Young people shouldn’t have to worry about their basic rights, dignities, and protections from harassment and abuse, but of course, thanks to Republicans, they do. Conservatives haven’t been shy about demonizing and isolating LGBTQ+ youth—and especially trans youth—from their peers if they think it’ll get them more votes in the midterm elections.
We’ve seen this happen across the nation in the form of anti-trans sports bills that aim to keep trans girls from participating on teams that align with their gender identity, as well as efforts to ban trans youth from using the appropriate bathrooms and locker rooms. We’ve also seen ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bills catch on, further ostracizing both LGBTQ+ students and their families—and even educators and public school staff. Book ban efforts also target queer youths as well as youth of color.
But students are fighting back. For example, as reported by the Arizona Republic, hundreds of high schoolers in Arizona walked out of class last week to protest new laws that went into effect last weekend. Signed into law by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, a number of anti-queer and specifically anti-trans bills are rich with discrimination—including against people too young to even vote.
RELATED: Trans young people say quality of life drastically improved after gender-affirming 'top' surgery
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Hamilton High School senior Blues Patrick told the Arizona Mirror that it’s “embarrassing” to live in a place where people are at “risk” for being themselves and “loving who they want.” And you know what? They’re absolutely right.
Patrick, along with hundreds of peers, participated in the coordinated walkout protest last Thursday. One law that went into effect over the weekend includes a ban on “sexually explicit” material in public school classrooms from kindergarten through the 12th grade. But like book ban efforts to ban “obscene” or “inappropriate” material, this is basically a ban on LGBTQ+ writers and characters. Don’t believe me? This measure initially included “homosexuality” as part of “explicit” material, although that language was eventually struck from the bill.
Two other major bills signed into law include one that bars trans youth from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identity and one that bans access to safe, age-appropriate, gender-affirming health care.
“These bills are killing us,” said Dawn Shim, who worked to organize the protest at their high school, per the Phoenix New Times. Shim added that students aren’t missing school because they “want” to but rather because they’ve been “forced” to.
Another law that’s legitimately dangerous for trans youth requires schools to report confidential student records—including from counseling services, for example—to parents and guardians. This could result in young people being “outed” against their will and potentially put in unsafe living situations, or even forced to become homeless.
“School should be a safe place,” said 14-year-old student Ace Yates, according to LBGTQ Nation, adding that teachers can be a safe space for students with homophobic parents to talk to, and this law “shatters” that element of trust.
Students have been protesting anti-LGBTQ+ bills, laws, and policies all over the country. It’s inspiring but it’s also deeply sad. Young people shouldn’t have to lose out on their education in order to fight for their basic rights. They shouldn’t need to lose sleep worrying about whether or not their school will potentially put them in danger because they dared to be honest about who they are or what they believe in while at school. They shouldn’t need to fear no longer being able to play a sport or use the bathroom they’re comfortable in because of their gender identity. It’s not fair. It’s humiliating, exhausting, and frankly, discriminatory.
So many of these brave young people are too young to vote and that’s another reminder that we all need to step up when we can, and that includes in local and state elections.
We have an even shot at keeping our House majority, but only if enough Democrats turn out to vote. Click to start writing Postcards to Democratic-leaning voters in targeted House districts today.
We’ve seen this happen across the nation in the form of anti-trans sports bills that aim to keep trans girls from participating on teams that align with their gender identity, as well as efforts to ban trans youth from using the appropriate bathrooms and locker rooms. We’ve also seen ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bills catch on, further ostracizing both LGBTQ+ students and their families—and even educators and public school staff. Book ban efforts also target queer youths as well as youth of color.
But students are fighting back. For example, as reported by the Arizona Republic, hundreds of high schoolers in Arizona walked out of class last week to protest new laws that went into effect last weekend. Signed into law by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, a number of anti-queer and specifically anti-trans bills are rich with discrimination—including against people too young to even vote.
RELATED: Trans young people say quality of life drastically improved after gender-affirming 'top' surgery
Campaign Action
Hamilton High School senior Blues Patrick told the Arizona Mirror that it’s “embarrassing” to live in a place where people are at “risk” for being themselves and “loving who they want.” And you know what? They’re absolutely right.
Patrick, along with hundreds of peers, participated in the coordinated walkout protest last Thursday. One law that went into effect over the weekend includes a ban on “sexually explicit” material in public school classrooms from kindergarten through the 12th grade. But like book ban efforts to ban “obscene” or “inappropriate” material, this is basically a ban on LGBTQ+ writers and characters. Don’t believe me? This measure initially included “homosexuality” as part of “explicit” material, although that language was eventually struck from the bill.
Two other major bills signed into law include one that bars trans youth from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identity and one that bans access to safe, age-appropriate, gender-affirming health care.
“These bills are killing us,” said Dawn Shim, who worked to organize the protest at their high school, per the Phoenix New Times. Shim added that students aren’t missing school because they “want” to but rather because they’ve been “forced” to.
Another law that’s legitimately dangerous for trans youth requires schools to report confidential student records—including from counseling services, for example—to parents and guardians. This could result in young people being “outed” against their will and potentially put in unsafe living situations, or even forced to become homeless.
“School should be a safe place,” said 14-year-old student Ace Yates, according to LBGTQ Nation, adding that teachers can be a safe space for students with homophobic parents to talk to, and this law “shatters” that element of trust.
Students have been protesting anti-LGBTQ+ bills, laws, and policies all over the country. It’s inspiring but it’s also deeply sad. Young people shouldn’t have to lose out on their education in order to fight for their basic rights. They shouldn’t need to lose sleep worrying about whether or not their school will potentially put them in danger because they dared to be honest about who they are or what they believe in while at school. They shouldn’t need to fear no longer being able to play a sport or use the bathroom they’re comfortable in because of their gender identity. It’s not fair. It’s humiliating, exhausting, and frankly, discriminatory.
So many of these brave young people are too young to vote and that’s another reminder that we all need to step up when we can, and that includes in local and state elections.
We have an even shot at keeping our House majority, but only if enough Democrats turn out to vote. Click to start writing Postcards to Democratic-leaning voters in targeted House districts today.