Liam and Evan Oliver are brothers living in Florida, USA. Last month they spoke up at a meeting of lawmakers at their state capitol building against a law that was being voted. They argued the proposed law bullied their trans friends.
The law, which is currently being being debated in 25 states including Florida, would stop trans women competing in school sports teams that align with their gender identity. This means a trans girl would have to compete in a boys' team instead.
Liam and Evan spoke at the debate and claimed the bill was bullying trans people. Liam said he had a trans friend, Sam, "who is already bullied enough for being who he is."
Liam argued he was opposing this 'anti trans law' because it is "unconstitutional, as the 14th amendment gives every person equal protection under the law regardless of gender identity."
Evan argued, "It's also unfair to give trans kids more trouble than they already have. I was taught growing up that you should stop hurting people if you already are. Don't hurt trans girls. Vote no."
There is a link to the speech in the link above. It was shared by Democrat congresswoman, Anna Vishkaee Eskamani who said, "We're fighting right alongside you." Anna said, "Excluding a kid from playing a sport they want to play because they're in the process of gender transition feels really wrong."
On 8th April lawmakers in a different state in the US, West Virginia, voted to pass the same bill. Campaigners against the bill in the state argue, "there is no evidence that supports the need for this legislation, and it will jeopardize the well being of transgender kids across the state - who just want to play." Campaigners are saying they will not give up.
In Arkansas, March 2012, a law called the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act was passed that allows doctors to refuse treatment on religious, moral or ethical grounds. Some people are worried this means a doctor could now legally refuse to treat a person who is LGBT+ because of religious objection.
The vote in Florida is ongoing.
- what is this law about?
- what is gender identity? What is a trans girl or a trans boy? (gender identity is the gender you identify as. Some people know their gender identity is different to the one they were given at birth so a trans girl is a child who is now living as girl, knowing that is who they are regardless of who they were told to be when they were younger. It's just another way children are different)
- why do you think some people are arguing a trans girl should not play on a girls' sports team?
- how do you think the girl would feel to be told, you have to play on the boys team?
- how do you think the boys' team would feel about that decision?
- Who do you think should decide what team a child plays on?
- "Sam, who is already bullied enough for being who he is." why do you think Sam is being bullied?
- How will this law, if it is passed, affect Sam and how will it affect the people bullying him?
- "Excluding a kid from playing a sport they want to play because they're in the process of gender transition feels really wrong." what dos this mean? What is gender transition?
- What can we learn from Evan and Liam?
- what can we learn from the result in West Virginia and the vote in Arkansas? (that not everyone agrees with equality and we have to keep talking about this)
- what can we do about these votes and laws? (keep talking, be clear what we say in our school about equality)
- why is this about No Outsiders?
No Outsiders: Everyone different, everyone welcome by Andrew Moffat
ww.no-outsiders.com
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