22 Comments
User's avatar
William Flug's avatar

Corporate Dems are hopelessly frightened to death to do the right thing about our trans neighbors because of their delusion that the path to victory - translation: their turn to run The Empire - depends on a bunch of left-wing MAGAs peeling off to vote for them. Advocacy for trans care being the ultimate no-no, they run and hide. It's a judgment on them.

Leah Abram's avatar

As a trans New Yorker I am profoundly disappointed in my state and local government. Whom do I contact to make my ire known?

Sarah F's avatar

Everyone who voted against funding, IMO!

Leah Abram's avatar

I looked; all of the bills to restart funding were referred to the Committee on Health and that was that.

That being said, I sent emails to my State Senator and City Councilwoman.

Here's my email to my state senator:

> Time is running out! New York State can be leaders in subsidizing gender-affirming care, or we can submit our most vulnerable people to President Trump. Will you further support S7924?

> -Leah Abram

Here's my email to my City Councilwoman:

> Dear Councilwoman [Redacted]

> I got word from this Erin In The Morning article (https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/new-york-state-budget-released-0) that even though New York State’s budget allocated no funds for Transgender Care access (which President Trump has intimidated NYU Langone and Mt. Sinai hospitals into ceasing), New York’s budget has not done so. Considering that the Mayor has yet to keep his promises with the transgender community of funding $65 million through hospitals and gender-affirming clinics, this is his time to put up or shut up, as the saying goes. I’m a trans woman on medicaid, and I really don’t want to lose my care. Could you do something, please?

> -Leah Abram

Talia Perkins's avatar

So they folded. Wonderful.

Thank you for the reporting.

beverly wynne's avatar

Make it happen, NYC and NY. You can do better. Those of us stuck in red states look to blue states for hope.

Erica Forman's avatar

I know for a fact that this state is funding programs to help the transgender community. Heck, I have my current job because of that fact. I find this news to be depressing and shameful, but I don't know how much they were looking for but it has to be cheaper than suing hospitals. Not good Gov. Hochul, not good. Time for the state and the city to step up!

Anne's avatar

Well, that is moving in the wrong direction.

Mike Gelt's avatar

New York’s budget forgetting transgender youth care is unforgivable, especially while the Trump administration continues targeting this vulnerable community.

What makes it even worse is the silence from the NYC mayor, who campaigned on defending and supporting transgender healthcare but now cannot even bring himself to speak out when it matters most.

Add to that his blatant anti-Semitism and refusal to attend the Israel Day Parade — a tradition mayors have honored for decades — and it paints a picture of failed leadership and political cowardice.

He may have won this election, but many people are questioning whether he can win another.

Maybe it's time for a recall

Leah Abram's avatar

Um, I’m Jewish and I don’t think the Mayor was anti-Semitic by not marching in the March for Israel (and this is coming from someone who did it when she was younger). Mamdani has also celebrated many Jewish holidays.

You’re confusing anti-Semitism with Anti-Zionism.

Mike Gelt's avatar

sorry i cannot agree he has surrounded himself with known Anti-Semetic people for high positions in his government, eliminated langue that was supported by his predecessors, and has not supported safe zones around synagogues yet when there where protests outside is home he wanted safe zones - so no i cannot agree with you

Leah Abram's avatar

The Synagogues in question were selling stolen land in Palestine. Mamdani was against the legislation on free speech grounds while he was personally against the idea of protesting religious institutions.

Also, the fact that you used the term “langue” instead of “language” reveals that English is your second language, which isn’t that much of a shibboleth since NYC has the largest number of second languages (or “langues”) in the world!

Mike Gelt's avatar

Im so sorry I made an error in spelling for the rest of what I said I will not change it Israel has the right to defend itself against those who wish to eliminate it while I don’t agree with everything they do I don’t remember any country returning land taken in war. If you wish to believe that the mayor is on the side of Israel and Jews I’m sorry for you. That’s my last word on the subject

Leah Abram's avatar

I never said the mayor was on the side of Israel. I don’t think he hates Jews, though.

Devin's avatar

Democrats have a favorability rating close to trump’s. Imagine that!

It’s not their position on trans rights that makes Dems so unlikable and routinely unreliable.

Trans people can moderate on Dems, too. Dems won’t gain enough voters to make up for the voters they’ll lose over abandoning trans people. I’ve got better things to do than knock on doors / make calls, donate, and vote for pigs who’ll just abandon us.

Sarah F's avatar
2hEdited

My advice is to call them and tell them that. Call every Dem lawmaker who voted against funding, and tell them you are willing to match them TO THE PENNY in campaign donations for everything they appropriated for transgender health care. Ask them where you can send your $0 check.

My two Democratic senators threw trans people under the bus a couple of times. I've given to them generously in the past, and one of them gave me his personal assurance, face-to-face, with a handshake, that he would have my back. I frequently call to remind them how they let me down and how my contributing to them is dependent on their advocacy for me. Their voting record is getting better, but they still haven't met my stated contribution bar of "full-throated, unapologetic support."

Don Jackson's avatar

Mamdani needs to clean this up! Fast.

Rachel Goldstein's avatar

Unfuckingbelievably disappointing…we are NY!!! Howwwww? Especially given the loomimg fallout from the DOJ NYU subpoena. Mamdani promised to protect trans youth and has fallen so short. I hope he challenges Hochul on this.

Sandra's avatar

This is a major disappointment for New York State, and I hope it gets rectified in the near future. In the meantime, it sounds like Colorado and Massachusetts are the places to be these days, with the recent Colorado Supreme Court ruling, and with Massachusetts’ initiative to protect GAC funding which is noted in the article.

Roisin Aoife Brennan's avatar

Kroyst I wish the DNC would grow a damn backbone and start fighting for rights instead of caving in and doing what will get them votes to keep their fucking jobs. Spineless simps, looking to maintain the status quo, afraid of creating civil unrest to bring about real change.

Stephanie Shea's avatar

The DNC will not change until they are no longer owned by corporations and PACs. We need to vote in more progressives to get away from corporate money. When the DNC decided not to support sitting Dems being primaried you knew they weren't looking out for us. They are looking out for themselves.

Eileen Sahagian's avatar

Shame on New York!