to this testimony to know that they are loved, they are seen, and they are valid. I’m doing this today for the kids, not for you.”
“I want the kids listening to this testimony to know that they are loved, they are seen, and they are valid. I’m doing this today for the kids, not for you.”
i really hope that it's started to sink in to at least ONE proponent that if this bill passes, they've got blood on their hands.
Our own Pari just testified!
“I am absolutely sick and tired of seeing brilliant and wonderful people leaving our state because they do not feel safe… this type of legislation is doing worlds of harm.
Spend time focusing on real crises that we are experiencing in this state”
“I am absolutely sick and tired of seeing brilliant and wonderful people leaving our state because they do not feel safe… this type of legislation is doing worlds of harm.
Spend time focusing on real crises that we are experiencing in this state”
Literally so much incredible testimony:
“How much taxpayer money will be lost in the lawsuit that follows? To the committee members, SB99 is just a piece of paper on their desk, but to the trans people it impacts, it is state-enforced restriction on their private medical choices”
“How much taxpayer money will be lost in the lawsuit that follows? To the committee members, SB99 is just a piece of paper on their desk, but to the trans people it impacts, it is state-enforced restriction on their private medical choices”
words cannot fully describe how I feel, awash in so much compelling support for trans, non-binary, and two-spirit youth from parents, medical professionals, teachers, and young trans people themselves! 🏳️⚧️😊💞
hey... I LOVE BEING TRANS ! we are sacred, we are whole, and we are ungovernable
very cool info about transgender people being in the Talmud from a rabbi!
We're doing questions and it's already pretty rocky
q: is this bill unconstitutional? can any amendments be made to make it constitutional?
a: yes, it violates the equal protection clause with no reasonable justification. and no.
a: yes, it violates the equal protection clause with no reasonable justification. and no.
Senator Regier seemingly doesn't know what the Montana Medical Association does
A psychiatrist is being questioned in a very confusing way and they are answering in a very calm and intelligent manner...
ohhhh the question is alluding that gender dysphoria is a dissociative disorder - which is literally NOT TRUE!
ohhhh the question is alluding that gender dysphoria is a dissociative disorder - which is literally NOT TRUE!
flex that psychiatric knowledge, hell yeah. senators should probably stop pretending they know more about medicine than actual experts.
Sen. Gross for Dr. Wilson: can you tell us about detransition in Montana?
Wilson corrected wildly inaccurate detransition stats stated this morning (80%?! detransition rate) - a 2.5% rate is a more accurate representation.
Wilson corrected wildly inaccurate detransition stats stated this morning (80%?! detransition rate) - a 2.5% rate is a more accurate representation.
i'm absolutely losing my mind over here
"no sir, you should seek help for your son"
"no sir, you should seek help for your son"
for context, this is after a senator asked if he should seek "suicide affirming care" for his son
okay, whew, it's over. thanks for tuning in, thank you so much to everyone who showed up to testify - your strength is astounding 🏳️⚧️we know our values. #protecttranskids #mtleg
LOVE IS SO POWERFUL, Y'ALL 💞 fuck what these transphobic senators have to say - we'll protect each other til the end.
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