Westerly Sun | By Alexis Thompson, May 7, 2024 ||
While the Ocean State has been dominated by the Democratic Party for decades, the national conservative movement has made advancements in our legislature. Transgender attacks on bodily autonomy can be observed sweeping the country, with RI being no exception. The myriad of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced has generated panic in the community, adults and minors alike.
The first set of bills proposes a school sports ban, that blatantly stigmatizes transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse students, and leaves them with no alternatives. The bill proposes that if a student disputes the rule they must provide physician documentation with the student’s biological sex, reproductive anatomy, their testosterone levels and genetic makeup. Legislators justify the discriminatory nature of this act, by “protecting women’s sports,” through actively isolating those who do not fit in the “approved” gender binary.
Another set of bills were introduced in attempts to ban physicians or other healthcare professionals/ institutions from providing transgender care for those under 18 years old. The act, if passed, will require all minors who are currently seeking treatment, to stop all medications/services.
Not only are the Senator and the Representatives who introduced the bill not healthcare professionals, they want to violate any ability for patients and their doctors to make private decisions that consider the dignity of the patient.
Advocates for Youth reports from recent findings that children from 18 months-3 years of age start to recognize gender identity and what that means to them. Gender identity and expression, being so personal, can cause significant stress if the child is not supported.
In conversations throughout Rhode Island at the municipal level, we are hearing time and time again that people do not know that these attacks are occurring here, when in fact, they are. In the school districts, as School Committees decide how they will, or rather not, follow the Rhode Island Department of Education’s (RIDE) policy, we are seeing an outpouring of anti-transgender student’s protections organizing. The guidance this policy provides is to ensure that all students are free from all forms of discrimination.
Some towns, like Westerly, are questioning this policy and how it serves their communities. By changing the policy, many of these towns would put all transgender and non-binary students in danger. Specifically in Westerly, the School Committee voted to review the current policy, with LGBTQ+ activists unsure of the outcome.
As anti-trans supporters continue to organize in our state, the efforts to overturn protections will only increase. Rhode Island students should feel supported by their school systems, and focus on what matters most- their entitled education.
That is why this election, it is essential that community members look not just at who they are voting for in the federal government, but their town counselors and school committees. Through this political lense the level of power is great and can have drastic changes for each community.
Alexis Thompson
North Smithfield
