For years, members of the LGBTQIA+ community have fought for equal rights. For a time, it seemed we were on the right path as a country, but today, we’re seeing an increase in transphobia, specifically targeting children in schools. Republican-led legislatures are passing bills that essentially force educators to pretend the LGBTQIA+ community doesn’t exist. 

 

We must do more to protect LGBTQIA+ youth and make schools a safe environment for everyone. According to a 2022 survey by the Trevor Project, 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the last year. Young LGBTQIA+ people of color also reported higher rates of attempted suicide than white youth. 

With the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade – and Justice Clarence Thomas’s concurrence, which specifically called into question the legal foundation for marriage equality – marriage equality and LGBTQIA+ relationships are under attack. We must pass the Equality Act to protect the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.