According to Statista, in 2024, 672 anti-transgender bills were introduced across the US, up from 604 in 2023, where 50 bills became state laws in 17 states. Transgender people make up 0.95% of the US population, roughly about 2.5 million people. 57% of Trans adults have incomes below $50,000 per year compared to 45% non-trans adults. 29% of trans adults live below the poverty line.
That the MAGA base has focused such an inordinate amount of time, money and resources to eliminate the most vulnerable population in the US is a travesty. It is a playbook from Putin’s Russia. Ignore the economy, wars, the inflated gas and food prices, the unaffordable housing and health care, the climate crisis, and more, and because we don’t have a coherent idea on how to fix anything, let’s distract people with lies about how a miniscule, vulnerable population is the reason they are not getting ahead in society. It’s not your fault. It’s THEIR fault! It’s DEI. It’s tampons in the men’s bathrooms. It’s the 10 trans athletes v. 500,000 non-trans athletes competing in U.S. college sports. That is why you can’t pay your monthly bills.
But really, it is not about policy or morality or a belief system, it is only about power no matter the cost to its people. A vote for us is a vote to protect you from the deviant, the immigrant, the other. But never forget, it is a lie. They don’t care about you. They never have. They never will.
When I was a child I was taught to be grateful that I lived in the US and was constantly reminded how fortunate I was to not live “behind the Iron Curtain.” After college, I worked in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow for three months during the summer of 1981. Although I loved my time there, I was grateful everyday to possess an American passport. My paternal grandparents and my father and fought in World Wars I and II, respectively. I love this country and although I have many disagreements over human rights issues, housing affordability, health care, climate, it pales to what is happening now. That the US has elected to follow the authoritarian lies of Russia, Iran, North Korea, Hungary, China, Turkey, India, Slovakia and so many other once-democratic or democratic-light countries is abysmally tragic.
Unfortunately the situation of LGBTQ/Women/Black/immigrant and other minority communities are only going to get worse before it gets better. But these issues are connected. The crackdown of LGBTQ rights became more militant under Putin. He would protect his citizens from this “western scourge of perversion” . The MAGA party adopted the strategy and added it to U.S. state laws passed in the campaign to eradicate transgender people. The language in the passed laws led to denying the right for a woman to decide if she wants to end an unwanted pregancy. A decision that used to be only between the woman, her loved ones and her doctor is now fair game in the new war on terror for privacy and truth. These crackdowns impede Black people’s legal right to vote, or receive proper education and find sustainable employment.
Trump, like Putin will not stop as long as he is successful. Georgia, Crimea, the Donbas region of Ukraine, now possibly all of Ukraine, then Moldova, possibly the Baltics, if Putin keeps getting away with invading sovereign nations, he will never stop. Trump is the same. Cracking down on transgender people, immigration, dismantling the government, congress, courts, media, business, he will continue to wreak havoc as long as he is enabled.
We leave you with transgender and queer resources for you, or your loved ones, that we hope might help you navigate these increasingly hostile times. You are not alone.
Resources
Crisis & Emotional Support
- Trans Lifeline: Peer-run crisis hotline offering emotional and financial support, including microgrants for legal name changes.
- Trevor Project: Provides 24/7 crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and mental health support for LGBTQ+ youth via phone, chat, and text.
- LGBT National Help Center: Free, confidential peer support via phone and online chat for LGBTQ+ individuals of all ages.
- Center for Black Equity: Supporting Black LGBTQ People: Multinational network of LGBTQ organizations and individuals to promote health and economic stability.
- Transfamilies Support Services: Support services for youth and parents.
- Reddit – r/Trans: Online community for sharing experiences, advice, and support.
- Transgender Map: Comprehensive guide on transitioning, medical resources, and legal matters.
Healthcare & Hormone Therapy
- Plume: Telehealth service providing gender-affirming hormone therapy (HRT) and medical consultations.
- Folx Health: LGBTQ+ health provider offering HRT, PrEP, and primary care via telemedicine.
- World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH): Directory of gender-affirming healthcare providers and treatment guidelines.
Legal Resourses & Rights Advocacy
- National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE): Resources on legal rights, identification document changes, and advocacy for trans people.
- Transgender Law Center: Legal support, policy advocacy, and resources for trans rights across the U.S.
- Lambda Legal: Legal defense and advocacy for LGBTQ+ and HIV+ individuals.
Financial & Housing Assistance
- Point of Pride: Offers grants for gender-affirming surgeries, free chest binders, and other financial support.
- Transgender Housing Network: Mutual aid network connecting trans individuals with safe housing opportunities.