Oppose H.R. 7661 - Protect Transgender Students in Schools

I am writing to urge you to oppose H.R. 7661, a bill that would ban all federally funded K-12 schools from mentioning or acknowledging transgender people. This legislation was introduced by House Republicans hours after President Trump's State of the Union address and represents a dangerous escalation in efforts to erase transgender youth from public education. H.R. 7661 prohibits schools from developing, implementing, or promoting anything involving "gender dysphoria or transgenderism," which it defines as "sexually oriented material." This definition falsely equates the existence of transgender people with sexually explicit content, placing trans identity in the same category as depictions of sexual intercourse under 18 U.S.C. § 2256. This harmful characterization goes further than even Florida's extreme Don't Say Gay law passed in 2022. The practical implications are devastating. The bill would ban books mentioning trans people, prohibit sex education programs from acknowledging trans students exist, shut down Gay-Straight Alliances and support groups, and potentially force trans teachers into the closet. Schools would be unable to affirm trans students' identities out of fear of federal retribution. This applies to virtually all K-12 schools nationwide that receive federal funding. Transgender youth already face disproportionately high rates of mental health crises. When schools provide supportive environments, outcomes improve dramatically. This bill does the opposite by mandating isolation and erasure. Denying these students basic recognition and support in their schools will have life-threatening consequences. I am asking you to publicly oppose H.R. 7661 and work to ensure it does not advance. Transgender students deserve safe, supportive educational environments where they can learn and thrive. Writing an entire population out of our education system is not only cruel but dangerous. These are children who need our protection, not our condemnation.