The map of anti-trans risk has polarized into two Americas - one where trans people have full legal protections, and one where they are persecuted by the state.
I wanted to thank you Erin. You are thorough and comprehensive unlike any other news source and you know how vital this is to all of us. I recognize the hard work you do and as discouraging as this map is I am grateful we have you to put it together for us. Keep up the stellar reporting and make sure to take time for yourself. I am so proud of you.
My 17-year-old trans son and I rely on you for information. Every time we look at one of your maps he says, “Wow, look at all the people who hate me!” After this last map came out, the sea of red was hard to take. I reminded him that the physical size of states doesn’t represent their population. So, he printed out a bar chart of population by state then highlighted each state bar in colors from your map. I think helped us both understand how many people are currently affected by trans laws in their state and how many people (slightly more than half the country) live in safe states. If it’s not too difficult for you to include a chart along with your maps I think it would add another level of insight to the data.
It’s heartbreaking, as you know, for him to see how many states in this country have laws that threaten his rights and humanity, and to realize we can’t travel safely to visit his grandparents in FL. But we agree we can’t stick our heads in the sand. We are fortunate to live in CA, but we want to support and protect all trans people.
If you haven’t heard it enough, you are amazing. Your work is appealing. Thank you!!! Cheryl
It’s sad, but highly appropriate, that Florida has its own special risk level. Sadly, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Texas and Tennessee soon follow down the same path
This doubles as a map of where fascism is strongest in America. Thank you Erin for tracking these hateful laws and letting the world know what is happening.
Yes, and it almost exactly duplicates the Trump vs. Biden electoral map of 2020. The sad exception is Georgia - a Biden state, yet it’s high risk on Erin’s map
Thank you for putting these maps together. I’m wondering how to make sense of risk degree at the federal level – are many state-level protections likely to go kaput next time Republicans get all-chamber control of the federal government (which seems likely to happen at least once in the next ten years)? Are some of these protections being passed likely to withstand that? Do you think it’s even possible or worthwhile to speculate on that right now?
That's my greatest concern. The second is that the transgender community is comprised of people who are so diverse that we don't seem to be able to organise sufficiently to be effective at defending our rights.
I'm very glad that Erin created the "do not travel" category.
One of the problems we face is that, like many disfavored groups, it's hard for us to fully accept our peril in certain situations. We automatically assume that people can't act so evilly. I don't like demonizing people -- who often don't understand their error -- so I don't place DeSantis in the same category as Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot or Idi Amin.
But regardless of any lack of evil in their hearts, such people are evil in their deeds; and you mustn't try to reason with them. They aren't listening. People like DeSantis have already formed their conception of what it means to be trans, and they won't listen to us. Fleeing the State is the sensible solution. And visiting Florida is insane.
As I have been saying for a long time, extremism by the "trans activists" (note the quotes) is a precursor to what we are experiencing now. That doesn't mean that people like DeSantis, Knowles, Walsh and others are blameless; far from it. But it does mean they were provoked. There is lots of blame to go around.
Unfortunately, things have reached the point where no one is listening. It's a regrettable fact, but fact is what it is. Get the hell out of Dodge.
I remind you that I put "trans activists" in quotes, above, and drew particular attention to that fact. Not all of those who purported to stand for us had our best interests at heart. Some saw us as an opportunity for political gain and used us.
There were many claims made as we became more visible to society at large. The first reaction of the silent majority, which is mainly interested in simply living their own lives, was to lump all of the bizarreness they saw -- whether or not all the elements were truly bizarre -- as part of the same phenomenon.
Most people in society -- even those with religious convictions -- have a basic tolerance of diversity. I have spent years talking to these people online, and I see this again and again. The true crazies are a minor element.
I think what really alarmed many people was when the activists began pushing -- with success -- to have people fired or otherwise cancelled for refusal to submit to our personal beliefs. Our need to be addressed according to our self-perception rather than our sex was recast as a civil right, which it can never be. (I'm sure this statement will provoke a reaction; but it can't be helped.) This effort continues to this day.
