1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The Defining Male and Female Act of 2024 poses a grave threat to the rights and well-being of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. By codifying narrow definitions of male and female based solely on biological characteristics at birth, this legislation would effectively erase the existence and lived experiences of those whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. This proposed law undermines years of progress in recognizing and protecting the fundamental human rights of LGBTQ+ people. Denying transgender individuals the ability to have their authentic gender recognized under the law opens the door to widespread discrimination in employment, housing, healthcare, and public accommodations. It strips away critical protections that allow trans people to fully participate in society. Moreover, the bill's provisions regarding sports, bathrooms, and other sex-segregated spaces are a thinly veiled attempt to marginalize an already vulnerable community. Rather than promoting an inclusive society, this legislation propagates the harmful myth that transgender people pose a threat to others, when in reality, they are among the most at-risk of experiencing violence, harassment, and discrimination themselves. Passing this law enables and legalizes transphobia under the misguided guise of protecting cisgender women and girls. We must reject the fear-mongering rhetoric behind this bill and uphold the basic dignity of all people to exist freely and authentically as their true selves, regardless of gender identity or expression. I urge you to vigorously oppose the Defining Male and Female Act and any effort to undermine the civil liberties of the transgender community. True equality demands embracing and celebrating our diversity.