Daniel Eggers, an 18-year-old transgender high school student living in the state of Alabama. He began taking testosterone two years ago, following a lifetime of depression and suicidal actions. NBC News said, “He found it difficult to make friends at school and struggled with an eating disorder, but since transitioning, he said he feels like a new person. ”
There’s a lot of different reasons why this story is so important in our culture.
One has been the suicide rate is 3.5 times higher for trans kids who don’t have acceptance from their parents. The legislation of Alabama has been strongly opposed by civil rights groups and medical experts who treat trans youth in the state. In press releases following the bill’s passage, the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama said the proposal “runs counter to medical science, prevailing standards for the treatment of transgender youth, and basic human dignity,” and the Human Rights Campaign called it a “license to discriminate against transgender and nonbinary Alabamians.”
A person shouldn’t have to prove who they are to you by their personal, private body for you to respect them for who they are. Change doesn’t happen overnight, and I know most people do want to try and understand, so I’m trying to break things down, build bridges, and provide access so we all get the education and help we need. We don’t have to understand people to love and accept them, but it does help. What trans people are asking is for a little respect. And yes, that includes equal rights.
Although legislation similar to Alabama’s trans health care bill has been unsuccessfully introduced in other states this year, including South Dakota and Idaho, LGBTQ advocates in Alabama are worried about the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act will become law. (Vondracek) from said, “Transgender families in Alabama say they aren’t sure what will happen if Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, signs either of these bills. “.A lot of other people don’t have that capability, so they just have to stay in these awful, abusive environments that are dangerous for their mental and physical health. This bill is not going to do anything about it.”
Sources:
Lang, N. (2020, March 10). Alabama moves closer to transgender health care ban for minors. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/alabama-moves-closer-transgender-health-care-ban-minors-n1154791
Vondracek, C. (2020, March 8). Alabama bill would ban transgender surgery for teens. Retrieved from https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/8/alabama-republicans-seek-transgender-surgery-ban-t/
Sy Barnes 