Calling Trans Allies in Alabama
Thanks to Senator Tuberville for introducing a transphobic amendment to the Covid relief package (which got voted down, thank god) the conservatives in the state feel even more empowered to push the anti-Trans legislation that is currently on the schedule in Montgomery. If you are unaware: HB 391 will prohibit Trans kids from playing with the gender they identify and HB1/SB10 will prohibit doctors from giving gender affirming treatments to Trans/non-binary kids.
Here's the rundown: Pediatric medical/psychiatric professionals publicly support gender-affirming treatment for Trans kids who are at risk otherwise, whereas there is no medical evidence that trans kids receiving that same affirming care have any advantage over cis kids in sports. If you support legislation in our state that bans trans kids from sports or from getting proper medical care...you are opting to side AGAINST the medical community and vulnerable children and WITH a non-existent threatened group of athletes manufactured by transphobes.
If you do NOT support these bits of legislation YOUR VOICE NEEDS TO BE HEARD. Do not expect vulnerable children to be the face of the objection...this is the moment for BIG STRONG ADULT CISGENDER ALLIES to fight for the rights of some of our most vulnerable children.
STEP 1: Find your representatives
Find your STATE representatives. NOT your federal. Use this map tool here and enter your address and then scroll that blue bar on the right down until you see: "Alabama Senate" and "Alabama House Of Representatives". Those are the two people you should contact. Here’s my map.
STEP 2: Get contact info
Here is the House of Representatives member list and here is the Senators member list. Contact them however you feel comfortable. But do it OFTEN. Tell them that you do NOT support either piece of legislation and that to pass it would jeopardize the health and well-being of some of our most vulnerable children. Tell them you stand on the side of recommendations from pediatric doctors and mental health professionals. Tell them even the International Olympic Committee allows Trans athletes! Why shouldn't Alabama?
STEP 3: Stay Updated
Track the legislation here so you know to keep contacting your representatives as this keeps making its way through the legislative process. Track HB391, track SB10, and track HB1.
STEP 4: Follow Trans activists
I'm no expert. I'm just a concerned citizen who knows trans kids and refuses to see their health put at risk for an imaginary threat manufactured by transphobic conservatives. If you want experts, I follow Charlotte Clymer and Chase Strangio on Twitter. I think Clymer has a newsletter she publishes also through substack, but Strangio has a pinned tweet that tracks anti-Trans legislation. It’s a must read.