Response to Trump's attack on Trans Community

Since long before Trump was elected to a second term, I have been extremely concerned about how he will trample on the rights of transgender Americans and other minorities. Oftentimes Trump and his Republican enablers seem to act purely out of hatred, and there is no question that their political stunts put vulnerable Americans at risk. Transgender individuals, in particular, have faced significant adversity, experiencing discrimination, hate crimes, attempts to limit bodily autonomy, and worsened mental health as a result. This makes it more important than ever that we defend the rights and freedoms of every individual and push for progress in pursuit of equality for all Americans. I will continue to do so as I always have.

A critical part of protecting vulnerable Americans is discussing their issues. Sadly, too many Democrats are afraid that they will be attacked for even entertaining meaningful dialogue and debate around contentious issues like regulations for transgender women in sports. As a result, we have completely ceded the field to the GOP and their extremist policies. For too long, when Republicans advance harmful legislation, we have nothing but abstinence to offer in response. I refuse to do that.

A prime example of how this plays out is with the Trump administration's extreme and persistent vilification of transgender athletes. While I agree with the 80% of Americans, including nearly 70% of Democrats, who believe there should be reasonable restrictions for safety and fairness (just like in the Olympics), Trump and the GOP simply go too far. For instance, the Trump administration's Executive Order banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports fails to distinguish between children and adults and different levels of athletics. Likewise, in Congress, I voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act because younger kids who simply want to play recreational sports and build camaraderie like everybody else should not be targeted by the federal government. I played co-ed sports myself growing up. Yet Trump is trying to end these opportunities for all kids while claiming that transgender people don’t exist.

Similarly, I am deeply concerned about the Commander-in-Chief’s plan to medically discharge an estimated 15,000 transgender service members. These Americans are honorably serving in our military right now because they have met every standard to serve. Trump, who dodged the draft to avoid serving himself, signed an order that explicitly declares that every single one of them is dishonorable, untruthful, undisciplined, and selfish, solely based on their gender. The same arguments were used a century ago to prevent Black Americans from serving when they met the same standards as everyone else. Especially at a time when national security threats are high and recruiting is down, we should be honoring all the Americans willing to put their lives on the line for our country.

At the local level, my office has been hearing from and working with trans constituents who are worried about getting their passports renewed, and specifically that having a gender marker on their passport that’s different from how they outwardly present will open them up to discrimination and even violence. There is no legitimate reason for this mandate except to further try to erase trans people’s existence.

Meanwhile, Trump is also threatening to cut funding from public schools that recognize transgender students and trying to across-the-board ban all forms of gender affirming care for every trans person under 19 years old. There are legitimate debates in the medical community about what standards of care are appropriate, but outright bans take basic liberties away from the doctors, patients, and families who can best make these incredibly difficult decisions.

Civil rights, health care, and freedom of speech are fundamental American rights that apply to everyone without exception. Throughout history, they have also formed a winning platform for expanding rights in the face of those who try to take them away, so we must stand firm on these core human rights while being willing to debate the other issues, like sports participation, in an effort to find common ground even with those who disagree on the details. That’s how we build a winning coalition to sideline hateful extremists, like Trump, and protect the rights of every American.

I have always been proud to support legislation that would protect the transgender community from attacks on their identities and wellbeing, and have a long history of doing so. I have repeatedly cosponsored the Equality Act, which would explicitly include LGBTQ+ people as a protected class under the Civil Rights Act. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I also continue to fight to block amendments to defense legislation that would be harmful to LGBTQ+ servicemembers, like a ban on gender-affirming care for servicemembers that Republicans attempted to jam through last year.

We must not back down, and I will not be cowed into silence by either extremes in this debate. As we continue to endure a second Trump administration, protecting the rights and liberties of all individuals is of the utmost importance. Thank you again for contacting me, and please continue to share your ideas and feedback.