Trans advocates ‘need more from White House’ following uptick in anti-trans bills, rhetoric

Eden Harris

June 08, 2023

The Biden administration and other allies need to do more to advance and protect rights for transgender people and others in the LGBTQIA+ community, transgender advocates said Thursday during a Headliners Newsmaker at the National Press Club.

Moderator Orion Rummler and panelists (l-r) Rose Montoya, Devon Ojeda, Cal Dobbs and Rey Resendez. Photo: Nancy Shia

The transgender community is facing what it calls a "legislative crisis." State legislatures and city councils across the United States have introduced more than 600 laws targeting the LGBTQI+ community, particularly access to gender-affirming healthcare.

On Wednesday, Missouri's Republican Governor, Mike Parson, signed two laws that aim to limit the rights of transgender people, including banning gender-affirming care for minors and prohibiting trans women and girls from participating in sports teams corresponding with their gender.

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization, says bills that limit gender-affirming care are the "newest form of attacks on the community." The HRC recently declared a state of emergency for LGBTQIA+ Americans.

"We were living in a state of emergency a long time ago, before HRC proclaimed it," said Devon Ojeda, senior national organizer at National Center for Transgender Equality.

The laws "are disrupting everyone's care," Ojeda said. "Everybody deserves access; when politicians are disrupting it, that is disrupting everybody there."

Cal Dobbs (he/they) is a queer transgender ultra marathoner and long-distance hiker. Photo: Nancy Shia

Cal Dobbs, a queer transgender ultra-marathoner, said much of the rhetoric is political strategizing and fear-mongering, adding that this has "tangible repercussions for trans people on the ground." Dobbs is running across America, from California to Florida, to advocate for transgender people's rights in sports and access to gender-affirming health care.

Rose Montoya said the anti-trans laws and rhetoric are taking a toll on her mental health. Photo: Nancy Shia

Rose Montoya, a bisexual, nonbinary transgender woman and trans inclusion and mental health advocate, said the anti-trans laws and rhetoric are taking a toll on her mental health.

"It certainly feels like a state of emergency," Montoya said. She said she feels a sense of urgency to call on the government to do more.

Ojeda acknowledged that the Biden administration had taken steps to support LGBTQIA+ youth and community organizations, and on Thursday, President Biden announced several new actions, including the appointment of a federal coordinator to address the increase in book bans enacted in several states.

"But we need more from the White House," Ojeda said. "We need them to enforce what we already put in place in the White House and the administration. We need them to start investigating and not just jump on lawsuits."

He called on the Biden administration to allow the VA to cover gender-affirming surgeries for veterans. "We've been waiting for that for two years now," he said.

Rey Resendez, a 2Spirit model and content creator from Bolivia, discussed transgender insurance coverage. Photo: Nancy Shia

For Rey Resendez, a trans advocate, 2Spirit model, activist, and content creator from La Paz, Bolivia, getting healthcare guidance from the administration will help them and others navigate the system.

"I want to see more clarifications on insurance policies," Resendez said. Even when transgender care is included in insurance policies, Resendez says they still struggle with securing coverage.