Senate judiciary hearing witnesses Harleigh Walker (L), Matt Sharp, Dr. Ximena Lopez, Riley Gaines and Kelley Robinson. (Screenshot from hearing livestream via senate website)
The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary met on June 21 to speak on LGBTQ+ issues in the “Protecting Pride: Defending the Civil Rights of LGBTQ+ Americans” committee. The committee and witnesses met to discuss LGBTQ+ rights, recent legislation and other issues, including the passage of the Equality Act.
Among the witnesses speaking on behalf of LGBTQ+ rights were pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Ximena Lopez, Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson and transgender youth advocate Harleigh Walker. Riley Gaines from Independent Women’s Voice and Matt Sharp from Alliance Defending Freedom also provided testimony, speaking out against LGBTQ+ protections, more specifically speaking out against trans rights.
Robinson said that the Equality Act must be signed into law to give everyone access to the American Dream.
“Every American deserves equal access to civil rights and non-discrimination protections. The Equality Act would propel that into law,” Robinson said. “We need to make sure that in this fight, we aren’t letting people’s lack of visibility seed into fear. Instead, we must tell the stories of trans people like Harleigh who are simply Americans trying to live.”
Walker, a trans youth advocate from Alabama, shared her story and said that not one time did medical professionals push any agenda on her or her family. She said that they were informed of her medical options under the guidance of physicians and that surgeries were not discussed.
“Nobody pushed me to become transgender,” Walker said. “Nobody suggested, forced, or influenced me to choose to be trans, because being trans is not a choice.”
Walker also detailed that as a 16-year-old trans girl, she worries for her safety and future as she begins to look at colleges and universities. She said that she does not feel safe to apply to schools in her home state because of anti-trans legislation and hate in her community.
“It’s a struggle, day to day. I was bullied so much in middle school to the point that I had to drop out of public school. There was so much hate, I was misgendered, deadnamed, and it even got to physical violence and the school wasn’t doing anything about it.” she said.
Lopez, a pediatric endocrinologist from Texas who has provided trans youth care for more than 10 years, said that the gender-affirming care she provides is backed by every leading medical organization in the nation, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association.
She said that the lives of transgender youth are at risk, and that discrimination is a main factor when it comes to poor mental health in LGBTQ+ youth.
“Transgender youth are already a vulnerable population. If there’s already a climate of discrimination and treating them differently, these kids tend to isolate themselves. I have patients with no friends, who are terrified to go to school, so they only do online school, so this climate is affecting their lives and their growth,” she said.
The issue of transgender women competing in sports was also addressed during the hearing. Gaines, a former competitive swimmer who swam against trans swimmer Lia Thomas, said that she believes that biological females deserve to compete in sports against other biological females. Robinson shared statistics that there is a very small number of transgender women competing in sports in the nation. Walker said that while she does not compete in sports, she noted how uncomfortable and unsafe she would feel if she was forced to compete on a men’s team.
“I have the right as a woman, just as Ms. Gaines has the right as a woman, to compete in women’s sports,” Walker said. “Just because I wasn’t born in a female body doesn’t mean I don’t have that same right.”
Lopez shared an anecdote from the parent of one of her patients. She said that if the bill banning transgender kids in sports passes in Texas, they will have to move to another state.
“That is what kept her child alive. Playing soccer is what helped them feel engaged, helped them to feel accepted,” Lopez said.
Lopez added that transgender people are some of the bravest people in the world.
“They have to fight every day to be themselves. When they feel like they’re losing their fight, that’s when they get depressed and commit suicide,” she said.
Walker added an inspirational statement intended for other transgender youth in America.
“You are not alone. I want to tell the trans kids that I accept them, they aren’t alone and that so many people love and accept them for who they are. Regardless of what people say to you, remember who you are and stick to that.” Walker said.
You can watch the committee hearing in full by going here. The hearing begin at the 18.45 mark.
