49 Comments
User's avatar
Ada's avatar
2hEdited

Hi. What's the call to action here? What do I do after reading something this terrible? I mean this from a practical standpoint. I almost don't even want to subscribe read these stories if I'm just left feeling even more powerless than before.

Chrissy  Ulrey's avatar

Share stories like this so more people are informed of the violence that trans people experience. When the masses get as upset as we are, that will help to effect change.

We can also look into the local groups that are mobilizing to support this couple, and ask those groups how we can help.

Ada's avatar

Thank you. Do you know any local groups that I could support remotely? (either financially or through awareness)

Same to anyone who reads this comment. Direction of any kind is genuinely appreciated

Jayna Sheats's avatar

In my opinion, moving is the only option for years to come. There is no meaningful chance of reversing the trend in the extreme transmisic red states until there is a dramatic change at the federal level. However, we (and other anti-fascists) have not yet lost control of all states, and it's looking promising for our side to gain control of at least half of Congress in November, thereby preserving hope for a federal government that does not attack its own states. So the trans-friendly states will remain more or less safe (with individual local exceptions, for sure). I think those of us who can have to support organizations that can help people without the means to move to do so.

Resist Herr GropenFuhrer's avatar

Please keep subscribing -- it's very important for such news to be published, and no-one does that better that EITM.

Devin's avatar

Until proven otherwise, this mob of maga savages, the local pigs, and the maggots in the Louisiana gov from top to bottom have been planning to do something like this. This typical maga mob KNEW they’d be safe to commit this heinous crime. Maggots deserve no less in return, especially the part where public servants deliberately worsen the situation for the victims.

DJC's avatar

This is absolutely horrifying on every level. I too would like to know what action can we take here that would be effective?

David Feinberg's avatar

Let me get this right. They were assigned female at birth. So social conservatives would all say they should use the female bathroom, which they did. And they are still being attacked?

Nicola A's avatar

That's their goal. They know what they're doing makes no sense. The goal is to make it impossible for trans people to exist in public.

Artur Akkerman, LCSW's avatar

I am so empathically sad and angry about this beautiful couple being assaulted. This grief is so ubiquitous right now across our community.

Artur Akkerman, LCSW's avatar

It’s hard to even find words for the strong emotions this conjures up in us.

Mom's avatar

Is their lawyer good? Do they have a go-fund me?

Erin Whitla's avatar

This is an important question as theirs may become a test case establishing case law beyond landing them in prison.

BasicallyGir's avatar

What the hell, she followed their law and they still won't help her? It was never about protecting anyone, they just want to hurt anyone who doesn't look like them

Stacy Bousquet's avatar

You expected logic? Next you'll want compassion... Or empathy. This problem runs far far deeper than what we see on the surface.

Mike Gelt's avatar

What happened in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, was nothing less than a hate crime carried out by Bigoted, Racist people who believed they could attack two innocent individuals simply because they belonged to a minority community. These attackers acted with the confidence that, in a state where discrimination and intolerance have too often been ignored, they would face no consequences for their actions.

Adding insult to injury, law enforcement chose to arrest the victims rather than the perpetrators, even though the victims' only "offense" was being who they are. That decision sends a chilling message to every minority community: that prejudice can prevail over justice.

I applaud these individuals for refusing to remain silent and for choosing to fight back against this injustice. They deserve accountability, fairness, and the full protection of the law. Yet, given Louisiana's troubling history of tolerating such abuses, I cannot help but question whether they will receive the justice they so clearly deserve.

Justice cannot depend on who you are, where you live, or whether those in power approve of your identity. If the rule of law means anything, those responsible for this outrage must be held accountable.

I am utterly appalled by the Bossier Parish Police and Ordinance 22 that instructs anyone to monitor bathrooms and report those they feel do not belong.

Judith Hofeditz's avatar

For those wondering what can be done, if you have the means, support ACLU of Louisiana which has been helping these victims, as well as the organization mentioned in the article, Louisiana Trans Advocates. Even low amounts can add up and be helpful. And since both are on disability, they need financial help. Here's a link to the Go Fund Me started for them: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-trans-couple-recover-from-hate-crime?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Tessa Grace's avatar

“Brown shirts" doing what they've always done: committing extrajudicial violence at the behest of the hate-mongering fascists. I refused a company paid trip to NOLA over exactly this fear. The South isn’t safe, period.

Resist Herr GropenFuhrer's avatar

Do more. Tell your company they should not even be THINKING of holding company events in such places. And get a few like-minded co-workers to say so -- they don't have to sign onto any strong pro-trans statement, just an acknowledgement that the South, and red states generally, are unsafe for many people for many reasons now.

Erin Whitla's avatar

Uninvested bystanders don’t stand up for us because they fear personal repercussions in a country where a bigot management is actively rewarded by the state.

Tessa Grace's avatar

Excuse me???? Do more????? As a trans woman I’m in the fucking battle every single day of my life. Fuck off, you have no idea the hell I’ve fought through.

Jaimie Hileman's avatar

It's interesting how the states with the longest history of lynching are also the worst for trans violence.

Jaimie Hileman's avatar

And this is why I do not travel to red states or purchase anything made there if I can avoid it. They don't deserve to have my queer dollars.

Stacy Bousquet's avatar

There are SO many states I won't travel to or support in any way financially. My world is getting smaller and smaller by the day. Going to one of these places (or even on a flight with a connection in one of them) is more of a risk than I'm willing to take.

Resist Herr GropenFuhrer's avatar

Indeed, even a stopover in a red state can be very dangerous -- all you need is to have your connecting flight be delayed, and now you're stuck there. People are already telling airlines not to route them through the new Donald Trump airport (formerly Palm Beach Int'l), but a general red-state travel boycott would REALLY get their attention.

Resist Herr GropenFuhrer's avatar

Not only should companies take this shit into account when planning corporate events, groups of all kinds should do the same and publicize it everywhere. Louisiana depends very much on tourism ...

Reba's avatar

I don’t even know what to say about that-it’s so horrifying…I’m sure they all went to church on Sunday because they are such wonderful christians…

Glen's avatar

I'm terrified of this happening to me and my friends even in" safe " places.

Resist Herr GropenFuhrer's avatar

Move to the West Coast. It's reasonably safe here ... as long as you avoid the secessionist counties that all want to break off and join Idaho ...

ubgddt's avatar

I don’t think the couple broke any law, despite how hostile the laws are toward trans people. Rush, the trans woman, DID NOT use any bathroom. Sanders, the nonbinary AFAB person, used the female bathroom. So they acted completely legally. What was blatantly illegal was how they were attacked. So the attackers must be prosecuted. Am I missing anything?

Tia's avatar

EITM follow this undeserved violence and find these awful, ignorant people.

Resist Herr GropenFuhrer's avatar

Oh, yes -- please!! One of them was accidentally (?) ID'ed by the cops with that BS about naming their bag of personal property at the jail.

Keep in mind that in the NEXT presidential administration (assuming HGF allows it to proceed...), they can all be charged with assault with intend and hate crimes. The statue of limitations would be 5 years from the date of the crime -- per the lying google AI:

The federal statute of limitations for general non-capital assault offenses, including assault with intent (such as under 18 U.S. Code § 113), is 5 years pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3282, unless a specific specialized exception like terrorism or a specific federal felony sex offense applies.

Resist Herr GropenFuhrer's avatar

Sorry, allows THE ELECTION to proceed ...