This assault by trans activists on the cis population that refused to bend the knee pushed people to reassess their tolerance; and, they began associating us with things that have nothing to do with us: 100+ genders, "Drag Queen Story Hour," etc., until we were cast as part of some kind of insane nightmare of unreality. That's the meme now being pushed by Walsh, Knowles, et al.
All of this could have been avoided. But we have been used by political elements in our country who seek to capitalize on marginalized groups, pretending to stand for them and thus garnering our support for their entire agenda. We were preyed upon; and, because suffering people will take any port in a storm, we trusted them. The real prize sought by these people is the social chaos they have successfully sown. Chaos is opportunity for dramatic change, and dramatic change is what they seek.
Virtually no one on either side understands the philosophical roots of this conflict. There is a trans woman on Medium named TaraElla who writes about this. She's very perceptive. Take a look.
As always, thank you so much for your dedication and for the countless hours you must spend researching all of this. Is there a list of states with bathroom bans? I know Florida is the worst, but I don't even want to travel through a state where I could be arrested for that.
Thank you Erin. I imagine your daily work is painful. Bless you for being consistent and brilliant, out here explaining all the worst so we might know exactly what we are facing. Wishing you rest and peace where you can find them.
Thank you for shedding light on a very impoetant subject. It is a difficult time to be a transgender person or the parent of one. My daughter and I left SC for SF, CA and while it has made finances more difficult, our quality of life is so much better. Now, we don't travel anywhere that is restrictive and we don't spend $$ on any companies in those states.
Thanks again Erin. My church (LGBTQ affirming) is giving me the opportunity to address the situation for trans people this Sunday and I will be using your writing as a source. You make a big difference!!
I wanted to thank you Erin. You are thorough and comprehensive unlike any other news source and you know how vital this is to all of us. I recognize the hard work you do and as discouraging as this map is I am grateful we have you to put it together for us. Keep up the stellar reporting and make sure to take time for yourself. I am so proud of you.
I really appreciate that. I try to do it because so few others are.
Thank you, Erin!
My 17-year-old trans son and I rely on you for information. Every time we look at one of your maps he says, “Wow, look at all the people who hate me!” After this last map came out, the sea of red was hard to take. I reminded him that the physical size of states doesn’t represent their population. So, he printed out a bar chart of population by state then highlighted each state bar in colors from your map. I think helped us both understand how many people are currently affected by trans laws in their state and how many people (slightly more than half the country) live in safe states. If it’s not too difficult for you to include a chart along with your maps I think it would add another level of insight to the data.
It’s heartbreaking, as you know, for him to see how many states in this country have laws that threaten his rights and humanity, and to realize we can’t travel safely to visit his grandparents in FL. But we agree we can’t stick our heads in the sand. We are fortunate to live in CA, but we want to support and protect all trans people.
If you haven’t heard it enough, you are amazing. Your work is appealing. Thank you!!! Cheryl
Hah! While your work is “appealing” what I meant to say is that your work is “incredibly important!”
It’s sad, but highly appropriate, that Florida has its own special risk level. Sadly, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Texas and Tennessee soon follow down the same path
It was a scary choice but I had to do it.
On Twitter or in the next update, could we please see a comparison of the first map and the latest map? Thank you for your work
This doubles as a map of where fascism is strongest in America. Thank you Erin for tracking these hateful laws and letting the world know what is happening.
Yes, and it almost exactly duplicates the Trump vs. Biden electoral map of 2020. The sad exception is Georgia - a Biden state, yet it’s high risk on Erin’s map
Florida getting a whole new color that has never been on the map or map key before is chilling.
Thank you for putting these maps together. I’m wondering how to make sense of risk degree at the federal level – are many state-level protections likely to go kaput next time Republicans get all-chamber control of the federal government (which seems likely to happen at least once in the next ten years)? Are some of these protections being passed likely to withstand that? Do you think it’s even possible or worthwhile to speculate on that right now?
I'd rank the federal risk level as "medium" based on the risk of a Republican Presidency. If a Dem wins we can downrank to low.
That's my greatest concern. The second is that the transgender community is comprised of people who are so diverse that we don't seem to be able to organise sufficiently to be effective at defending our rights.
I'm very glad that Erin created the "do not travel" category.
