Scripts protesting HHS memo erasing transgender people

[j00j]

(edited to add intersex people as rydra_wong noted)

I haven't found scripts regarding the HHS memo yet, so here are mine. Edits and links to other scripts welcome-- I'm in no way an expert.


My name is [name] and I’m a constituent in [city, zip].
I am [calling/writing] to ask [representative] to oppose the Trump Administration’s attempts to erase the legal existence of transgender and intersex people, as described in the Department of Health and Human Services Memo discussed in the New York Times.

Furthermore,
IF NOT A COSPONSOR: I ask [representative] to support the Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to civil rights protections like Title VII (7) and Title IX (9), ensuring that [I/my family members/my friends/colleagues/etc] have equal rights under the law.

IF A COSPONSOR: I want to thank [representative] for cosponsoring the Equality Act. I ask that they do everything they can to get their colleagues to pass this bill and ensure that [I/my family members/my friends/colleagues/etc] have civil rights protections regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.


See if your rep already cosponsors the Equality Act:
House:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2282/cosponsors

Senate: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1006/cosponsors



Secretary of Health and Human Services Comment Line
202 205 5445

My name is [name] and I live in [state, zip]
I am [calling/writing] to vehemently oppose the Department of Health and Human Services’ memo proposing to erase the legal existence of transgender and intersex people. Ample legal and medical literature supports what these people have known all along— they exist and deserve equal rights under the law.

Comments

[petra]

I 100% support all the efforts here. I put out a call yesterday for coherent ways to condemn this awfulness. isis has a friend who's highly qualified and working on a script, for anyone who wants something vetted by a lawyer and their trans kid, but anything > nothing.

[monanotlisa]

Thanks for the how-to!

[minoanmiss]

Thank you VERY much for these scripts.

not a script, but re: the HHS memo

[hermionesviolin]

Chase Strangio from the ACLU has "7 Action Items to Protect Trans and GNC People" (link below), which notes that many proposed changes to federal regulations have to go through something called "notice and comment," so there will likely be a comment period for this -- and in the meantime there are trans advocacy orgs to support, trans candidates to support, and the Yes on 3 campaign in Massachusetts to support (all listed in the link below).

https://www.out.com/news-opinion/2018/10/21/hell-no-memo-7-action-items-protect-trans-and-gnc-people

[rydra_wong]

Also, a very cogent point:

parkermolloy: Lots of people asking what they can do to fight back against the Trump administration’s planned anti-trans actions. The answer, honestly, is to elect Democrats.

Let me explain why. (thread) (discusses the Equality Act -- doesn't mean phoning's not worth doing, but the midterms are going to be critical)

Also, for anyone who wants to vary up their scripts, it could be worth pointing out that the proposed definitions will incidentally also massively screw over intersex people, whose chromosomes may not "match" their gender-assigned-at-birth-on-the-basis-of-genitals to begin with.

[j00j]

Thank you for bringing up intersex people-- that's a really important point.

[rydra_wong]

Excellent piece by an intersex activist which I saw after posting this:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/23/opinion/trump-transgender-memo-intersex.html

Also -- in a horrible and cynical manner, I wonder if there are some representatives/legislators who will be thoroughly into the memo's goal of shitting all over trans people, but who might think twice when the impact on intersex people is pointed out, because "they can't help it".

Aside from the impact on intersex people being equally deserving of consideration anyway, obviously.

I mean, I suspect that they'll probably just refuse to believe intersex people exist at all because it breaks their very limited understanding of human biology, but, yanno, anything's worth a shot.