Ashton Clatterbuck was a scholar, social advocate, and vocal advocate for the rights of LGBTQ+ people, the environment, politics, and gun violence. He also contributed a lot to the LancasterOnline Opinion sites of LNP. Additionally, he was trans. We asked him to share his hopes for 2023 in December 2022, and he responded, “My hope for the new year is for mankind to discover its tremendous power to treat one another, and choose to love rather than hate.” His final opinion piece, “State laws targeting trans people are doing real harm,” was published on May 26, 2023, and it is reprinted here. His parents, Mark and Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck, also have a paragraph published now. Ashton was murdered on February 27. Our words currently are replaced by the words of this amazing and upbeat young leader because they send a powerful and significant message. We should all pay attention to that advice.
In response to statements made in a previous program regarding Montana Senate Bill 99, which would ban gender-affirming care for LGBTQ+ youth, Zooey Zephyr, a trans Montana state representative, was silenced by her Democratic colleagues on April 26.
Zephyr blasted the bill during a session on the House floor, claiming that it is unfair and will irreparably hurt the state’s transgender youth. She continued, adding that if the members of the Republican-led House did pass the bill, they would have “blood on (their) hands.” Her microphone was regularly cut off after this passionate speech, and the House speaker refused to recognize her when she wished to speak.
It also exemplifies the systemic erasure of trans people in America, despite the rude and unjust nature of this condemnation.
The very bills that Zephyr was protesting are intended to stop transgender children from being themselves. It tries to prevent trans people from essentially existing.
Making being transgender “illegal” does not prevent people from being born trans. Our minds won’t go away when we close our eyes. Queer Americans are seriously harmed by the anti-LGBT+ political stunts we see all over the country that pass for religious freedom and spiritual piety.
According to a study conducted by the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy, only about 1.2% to 1.8% of Americans identify as trans. The GOP is aware of this, and this makes for an easy target.
Most people won’t be able to ignore the effects of new laws until they directly affect their own rights and liberties.
In any environment where minors might be seen, a new law in Tennessee prohibits all “adult-oriented entertainment,” including “male and female impersonators.” This gives grounds to charge a trans woman just for being in public. If spotted, a drag queen walking into a club may be handcuffed and arrested.
The Tennessee law’s ambiguity poses a serious threat to trans people’s safety. Does this law make it against the rules for any person to dress in drag? Paint their nails?
Trans people are subject to legal action under these new rules if they “impersonate” their gender identity. A law like this violates the First Amendment at the very least because it is plainly discriminatory.
In essence, it establishes a state-imposed dress code that conservatives oppose and compare to the dictatorship in Afghanistan and Iran.
The Republican Party has spearheaded a campaign to prevent these fundamental rights from reaching an entire minority community in a nation so rich in values like freedom, liberty, and equality. This is cruelly illegal in addition to being immoral and violent.
Anyone who provides gender-affirming care to transgender minors is guilty of a felony in the states of Alabama, North Dakota, Idaho, and Oklahoma. This includes therapies, hormone replacement therapy, and testosterone blockers.
Across the nation, more than a few bills have been proposed that would make it illegal for teachers to use a student’s preferred name and pronouns. In state legislatures, more than 220 bills that specifically address transgender individuals have been proposed.
Children won’t be “less transgender” if parents are restricted from access to gender-affirming care and other protections. Their emotional and mental suffering will only get worse. These laws do not protect children. They kill children.
A heartbreaking insight from The Trevor Project
A survey was conducted to examine the impact of anti-LGBT laws on children who identify as LGBTQ+ by The Trevor Project, an organization that provides support and solutions to LGBTQ+ youth.
The results were terrifying. About 85% of those interviewed said the new legislation, which targets them, had caused them to become more anxious and depressed.
Due to these laws allowing unfair actions by vigilante-type citizens who believe their anti-LGBT+ sentiment is validated by these legislative measures, there was also a reported rise in harassment, intimidation, and hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ group.
About 86% of trans youth think about suicide. Some suicidal ideators attribute their distress to abuse, prejudice, and bullying.
When something is repeated enough days,
it starts to feel more and more authentic. The LGBTQ+ group has been criticized by classmates, relatives, pastors, political figures, courts, and even a former president, some of whom have repeatedly argued that trans people are not real. This kind of treatment must be viewed as unethical and seriously repercussions for our society.
Being trans is not a choice, according to medical and psychiatric professionals who have long been aware and supported by them. There is no period here. No matter how much you want us to miraculously vanish, one does not choose to become trans or not.
We won’t be silenced while cutting our microphones. We can’t use the bathroom if we pass the bathroom bills. Continually receiving medical care and therapy does not automatically mean we are no longer trans. A queen’s beauty and satisfaction may be stolen by outlawing drag shows.
Why are you so afraid of officials who promote and spread anger against the LGBTQ+ area? Why do you harbor such resentment?
America is a nation of diversity, inclusion, strength, and freedom. How do you, in any way, challenge those values in my very existence? Who we are cannot be changed by your choices. Your attitude toward us is the only thing you may alter.
GET HELP
Suicide is mentioned in this article. If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, call the following organizations:
Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. nonprofit.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached by Protostar at 800-799-4889 for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
— Lancaster Crisis Intervention, 717-394-2631.
If you are LGBTQ+, visit thetrevorproject.org/get-help.
