More than 200 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives are demanding that House Speaker Mike Johnson take action against the proliferation of anti-transgender rhetoric in Congress.
On Tuesday, 212 House Democrats, led by Representative Mark Takano and transgender lawmaker Sarah McBride, signed an open letter calling on Prime Minister Johnson to enforce the House’s civility rules and stop the spread of harmful language targeting transgender Americans.
The letter cites comments from lawmakers suggesting transgender people are mentally ill, inherently violent, or a national security threat. The signatories warned that this rhetoric, combined with “increased legislative and executive attacks,” is causing great harm to communities.
Last year, federal data recorded 463 hate crime incidents motivated by gender identity bias, highlighting the real-world impact of inflammatory speech.
“An attack on the transgender community is an attack on all communities.”
The Democratic Party’s letter emphasized that transgender Americans are woven into every corner of society. “Transgender people are veterans, teachers, doctors, parents, children, siblings, neighbors, and friends,” it says. “They’re Democrats, they’re Republicans, they’re independents. An attack on the transgender community is an attack on any community. Trans people deserve government officials who lift them up, not attack them just because of who they are.”
The letter calls on lawmakers to recognize the humanity of transgender people and the risks posed by unbridled public hostility.
Anti-trans laws and regulations increase
Trans Legislation Tracker reports that there are currently more than 1,000 anti-trans bills being considered across the United States, marking the fifth consecutive year of record-breaking anti-trans legislative efforts. In 2024, 88 similar bills were introduced at the federal level, but as of July, 647 bills have failed to become law.
Democrats argue that enforcing civility in the House and condemning hateful language is not just a matter of policy, but a step to save lives. Advocates are stressing the need for accountability and leadership from the top, as both rhetoric and legislation targeting transgender Americans shows no signs of slowing down.
Source: Gayety – gayety.com
