LISA SALAZAR — BLOG

Hoping to Reclaim Empathy and Justice in a Polarized World...  In 2016, before Trump won his first term as POTUS, hope was rising—fueled by growing public support, inclusive policies, and increased representation in media and politics. The conversation around transgender rights was no longer on the fringe; it was becoming part of the national dialogue. Yet, the years since have been tumultuous. A rising tide of anti-trans rhetoric, legislation, and cultural backlash has made the journey toward inclusion and empathy more urgent than ever. The Escalating Crisis The state of emergency for transgender individuals has only intensified. Anti-trans voices, once fringe, have grown louder and more organized. Across North America and beyond, legislative attacks on gender-affirming healthcare, access to public spaces, and even the right to self-identify have escalated. The polarization surrounding trans rights is no longer confined to social misunderstandings—it is a coordinated effort to rol...

We knew it was only a matter of time before conservative voices in Canada would begin to sound like the anti-trans strategies GOP lawmakers have been employing in the U.S. They are determined to claw back the amazing progress we have made toward Trans inclusion in Canada. Screen capture from their website A Canada-wide day of anti-trans protest is being planned for Wednesday, September 20, 2023. In advance of this day, the organizers are promoting letter-writing campaigns to school boards.  To that end, they have provided a boilerplate letter for Ontario that people can sign and mail. I’m sure that with some minor tweaks to remove references to Ontario, people in other provinces will follow suit. Here’s a detailed response to each point raised in a boiler-plate letter being circulated in Ontario: 1. Request for Parental Consent for Preferred Pronouns, Names, Bathroom Use, and Extracurricular Participation: Rebuttal:  Respecting a student’s preferred pronouns, names, bathroom c...

  “Historic wave of anti-trans bills focuses almost entirely on trans youth.” — npr.org For context, there are three times as many disabled persons in wheelchairs than there are trans persons (1% vs. .3% of the population), yet no one would ever think of passing laws targetting disabled persons. Why is it okay to target trans persons? Wouldn’t you be outraged and scandalized if GOP lawmakers went after disabled persons? For example, imagine these kinds of laws: Education Censorship:  No class discussion, instruction, or acknowledgment of the rights of disabled persons or that they exist Library Book Bans:  Remove all reading materials that include portrayals of disabled persons or use inclusive and explicit language about disabled persons Restroom Restriction:  No special accommodation Sports exclusion:  Disabled youth are only allowed to watch from the sidelines  Religious exemptions:  Anyone can refuse to treat, care for or provide services, includin...