Strengthen Michigan's Transgender Sanctuary Status and Healthcare Protections

I urge you to take immediate action to solidify Michigan's position as a sanctuary state for transgender individuals and their families. While our state has made significant strides, including amending our civil rights act to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination, we must go further to ensure comprehensive protection and support. The proposed trans sanctuary legislation, modeled after California and Minnesota, is a crucial step forward. I strongly support this initiative and ask that you not only endorse it but also work to expand its scope. We should prevent state officials from complying with out-of-state requests related to gender-affirming care received in Michigan, including child removal, extradition, or arrests. However, we need to do more. I propose implementing a comprehensive support system for displaced transgender individuals and their families. This should include temporary housing assistance and unemployment compensation for those fleeing discriminatory policies in other states. Additionally, we must protect intersex youth from non-consensual 'corrective' surgeries and ensure homeless trans youth have access to necessary care. While Medicaid in Michigan covers hormone replacement therapy and gender-confirmation surgery, we should work to expand coverage and reduce wait times. The YWCA Kalamazoo's Reproductive Health Fund is an excellent model, covering various gender-affirming services. Let's replicate and scale this approach statewide. Lastly, I ask that you allocate resources to educate healthcare providers across Michigan about gender-affirming care, ensuring that every county can offer the level of support currently available in Kalamazoo. By taking these steps, we can truly make Michigan a beacon of hope and safety for the transgender community nationwide. The time to act is now. Other states are rapidly enacting discriminatory policies, and we have a moral obligation to provide a safe haven. Your leadership on this issue will not only protect vulnerable individuals but also position Michigan as a leader in human rights and healthcare innovation.