VIDEO: Transgender & Non-Binary People of All Ages Share Why it is So Important to Celebrate Pride Month and #ProtectTransKids

by Aryn Fields •

WASHINGTON — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, released a new video titled “My First Pride.” In the video, transgender and non-binary people ages 8-65 years old recount their first experiences at Pride and discuss how it feels to celebrate Pride at a time when the LGBTQ+ community is under attack in statehouses across the country. The video calls on viewers to fight against anti-transgender legislation in the states and help make Pride feel like a real celebration. As eight-year-old Violet says in the video, “trans is gorgeous.”

The full video can be viewed below and at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y9da-Dy4HY

During Pride Month, we celebrate our stories of coming out, of finding healing within our community, and often, look back on our first Pride—that very first time we felt safe to show up as our full, authentic selves. But this year, I hear stories that break my heart—stories of trans and non-binary children, their families, and millions of LGBTQ+ people whose rights and lives are under attack. So, this Pride Month—I want us to show up for each other. We need everybody to pitch in, roll up their sleeves and do the work. I want you to own and embrace all of who you are, and refuse to hide your Pride."

Joni Madison, Interim President of The Human Rights Campaign

This year, at least eighteen states have passed legislation preventing transgender children from playing sports with their peers. Two states have passed legislation preventing transgender children from accessing restrooms consistent with their gender identities at school. Five states have passed legislation censoring discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in schools. And three states have banned the provision of age-appropriate, medically-necessary, gender affirming care to transgender youth—including Alabama, the first state to make it a felony to do so. Furthermore, statewide officials in Texas have tried to classify transition care for minors as child abuse. In Florida, the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill was signed into law and blocks teachers from talking about LGBTQ+ issues or people. These bills represent a cruel effort to further stigmatize and discriminate against LGBTQ+ people across the country, specifically transgender youth who simply want to live as their true selves and grow into who they are.

In February, Gallup released polling that showed a growing percentage of adults in the U.S. are LGBTQ+ identifying—7.1% of U.S. adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or some other LGBTQ+ identity. Bisexual identification is most common; accounting for more than 56% of all LGBTQ+ identified adults, and approximately 4% of the U.S. adult population. An additional third of LGBTQ+ adults identified as gay (20.7%) and/or lesbian (13.9%), accounting for approximately 2.5% of the U.S. adult population. Additionally, an estimated one in ten LGBTQ+ adults identifies as transgender, accounting for 0.7% of the U.S. adult population.

Key excerpts from the video below:

“[At my first Pride] I will never forget feeling at home….and I remember feeling more excited when I saw someone wearing a transgender flag.

“This Pride is going to be one of our most difficult…because of all of the anti-transgender legislation we’re all experiencing…I’m scared to go and be proud of who I am.”

“We seem to be hearing quite a bit of negative rhetoric from those who claim to be leaders…to every trans and non-binary youth out there, be who you are… and know you have an entire community behind you.”

For more information, please visit hrc.org/transgender, hrc.org/campaigns/count-me-in, HRC’s Transgender and Non-Binary People FAQ, HRC’s Brief Guide to Getting Transgender Coverage Right and HRC’s guide to Get the Facts about Transgender & Non-Binary Athletes.

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