California’s image isn’t enough when it comes to transphobia

We are lucky to live in California, a state that is known to be welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community, at least more than many other states.

 We live in a place where there are many safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community, but that does not mean that we are protected from all hostility and aggression. 

In other states, especially Southern ones, anti-transgender bills have been constantly proposed and even been passed when they should never be. 

Most of these bills target transgender youth, focusing on taking away the rights of medical transitions for transgender people to feel more comfortable in their bodies. 

Depending on what source you are looking at, it will tell you that 400-600 of these acts are being introduced and approved in the US. 

One bill, SB129, in Alabama, prohibits transgender individuals from using the bathroom of the gender they identify with and instead requires them to use the bathroom of their sex assigned at birth.

 Another bill, HB2310, in Tennessee, restricts health care providers from giving gender-affirming care to transgender minors. 

These bills along with many others in the US harm transgender individuals’ well-being.

At this time, very few anti-transgender bills are being considered in California, although that could change at any moment. It also does not mean that we are completely guarded from these attacks on transgender rights.

Some may believe that Californians do not have to worry about these laws because the state is generally more liberal and accepting than others. However, if we continue to think like this and stop putting effort into fighting against these laws, things may take a turn for the worse. I believe this could lead to a better likelihood of the bills slipping through the cracks of our “open-minded” state and being put in place. 

In 2023, an extremist transphobic group called Protect Kids California (PKC) tried to pass three initiatives but they failed to get enough signatures statewide. These proposals aimed to overturn the law that allows transgender girls to playing girls sports, to ban trans girls from using girls locker rooms, to stop schools from “deceiving” parents about their children’s gender, and to stop gender-affirming care for minors. 

Thankfully their propositions failed to get enough signatures to qualify, but this only shows attacks on transgender people have not stopped. 

This not only affects what transgender people are legally allowed to do, but their mental health too. 

Imagine just trying to live your life and your entire existence is a political topic being debated. Transgender individuals are trying to grow up and feel the most comfortable their environment allows them to be. Having those restrictions on how they can express themselves can affect their self-confidence and how they view their self-worth. 

In California, I believe we should stay ahead of these growing threats to keep transgender people safe.