Join PHIMC in taking a vow of digital silence 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 23 to observe GLSEN’s Day of Silence. This moment in time is a poignant reminder of why we participate in this event.

Across the country, a myriad of anti-transgender bills are being considered in state legislatures. Since the start of the 2021 legislative session, 117 anti-trans bills have been introduced, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The bills are centered around bathroom/locker room use and sports bans, bans/restrictions on transgender medical care, and criminalization of gender-affirming supports, 65 of which target trans youth. This year marks an unprecedented jump in attacks on the trans community.

It’s imperative that we take concrete steps to protect some of the most marginalized – this is your call to action!

1. Get informed. Familiarize yourself with the legislation that is being proposed, through the use of a legislative tracker provided by the ACLU. Follow trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming organizers and activists who are on the front lines like Chase Strangio or Alok V Menon. Pick up a book on transgender history like Transgender History by Susan Stryker or watch a film like Netflix’s Disclosure.
2. Contact state legislators and governors. Call those in positions of power in states where anti-trans laws are on the table. This article provides links to bill language and contact information for certain states. Make sure to have each individual in your household participate as well and reach out to friends and family members who might live in these states!
3. Work with trans-led or focused organizations and donate to mutual aid funds. Illinois is fortunate to not have to worry about anti-trans legislation, and we hope it stays that way. Even so, get involved with local organizations like Chicago’s very own Brave Space Alliance or the Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois. Donate your time and treasure as you’re able!
4. Continue the fight for racial justice. As the powerful activist Audre Lorde once said, “There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” The fight for racial justice is transgender justice. The impact of these proposed laws would disproportionately impact Black and brown trans youth who already struggle with other forms of violence. In all your efforts, prioritize uplifting the voices of Black, Brown, and Indigenous trans youth.