Planned Action for LGBTQ+ & Allies in Response to Democrats Capitulating on Trans Rights
As most of you are aware, since Kamala Harris’s election loss (which trans people were not in charge of nor responsible for), Democratic politicians and pundits have been signaling that they plan to throw trans people under the bus. Sadly, this came to fruition last week, when Republican congressperson Nancy Mace pressed house speaker Mike Johnson to declare: “All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings—such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms—are reserved for individuals of that biological sex.”
Despite the fact that there is no evidence that trans people pose any threat in sex-segregated spaces, only a handful of Democrats spoke out against this policy change. Even worse, many lauded incoming trans congresswoman Sarah McBride for agreeing to comply with it.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Mace (who is now selling merch as part of her anti-trans crusade) has proposed a Federal Trans Bathroom Ban that would impact Washington DC airports, museums, and federal buildings across the U.S., impacting trans workers and visitors alike. And it’s clear that Republicans will not stop there.
In “red states” where Republicans have a trifecta (governor plus both state legislatures), they have passed all sorts of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. A quick glance at that legislation confirms that this is not about any isolated issue: Republican lawmakers who rail against trans athletes or gender-affirming care for trans youth are also pushing bans on trans healthcare for adults, “don’t say gay” bills that impact all LGBTQ+ students, drag bans written so broadly that they outlaw most LGBTQ+ performances and pride events, and attempts to censor books and digital media penned by all queer creators.
And now that they will hold a federal trifecta in 2025, they will attempt to pass all these same anti-LGBTQ+ policies and laws nationally.
Leaders on the right have publicly admitted that targeting trans people is part of a “divide and conquer” strategy to roll back *all* LGBTQ+ rights. There is no appeasing Republicans by selling out trans people, because they will not stop with us. Democrats must draw a line in the sand now! They must vociferously speak out and push back and filibuster any and all anti-LGBTQ+ policies and legislation.
Given Democrats recent reluctance on this issue, we must remind them that they *need* us. LGBTQ+ people represented 8% of all U.S. voters and voted for Harris at 86% according to 2024 exit polls. Democrats cannot win future nationwide elections without us. And if they won’t defend our basic rights to participate freely in society, then they do not deserve our votes!
The Proposed Action
I am but one person and cannot speak for our entire community. But here’s what I propose in the spirit of Queer Nation, who in the 1990s carried out myriad protests under the same banner but with no singular leader or directive.
I propose that on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024 (the first day that both the House and Senate are back in session), all of us who are invested in this issue and have a platform (whether it be a blog, newsletter, column, podcast, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, etc.) publish a piece with the shared title: “LGBTQ+ People Are Not Going Back.” Yes, I know, it’s a cheesy title, but it holds Democrats accountable to their own talking points and makes it clear that backsliding on LGBTQ+ rights is nonnegotiable for us.
What you write or say or express in your op-ed or article or video or podcast etcetera is up to you. I encourage you to make it personal and feel free to tailor it to your audience. My only request (other than all of us using the same title) is that you implore people to contact their Congressperson and Senators (and perhaps even local politicians) and tell them that 1) you will not tolerate any backpedaling on LGBTQ+ rights whatsoever, and 2) if they fail to strongly stand up against these attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, then you will take your vote elsewhere next election.
What does “take your vote elsewhere” entail?
Well, that’s up to each individual to decide for themselves. It could mean simply refusing to vote for them, or voting for their primary opponents, or voting third party. The purpose of this endeavor is not to dictate how you should vote in future elections, but to remind your representatives that your vote should not be taken for granted, and if they abandon LGBTQ+ people or backslide on LGBTQ+ rights, then they will pay a political price for that decision.
What if I disagree with this action?
Then don’t participate in it.
What if my representatives are Republicans?
By all means contact them too. Even if they are in a “safe red” state or district, they should know that you oppose their party’s increasing attacks on LGBTQ+ people.
What if I don’t live in the United States?
If this campaign resonates with you, by all means, feel free to join in, as many of your readers, viewers, and followers likely live here.
What if I’m not LGBTQ+ myself?
This action is for you too! Tell your representatives that you’ll refuse to support them if they throw the trans and queer people in your life under the bus. As much as I wish it weren’t true, some of these Democrats will likely take feedback from cis and straight allies more seriously than they take actual LGBTQ+ people’s perspectives.
What if I don’t have a platform?
No worries, you can like and share links to other people’s posts on whatever social media apps you use!
On the day of, I will try to make a master list of links to other people’s “LGBTQ+ People Are Not Going Back” creations so we can all boost one another. So if you plan to create one, feel free to let me know in advance and I’ll keep an eye out for it. We can also use the hashtag #LGBTQNotGoingBack to keep track of one another’s posts.
Hopefully, if enough of us participate, we can send a wake-up call to our representatives on this matter, and together begin to turn the tide on these recent assaults on LGBTQ+ rights.
The inevitable backlash
I am publicly announcing this proposed action ahead of time because I believe it’s the best way to get the most possible people to participate and to make it a democratic effort. But by doing so, bad actors will likely find out about this and they may try to disrupt our efforts. As always, I suggest a “block and move on” policy with regards to trolls and trans/queerphobes—they are not the ones we are trying to reach with this action.
Second, majority groups love to pit minorities against one another. So it’s very likely that outsiders will want to frame this campaign as being in opposition to Sarah McBride’s decision to comply with the congressional bathroom ban. Whatever you think about her decision, let’s not make this about her. She is not our leader. Let’s speak for ourselves in our own voices and defend our own basic rights.
Finally, some mainstream Democrats will likely dismiss this campaign as “divisive.” If you encounter anyone doing this, ask them what they think about the Democrats who’ve suggested that the party should abandon trans people and/or who’ve stayed silent amidst increasing Republican attacks on LGBTQ+ people—do they find those acts divisive? Probably not. Because the thing about the word “divisive” is it implies that there is a presumed and unspoken “one-ness” that is being divided. And if they believe that ignoring or rejecting LGBTQ+ rights is not divisive, but standing up for LGBTQ+ rights is divisive, well, that means they don’t see us as part of their coalition in the first place.
And if we are not a part of the Democratic coalition, then they don’t deserve our votes.
Please share this post with any LGBTQ+ creators you know and encourage them to participate. If you are a Democrat who is unsure of how to respond to Republicans’ anti-trans talking points, I offer some ideas in this essay. And as always, if you appreciate my work, please consider supporting me on Patreon and/or subscribing to my writings here.