International Transgender Visibility Day, March 31st! Let's Fight Discrimination and Recognize the Rich Contribution of Transgender People in our World.

A blessed and happy International Transgender Visibility Day! March 31st is not only a national, but international, day, set aside for recognizing and honoring those who identify as transgender in our world. It is both a day to focus on the kinds of discrimination and bullying transgender people face in society, and the contribution of transgender people in society.

The bullying and discrimination that transgender people face in this world is on full view in many conservative/Republican state legislatures with Republican Governors. Arizona just passed and signed into law a bill that discriminated against transgender athletes, as well as prohibiting gender confirming surgeries. Other states like TX and FL, AR and IA, along with the neighboring state of Idaho, have passed such bills/laws as well. Here's an article on the recently passed bill/law in Arizona:https://www.joemygod.com/2022/03/arizona-gov-signs-abortion-ban-bill-anti-trans-bills-and-bill-requiring-proof-of-citizenship-to-vote-video/

Meanwhile, the "Don't Say Gay" bill that passed in the legislature of FL, signed by the Governor on Monday, has been given special attention because of the language being used by the Governor's spokesperson. The Republican lawmakers and spokesperson is using the language of "sexual grooming" of LGBTQIA2S+ people, between the age group of kindergartners and third graders in public schools. This language of "grooming" children to be LGBTQIA2S+ is wrong on every level of its meaning possible. The word, "grooming" has been by those who are pedophiles. Republicans call this bill the "Anti-Grooming Bill." Paul Waldman, opinion writer of the Washington Post, wrote this on March 31, 2022: "Lest there be any misunderstanding, the term refers to pedophiles winning the trust of children to prepare them for being sexually abused. On far-right websites, the Florida law has for some time been described almost exclusively as the “Anti-Grooming Bill.” In other words, Republicans are still trying to tie together being LGBTQIA2S+ people with being a pedophile. This is not only wrong and a bizarre accusation, but hurtful and hateful, which will, ultimately, hurt young people who are LGBTQIA2S+ and looking for role models and stories, along with people close to them, to talk about their feelings and thoughts. Remember: most of us who are LGBTQIA2S+ knew of our feelings, thoughts, and attractions at an early age, between kindergarten and third grade.

Here's a link to Paul Waldman's essay: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/03/31/grooming-repugnant-gop-attack-anti-gay-anti-trans/

I want to end this blog with on an "up" note. More and more transgender people are coming out of one's closet, and making a difference in society. There is Dr. Rachel Levine, now admiral of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corp. There are more ministers and priests who are leading congregations around this country in mainline denominational churches. More teachers are coming out of their closet, sharing with others of their story of being transgender. Of course, the arts are filled with heroic and noble, loving and fun, stories of people who are transgender throughout the ages. 

On this day--International Transgender Visibility Day--let us all, whether one is in the LGBTQIA2S+ community or an ally--celebrate those among us who identify as transgender, and let us be courageous in being in solidarity with those who are transgender, and their rights to be treated as equals in modern society. 


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