As State Lawmakers Declare War On Trans People, Here’s How We Can Protect Them

LGB People Must Speak Up To Change Hearts And Minds

State legislatures across the country will be gaveled into formal session this week, and many of them have made LGBT people their target. Specifically, our transgender family, friends, and community members. 

Six states so far (Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, South Carolina, and Virginia) have pre-filed legislation determining where and when transgender people are allowed to use the bathroom. Alabama’s goes so far as to creating a new job, “bathroom monitor.” Kentucky’s proposal was filed by a Democrat. (Seriously!) And while most of the bills only apply to government-owned facilities (including schools and universities), Missiouri’s bill would regulate every multi-person bathroom in the entire state. Texas’ version of the law is particularly terrible.

Before we start chanting that this is all Trump’s fault, it’s important to put this all in context. This is the backlash to marriage equality that was promised. While I wouldn’t be shocked if some of these bills’ authors are also Trump supporters (even the Democrat), I think we would have seen these bills pop up even if Clinton had won — perhaps we would have seen even more of them. But that doesn’t much matter now. These laws are here, and it’s time to stop them.  

Of course our movement’s brightest and best lawyers and activisits will be taking up the mantle to fight these proposals in the courts and legislatures — I have no doubt I’ll be spending quite a bit of time in my own state capitol (Georgia) over the next few weeks — but that’s just one battle in a larger war. 

We simply cannot gain full legal equality and societal acceptance for our entire community in legislative chambers and court rooms. Those wins are incredibly important, but rarely do they change hearts and minds. That’s where the rest of us come in. 

I want to challenge all of you reading this. We know that minds are changed when people have face-to-face conversations with their friends, family, and communities. It’s so much harder to hate a friend than a stranger. All of us need to speak up about how unjust these laws are — and not just to the people who agree with us. 

If we want to be any kind of ally or advocate, we have to be unafraid to speak out when we see things happening. It doesn’t need to be anything big or formal. A quick moment at the water cooler or in life for coffee is all it can take. “I can’t believe they’re trying to pass one of those bathroom laws here. Don’t they see how much it’s hurting North Carolina? Why do they want to damage our state?” is all it takes. Let your family and friends know that you don’t support these laws.

Lawmakers listen to their constituents, and when they don’t hear anything, they will always choose the easiest route. The folks who dislike us — especially those who dislike our trans family and friends — are loud. They never stop. We have to be louder, and we have to talk to more people. 

Calling lawmakers and showing up to protests is great, and it often changes laws. Having a powerful and heartfelt one-on-one conversation with someone often changes hearts and minds. We won marriage equality by focusing on both strategies at the same time. It’s how we changed the communal thinking. We have to the same thing now if we want to protect our trans family and friends. They stood by us over the decades as we fought for our rights, and now we’re not just fighting for their rights, they are, quite literally, under attack. 

We owe it to them to be there, to fight for them, and to protect them. After all, it’s exactly what they did for us.

Robbie Medwed is an Atlanta-based LGBT activist, educator, and writer. He’s not sure if he’s more excited or scared that the state legislative sessions are starting again, but he’ll there anyway, arguing and fighting as always. Follow him on Twitter: @rjmedwed