Happy Trans Day of Visibility! We know the current situation is, well, not feeling super celebratory. But, to all our trans readers, thank you for consistently being the fiercest advocates for rights that lift us all up, and for giving us our clearest window into a world without toxic gender roles. Now, before we all go protest or donate to life-saving organizations, be sure to check out this roundup of everything you need to know before the weekend.
1. New study says that supportive families are key for trans youth coming out at younger ages
2. Boygenius slams anti-LGBTQ2S+ laws
3. The Trans Bill of Rights is reintroduced in the U.S.
4. Lizzo announced a new line of gender-affirming shapewear
5. Texas lawmaker get pranked during the hearing for an anti-trans bill
1. New study says that supportive families are key for trans youth coming out at younger ages
A new report from The Trevor Project finds that trans youth who come out at young ages are very likely to face additional hurdles and mental health challenges. In general, trans people are coming out younger and younger—we love to see it! But, unfortunately, the experience isn’t always positive. The report says that of those surveyed who came out before the age of 13, 63 percent had seriously considered suicide and 29 percent had attempted it. This same cohort is also more likely to experience discrimination and physical threat or harm than those who come out later in life.
However, the report’s stats also point to a clear solution: trans youth with supportive families are at significantly lower risk. For youth with even “low or moderate family support” who come out before they are 13, suicide attempt rates drop to 30 percent, and those with “high family support” drop to 17 percent. Parents, take note—your kids need you.
2. Boygenius slams anti-LGBTQ2S+ laws
Not only is boygenius giving us the gift of their first full-length album this week, but they’re speaking out against the wave of anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ2S+ legislation while they do it—now that’s cool. Ever since their 2018 debut, LGBTQ2S+ fans have been eagerly awaiting a full album from the very queer indie supergroup, comprised of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. And folks, today is the day—the record dropped this morning. Oh, and it’s accompanied by a short film directed by Kristen Stewart.
The trio has been using the lead-up to their extremely buzzy album to condemn legislation that attacks gender-affirming healthcare and trans rights. “The government … actively trying to kill the coolest people is something I think about every day, all the lost potential,” said Bridgers, in an interview with Them. They also shouted out trans activists like Leslie Feinberg for paving the way for groups like theirs to show queer joy on stage. Talk about worthwhile weekend listening.
3. The Trans Bill of Rights is reintroduced in the U.S.
Credit: Mandel Ngan/AP Photo
While some policy makers in the U.S. continue to strip trans people of their rights with bills like the one that was just passed in Kentucky, others are fighting back. In Congress yesterday, Representative Pramila Jayapal and Senator Edward Markey reintroduced the Transgender Bill of Rights. The bill would provide a framework of protections for trans and non-binary people at a federal level.
As currently proposed, it includes amending civil rights legislation to include gender identity and sex characteristics, changing federal education laws to protect students from anti-trans discrimination, and finding ways to ensure that trans youth have access to gender-affirming care. The bill was co-sponsored by 100 other lawmakers.
“With this resolution, we salute the resilience and courage of trans people across our country,” said Jayapal in a statement, “and outline a clear vision of what we must do in Congress in order to allow trans people to lead full, happy lives as their authentic selves.”
“Lives are at stake,” said Markey in the statement. “Congress must take a stand.”
4. Lizzo announced a new line of gender-affirming shapewear
Lizzo, the true queen of self-love, just came through with another banger—but it’s not a chart-topping tune this time. Yesterday, the iconic singer, rapper and flautist announced that her shapewear brand, Yitty, is launching a line of gender-affirming items, including binders and tucking thongs. Originally created to allow women of all body types to feel unapologetically good about themselves, the new line, titled Your Skin, expands the ethos of this mission to include all gender identities. Werk!
“When we say we support everybody, we mean it,” the brand’s account wrote on Instagram. “We believe in radical self-love for people of all gender identities—including the trans, non-binary, gender-fluid and gender nonconforming communities that have been chronically underserved.”
Non-binary model Shaheem Anderson, who is featured in the campaign, wrote on Instagram that it “means the world” to participate in a campaign that “could potentially make a difference in someone’s life and affirm how they feel on the inside.” We are definitely feeling good as hell.
5. Texas lawmaker gets pranked during the hearing for an anti-trans bill
All right, folks, it’s been a long week, and the bad news has been low-key inescapable. But even when things seem to reach maximum bleak, there are always folks pushing back. We’ve seen months-long filibusters to prevent the passage of anti-trans laws, massive protests and lobbies in favour of LGBTQ2S+ rights, and queer people who won’t quit, despite the odds. And, luckily for us, protest comes in many forms. So, we’re going to cap off with something stupid, funny and honestly genius—a classic queer cocktail.
On Wednesday, there was a committee hearing for a bill in Texas that seeks to restrict insurance claims for gender-affirming care. But when one lawmaker tried to call forth the next speakers, he was, well, met with a bit of a surprise. He called for “Connie Lingus,” “Anita Dickinme” and “Holden Midick,” seemingly quite serious and without hesitation. It wasn’t until a few repetitions, and much stifled laughter, that he realized he’d fallen for a classic phony-phone-call-style prank. We’d highly recommend checking out the video—seems like April Fools came early this year!
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