The world is full of injustice. American society is designed in a way to proliferate injustice, blame the victims, and turn everyone against each other. There are countless causes one could take up, and supporting one does not mean a lack of support for others. Sometimes the world is too much to take. Sometimes witnessing injustice after injustice can break you down.

But what about if you live it? There is no break. Marginalized people are tired. Tired of being looked at but not seen. Heard but not listened to. Tired of facing a world that does not value their humanity.

As a gay person, there is a history of injustice that predates me. And the same tactics of fear- and hate-mongering are being turned on the trans community. Often times the only solace youth have are their family. Many are not fortunate enough to have supporting families, but some thankfully are. Greg Abbott is looking at that support, that love and affirmation, and attempting to criminalize it.

It is no coincidence that Abbott's letter was released when it was. His responsibility in handling the power outages that occurred in February of 2021 due to an ice storm that killed 246 people was starting to be investigated and he needed a distraction. He turned to cruelty once again by targeting trans kids and their parents.

Citizens are not pawns. politicians want us to forget that the people have the power, that they work for their constituents. They try their hardest to maintain their positions and will do whatever it takes, including harm the people they were hired to serve and prevent people who are dissatisfied with their performance from being able to do anything about it.

While Texas inspired this compilation, it is important to note that similar laws targeting trans folks are in varying stages of development/being voted on in Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, Florida, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Utah, Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, and South Carolina (freedomforallamericans.org). These laws are designed to silence, to harm, to erase trans folk from America.

Hopefully Abbott's days as governor are numbered and hopefully all the politicians who draft these hateful and harmful pieces of legislation are cut off at the knees before their bullshit gains traction. In the meantime, supporting the people they're hurting and trying to show them that we can see how their government is failing them is an important action to take. But we need to do more. Sending money helps - but so does taking action. Often times people fall short of this. And that's ok because it isn't easy to know what to do.

Staying informed, voting at the local level, civil disobedience - anything to let the people who make the laws know they work for EVERYONE and that these things are not ok are good steps to take. The following links are resources to help anyone that wants to become more involved do so.

For contacting your representatives and senators:

www.house.gov
www.senate.gov
www.apa.org/advocacy/guide/letter-email

For tracking legislation:

freedomeforallamericans.org
govtrack.us

For information on bystander intervention:

www.afsc.org/bystanderintervention
www.advancingjustice-chicago.org/what-we-do/bystander-intervention-trainings/

For information on how to be a better ally:

www.glaad.org/transgender/allies
hbr.org/2020/11/be-a-better-ally

For knowing your rights during demonstrations/protests:
www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights/