1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing on International Women's Day to urge you to support trans-inclusive policies and reject legislation that discriminates against transgender people, particularly trans women. As a constituent, I believe that true progress for women's rights must include all women, both cisgender and transgender. The facts contradict fear-based narratives about trans people. According to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, transgender individuals are over four times more likely than cisgender people to experience violent victimization, including rape, sexual assault, and aggravated or simple assault. Trans women of color face particularly high rates of violence. Despite this vulnerability, discriminatory legislation continues to target trans people across the country. The human cost of discrimination is devastating. When young people are denied access to gender-affirming care or excluded from participating fully in their communities, the consequences can be severe. Studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that access to gender-affirming care is associated with significant reductions in depression and suicidality among transgender youth. Policy decisions have life-or-death consequences for real people in our communities. Over 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the United States in recent years, with many specifically targeting transgender people's access to healthcare, education, and public spaces. These bills do not make anyone safer. They simply marginalize vulnerable people and send a message that some women are less deserving of dignity and protection than others. I ask that you actively support legislation protecting transgender rights, oppose bills that restrict access to gender-affirming care or exclude trans people from public spaces, and speak publicly in support of trans inclusion. International Women's Day should celebrate all women, and I hope you will stand with those who recognize that our rights are not diminished by extending dignity and protection to everyone.