The government specifically targeting the well-being of minority children is sickening. Medical decisions rest between a patient and their healthcare professional who, unlike lawmakers, are actually trained to provide that care.

It’s hard to quantify the mental toll these endless attacks have on our whole community. Transgender youth have already had to deal with many institutional barriers to accessing hormones and hormone suppressants that save their lives. Now they have to contend not only with constant political attacks against them and a coordinated effort at genociding their entire community, buy also with the state outting them to parents who may abuse them if they find out. Many children are abused at home, a staggering amount actually. Queer children are significantly more likely to suffer abuse in their homes.

These laws are attempts to kill children, to prevent queer children from being allowed to openly be themselves. These children live under constant fear of the state. Their government is actively hostile towards them and their rights. There is a persistent and growing fear amongst everyone in our community that it is only a matter of time before a state decides to force all trans people into conversion therapy and forced internment. These kids know that too. They’re not stupid they see what is happening. Genocide is anything but subtle, and the fascists have been declaring their intentions towards us loudly for years now.