40 Comments
User's avatar
Joan the Dork's avatar

Have we no 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 crimes for the DoJ to investigate?

...oh, right. The real criminals are the ones 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 the DoJ, these days.

Brooklyn Ricky's avatar

“Every government ban allowed to stand against few will one day be used against the many”.

~Elementary school history class

Anne's avatar

I would guess that the DOJ is focusing on large school districts. But trans kids are being affected in small schools, too. It just doesn’t make the news. We recently had to pull our daughter who is trans from her tiny, rural Colorado school to keep her safe. She has been harassed and targeted over her basic need to use the restroom during the school day. And now we are in the middle of two Title lX investigations and paying for an attorney that we can’t afford.

Trans Poetic's avatar

I'm so sorry this is happening to you and your daughter. Please know that there are people that really do care about her and you. We care about trans kids. We love trans kids. They are wonderful people that should just be able to be kids.

Anne's avatar

Thank you. That truly means the world to me.

Liz  Wilcox's avatar

Anne, as a Colorado Springs mom of an adult transgender daughter I am so very sad reading this.

Our school district used to be so welcoming and safe. Now they are pursuing the christian nationalists to become school board members and our new attorney is Brad Miller 🤮

The other disgusting thing is they have welcomed none other than Turning Point USA into our schools via their “clubs.”

I’m sending big hugs and a lot of love to you, your daughter, and your entire family. You are not alone. She is seen, valued for who she is, and worthy.

Anne's avatar

Thank you.

I know that it’s much worse in some other states, but it just breaks a mama’s heart to know that people you see on a regular basis in your very small community are saying such hateful stuff about your kid.

Jane Valerie's avatar

Do yall have a gofundme to support your fight for your daughter? I would gladly donate if so!

Anne's avatar

Thank you for caring! I have thought about it, but I wouldn’t do it until I know how much the attorney will charge us in the end. I wouldn’t want to receive more than that.

Jane Valerie's avatar

Feel free to keep people updated! I'm sure you will absolutely have other's who would want to lend support.

Anne's avatar

Thank you! I did decide to create the GoFundMe since I figured out what to do with any potential funds over the amount of the attorney fees. I will donate any extra donations to Rocky Mountain Equality in Boulder, CO.

We are still in the process of the Title lX investigations. It’s so stressful, but my daughter handled the interviews very well!

https://gofund.me/2dab4feb3

Cassie Autumn's avatar

Anne, I'm so sorry your family is being harassed like this. And in a supposedly protected state.

I don't have much, but I'll always give what I can to help save our next generation of gender non-confirming sisters and brothers. You are a hero, Anne. Your daughter is incredibly lucky to have you in her corner...

Anne's avatar

Thank you so very much for your generous donation and your kind words of support. It touches my heart since I do feel guilt about our choosing to move to this part of the state a few years ago, even though my husband and I did not yet know that she is trans and would have made our move decision much more carefully if we had.

Ginger's avatar

This is concerning for so many reasons, but one of them is that this shows some strategy. They've picked areas where public sentiment might be more in their favor which could out the state in a tight spot. I hate it when the bad guys learn new things.

Herman Melville's avatar

I was also noticing the school districts chosen. Most of them are in more rural red parts of the state. They almost completely avoided the larger collar county districts around Chicago.

Mike Gelt's avatar

I am so pissed off by the self-righteous, bigoted, racist DOJ and the Trump administration sticking their nose into what our society should look like and be. They keep pushing the same bullshit that has already been rejected in the courts and at the ballot box. Every time they try this, they lose—and yet they keep going.

I’m confident that Illinois and its school districts will fight back against this intrusive nonsense, and I stand with them.

Melissa's avatar

My heart hurts reading this (ok, I skimmed, their actions and words are all so incredibly and intentionally violent). I'm now an elder, 30 years since coming home to myself. I cry for the trans kids who we will likely lose due to the current regime and the trans scare they are whipping up to feed their ultra-reich wing, conservative and evangelical base. I hate what has become of the U.S. and the regime's intentional demolition of all that served THE PEOPLE rather than its shoveling of $$$$$ hand over fist to the predator Epstein billionaire class.

Trans Poetic's avatar

Hopefully, Pritzker will use law and government resources to cordially tell them to go F themselves.

Sarah F's avatar

I'm almost certain he will. Remember, his cousin is trans.

Trans Poetic's avatar

I actually didn't know that! Thanks for the info.

Chris Lyke's avatar

This has eerie parallels with Callais. They’re trying to turn all of our protections on their heads to favor white, cisgender, straight men

Liz  Wilcox's avatar

What about OUR parental rights? Does our desire to ensure OUR children are exposed to and raised in a culture of Kindness, Diversity, Acknowledgement, Honesty, Recognition, etc. not count?

This whole manufactured “outrage” is total bullshit.

Alisa Kober's avatar

As an Illinois resident, I find it particularly telling that they are not targeting the highschool district that litigated the bathroom/locker room access question granting access to trans students to the facilities aligned with who they are. D211 was THE "debate" central. Won't go back. Can't go back.

Don Jackson's avatar

Persecution disguised as "parental rights." The rights of parents who support their children's transition are of course conveniently ignored. Appreciate all you do to keep us informed, Erin, and all the incredible commenters here. It hurts to think about the suffering of the school kids. Thank you for reminding me.

Jordan's avatar

Executive orders aren't laws. The DoJ has the legal footing of a brainworm at HHS.

Anne's avatar

Yes!

When I reminded my trans daughter’s principal that Colorado law provides students access to facilities that correspond to their gender identity, she said, “Yes, but federal law is going the other way.” 😡

Sarah F's avatar

I've often wondered what would be an appropriate and proportionate punishment for mr dump and his transphobic co-conspirators. And frankly there isn't any, considering the magnitude of their crimes against humanity. However, for their deprivation of other people's dignity, privacy, and safe bathroom access, free from public scrutiny, I would love for their jail cells to have private bathrooms, with webcams and monitors. The webcams would give live coverage of these people using the toilet, and the monitors would be there to display anonymous viewer feedback in real time.

Joan the Dork's avatar

We can't do that! It would be cruel and unusual punishment!

...for the audience.

Reba's avatar

Pitiful, just pitiful 😢

Andrea Cherez's avatar

Thanks, Erin, for putting the latest despicable actions by 47 & co. in perspective. It gives us hope that sanity will eventually prevail.