Thread by @RavBogard

Missouri Republicans aren't letting the parents, doctors, friends, and allies of trans kids into the hearing room where they are debating criminalizing gender affirming care. So I'm going to tweet out my testimony instead 🧵 #ProtectTransKids #moleg 1/

My name is Daniel Bogard, I’m a rabbi at Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis, MO, I’m a 6th generation Missourian, and I’m the parent of a trans 9 year old boy. 2/

He’s 9, so “gender affirming care” at his age involves haircuts, boys clothes, and not much more than that. We checked in with a counselor when he first transitioned, but we haven’t needed much support as he’s a really well adjusted kid. 3/

I don’t know what the future will hold for him when it comes to gender affirming care. I promise you that I agonize over the possible side effects of puberty-blockers & hormone therapy more than any of you ever will; He’s my kid! 4/

But I also agonize about what will happen to him if he doesn’t have access to these treatments. 5/

Because the hardest part of being a parent to a trans kid–even harder than struggling through uncomfortable medical questions for my kid–is that it feels like our government is at war with us. 6/

It feels like we are being used as a political football & all we are asking for is to be left alone. For our government to stop telling us how to raise our kids. For you all to respect our rights as parents to make the sorts of decisions that only parents should make. 7/

My Grandpa built the house that I live in, that my kids live in. It’s where my dad grew up, it’s where I grew up, and it’s where my kids are growing up.

I don’t need you to understand trans people; I get it. I didn’t understand any of this until I had a trans kid my self. 8/

I’m just asking you to not make us choose between raising my kids in our family homestead, and living in fear that DFS is going to show up at our door for following the best advice of my kid's doctors. 9/

I’m not a quack, I’m not a lunatic. I’m just a dad, trying to protect my kid and my family. And I’m begging you to leave us alone. #ProtectTransKids #FromRepublicans 10/10