Trans Visibility #TDOV during GA Legislation
This week Anna Baxter, our practice owner and primary blogger, has watched the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives carefully as they voted on HB 1140 and HB 1107, both bills restricting transgender student’s access to gender affirming experiences in schools, sports, and important healthcare that could save them years of emotional and physical agony. It’s poignant to notice that today, International Trans Day of Visibility, is the Sunday after the final day of this legislation session when our state government failed to bring these bills to a vote, letting them die for 2024. As transgender mental health care providers who support and serve our transgender community, we are uniquely affected by bills like these as both humans ourselves and care professionals. We worry not only about our own safety but those of our friends, loved ones, and our clients, too. Today on #TDOV2024 we want to lift our voices on trans rights and celebrate that these bills did not get passed.
From Anna Baxter, LPC
I remember when Caitlyn Jenner came out as transgender in April 2015 on 20/20. I was an employee of Wellspring Counseling back then. As a team, we discussed how it was a monumental moment for transgender people in the closet or who did know yet for themselves because increased visibility was going to give them the permission to pursue authenticity for themselves. That day we also discussed our fears regarding the inevitable backlash transgender people will face as the misinformed and fearful would turn their efforts away from preventing gay marriage to trying to eliminate transgender people through control of the government and spread of misinformation. Over the past 9 years, this feared reality has come true as more states propose and pass state laws restricting transgender people’s right to use facilities that feel safest for them and access incredibly important medical care. As a counselor, I regularly support my anxious clients through challenging their mind’s catastrophizing regarding a feared future. I’m sad today to acknowledge that my feared future has come true across our nation. As a transmasculine non-binary person myself, I feel the pressure from the lack of acceptance and the need to fight for my right to exist in public spaces. Today on TDOV I feel empowered from the immense amount of love (and privilege) in my life to raise my voice with all the others to emphasize the importance that we exist, we have always existed, and no government can erase us from history or the future, no matter how hard they try. I am deeply grateful to all the parents, advocates, and medical professionals that contacted Georgia representatives, put letters proclaiming our objection in the hands of Senators and got these bills shut down.
The White House’s statement of Trans Day of Visibility
The Human Rights Campaign’s post on TDOV with lots more links
A great summary of Trans Day of Visibility and the importance of trans voices from Lambda Legal