One of the problems we face is that, like many disfavored groups, it's hard for us to fully accept our peril in certain situations. We automatically assume that people can't act so evilly. I don't like demonizing people -- who often don't understand their error -- so I don't place DeSantis in the same category as Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot or Idi Amin.
But regardless of any lack of evil in their hearts, such people are evil in their deeds; and you mustn't try to reason with them. They aren't listening. People like DeSantis have already formed their conception of what it means to be trans, and they won't listen to us. Fleeing the State is the sensible solution. And visiting Florida is insane.
As I have been saying for a long time, extremism by the "trans activists" (note the quotes) is a precursor to what we are experiencing now. That doesn't mean that people like DeSantis, Knowles, Walsh and others are blameless; far from it. But it does mean they were provoked. There is lots of blame to go around.
Unfortunately, things have reached the point where no one is listening. It's a regrettable fact, but fact is what it is. Get the hell out of Dodge.
Would you say more about what you are referring to w/ “extremism by the ‘trans activists’”
I remind you that I put "trans activists" in quotes, above, and drew particular attention to that fact. Not all of those who purported to stand for us had our best interests at heart. Some saw us as an opportunity for political gain and used us.
There were many claims made as we became more visible to society at large. The first reaction of the silent majority, which is mainly interested in simply living their own lives, was to lump all of the bizarreness they saw -- whether or not all the elements were truly bizarre -- as part of the same phenomenon.
Most people in society -- even those with religious convictions -- have a basic tolerance of diversity. I have spent years talking to these people online, and I see this again and again. The true crazies are a minor element.
I think what really alarmed many people was when the activists began pushing -- with success -- to have people fired or otherwise cancelled for refusal to submit to our personal beliefs. Our need to be addressed according to our self-perception rather than our sex was recast as a civil right, which it can never be. (I'm sure this statement will provoke a reaction; but it can't be helped.) This effort continues to this day.
This assault by trans activists on the cis population that refused to bend the knee pushed people to reassess their tolerance; and, they began associating us with things that have nothing to do with us: 100+ genders, "Drag Queen Story Hour," etc., until we were cast as part of some kind of insane nightmare of unreality. That's the meme now being pushed by Walsh, Knowles, et al.
All of this could have been avoided. But we have been used by political elements in our country who seek to capitalize on marginalized groups, pretending to stand for them and thus garnering our support for their entire agenda. We were preyed upon; and, because suffering people will take any port in a storm, we trusted them. The real prize sought by these people is the social chaos they have successfully sown. Chaos is opportunity for dramatic change, and dramatic change is what they seek.
Virtually no one on either side understands the philosophical roots of this conflict. There is a trans woman on Medium named TaraElla who writes about this. She's very perceptive. Take a look.
You don't understand this conflict.
Thank you. You are the top transgender journalist. People are going to take action based on your information and it is going to save people's lives.
As always, thank you so much for your dedication and for the countless hours you must spend researching all of this. Is there a list of states with bathroom bans? I know Florida is the worst, but I don't even want to travel through a state where I could be arrested for that.
Thank you so much for your work! It is greatly appreciated. :)
you missed North Carolina in your at risk states listing....
Whoops! It's in the map and the paragraph but not the list, added!
Oh! One more: New Jersey in the Most Protective listing. (A minor quibble compared to how eye-opening your maps and explanations are.)
Thanks again :)
Thank you Erin. I imagine your daily work is painful. Bless you for being consistent and brilliant, out here explaining all the worst so we might know exactly what we are facing. Wishing you rest and peace where you can find them.
Thank you very much for all of your hard work Erin! Your tireless efforts are always appreciated.
I might have to look further into my coworkers suggestion of Vietnam should this relentless pace of persecution continue.
Thank you for shedding light on a very impoetant subject. It is a difficult time to be a transgender person or the parent of one. My daughter and I left SC for SF, CA and while it has made finances more difficult, our quality of life is so much better. Now, we don't travel anywhere that is restrictive and we don't spend $$ on any companies in those states.
Thanks again Erin. My church (LGBTQ affirming) is giving me the opportunity to address the situation for trans people this Sunday and I will be using your writing as a source. You make a big difference!!