1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

There are many struggles Americans face every day. Poverty, hunger, homelessness, crime, the economy - these factors are ever present and complex. We rely on our government to help solve these problems, to minimize the harm on society. Individual gender identity is not a crisis that needs to be solved by the government. The current administration's push against "gender ideology" and "transgenderism" is nothing more than a base level scapegoating effort to distract the public, to pin its woes not on the complex policies and problems facing our society over the past few decades, but to blame a group of people who make up 1% of the population. I wanted to draw your attention to this letter drafted by the Society for the Study of Evolution, the American Society of Naturalists, and the Society of Systematic Biologists, making a clear statement on the scientific understanding of biological sex and gender - something which is cited in the President's Executive Orders. The link is here: https://www.evolutionsociety.org/news/display/2025/2/7/letter-to-the-us-president-and-congress-on-the-scientific-understanding-of-sex-and-gender/ While the community of people who are not "gender conforming" - whether they are transgender, non-binary, intersex, two spirit, or other - is small, it is our collective duty to stand for their rights and to refuse to allow them to be denied the basics of human dignity, health care, and safe existence in society. This executive order, along with other statements made on this issue by the President and his Cabinet, poses a genuine health threat to all of those people. It also poses a great threat to gender conforming people and children, who may be forced - by law or by fanatics - to show their genitals to 'prove' their right to exist or belong in a space. This greatly affects women of color, who already face other aspects of racism and sexism within our society. No one should be forced to endure this violation of privacy, of safety, or of dignity. Such a movement may eventually lead to the sanctioned physical, mental, and sexual harm against anyone deemed "suspicious". Please read the letter linked above and reach out to the thousands of scientists who are offering their expertise. Then, work together with other members of Congress, lawyers, and your constituents to prevent this harm from happening. Disallow these senseless, incorrect statements to dictate who can, and cannot, have human rights. Where necessary, file for injunctions. Wherever possible, create bills of rights and update existing laws to ensure the rights of all people, regardless of their outward or genetic sex traits, equal rights under the law. We need more than just public-pitched PR meant to assuage us. Take genuine action. You are on the front line between what this country stands for, and a dark timeline. https://dl-rapidbot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/attachments/1/eaa1/1a33/eaa11a33-d575-4988-9c37-0b2aa5508472.php