1 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to wok F Daily with 2 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: me your girl Danielle Moody here in the Brooklyn Bunker. 3 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: You know, folks, um, the slate of bad news that 4 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: has come out of Florida and Texas has been remarkable. 5 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: The amount of hate, the amount of bigotry, the amount 6 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: of discrimination, the amount of vitriol that is coming out 7 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: of these two states is a preview, if you will, 8 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: to what we can expect to come out of a 9 00:00:53,240 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: Republican run country, White House, Senate, House, Supreme Court. I 10 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: want people to understand that it isn't enough for us 11 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: to say, Oh, Texas should be cut off or Florida 12 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: should be cut off, because frankly, that would be a 13 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: great thing. It would be a great thing if we 14 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:22,320 Speaker 1: began instead of just going out and marching in showing 15 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: up that we were actually putting pressure on the performers 16 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: that go into perform in Texas, on the corporations that 17 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: have their headquarters in Texas and Florida. We got a 18 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: bullshit memo from the head of Disney about how oh, 19 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: let their contents speak for themselves, but they're not going 20 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: to offer any statements on the anti gay don't say, 21 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: gay Bill that is past in Florida. Because cash rules 22 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: everything around me. They don't want to hurt their own 23 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: pockets by what standing for what's right. And I'm just 24 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: wondering these days, what the fuck is it going to 25 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: take for people to show some show that they have 26 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: some values, some fucking morals, right. But again, I don't 27 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: know why we're looking to corporations and shareholders to do 28 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,079 Speaker 1: that when all they know how to do and all 29 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,639 Speaker 1: they want to do is make money. It's why they 30 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: spread their money around to both the Republican and the 31 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: Democratic Party, because their allegiance is to their bottom line. 32 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: But what I also know to be true is that 33 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: boycott's fucking work, right, and that pressure comes from the people. 34 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 1: The pressure and the boycotts are why Martin Luther King said, 35 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: you know what, We're not going to do anymore ride 36 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,839 Speaker 1: the bus for over three hundred and sixty five days, right, 37 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: We're gonna fucking walk. And I think that we are 38 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 1: at a place. We are at a place in this country. 39 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: We are at a place with the lack of leadership 40 00:02:54,440 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: at the top in certain areas for us to say 41 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: enough is enough. Right later in the show, I'm going 42 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 1: to have an in depth interview with the CEO of 43 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: Equality Texas, an LGBTQ plus organization that is trying to 44 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: advance equity in Texas and beat back these anti LGBTQ bills. 45 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,639 Speaker 1: Ricardo Martinez has been on the job for two and 46 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 1: a half years and has never in the entirety of 47 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 1: his career seen in escalation an anti LGBTQ sentiment. Then 48 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: he has in the last year. He will tell us 49 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: that twenty twenty one was the worst legislative year for 50 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: LGBTQ people hardstop, not just in Texas. And so I 51 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: want us to wrap our minds around the direction that 52 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: this country is headed in, which is one that is 53 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: run by a bunch of white evangelical Christians who are 54 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: going to not only threaten right, not only threatened verbally 55 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: with the language that they use, but also make it sure, 56 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: make it certain that we go back inside the closet right, 57 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:27,359 Speaker 1: make it certain that trans youth that are part of 58 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: the highest group of suicide right within the LGBTQ community, 59 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: that those numbers increase. I can't think right now what 60 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 1: it must be like to be queer youth in this country. 61 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: You know, a couple of years ago, at the beginning 62 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: of the two thousands, right around the beginning of the 63 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: Obama administration, there were a rash of high profile suicides 64 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 1: of LGBTQ youth. It was over the course of like 65 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks. There were kids as young as 66 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: nine years old attempting suicide and some succeeding because of 67 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: the bullying and the torment that they were receiving at school, 68 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:31,919 Speaker 1: and not just from their classmates, but from teachers and 69 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: administrators that did nothing when they heard the taunts that 70 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:42,280 Speaker 1: put the onus on the queer student to quote unquote 71 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: fit in or to quote unquote assimilate. Right you're making 72 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: yourself a target. The isolation that these kids must feel 73 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: right now and now with Texas on top of everything else, 74 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: talking about investigating the parents of lgbtquth of trans youth 75 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: for seeking medical attention, life saving medical treatment, they're not 76 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 1: dealing with, you know, the amount of neglect that is 77 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:27,239 Speaker 1: happening because of their underfunded departments of Family Services. They're 78 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 1: not talking about what has been left on the table 79 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: by this administration so that they can focus on abusing 80 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 1: trans youth. It is outrageous. What is happening and what 81 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 1: I asked Ricardo, I ask him about what faith he 82 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 1: has in this current Biden administration. To set the record straight. 83 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: The Biden administration, by the way, is one of the 84 00:06:55,360 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 1: most diverse administrations, more so than even Obama's was. And 85 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: those things matter, But also what matters is not just 86 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: strongly worded statements, but actions that allow those that are 87 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: the most marginalized among us to know that their president, 88 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: their government has their back. And right now, these kids, 89 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: their families are being left out in the fucking cold. 90 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: We keep saying, well, we have bigger fish to fry. 91 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: We got nuclear war, we got climate change, folks, we 92 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: got all of it. All of it is happening at 93 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: the same time. So we have to deal with all 94 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: of it at the same time and not allow our 95 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: elected officials to tell us that there is a hierarchy 96 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: of equity here, that there's a hierarchy of safety. For 97 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: too long, we have allowed the Republican Party to call 98 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: themselves the Party of family Values. Why because they care 99 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:04,239 Speaker 1: more about a collection of cells inside of a uterus 100 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: than they do a full grown fucking child outside of 101 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: the wound. Give me a break. We have seeded ground 102 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: to them as it pertains to children and families. Meanwhile, 103 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: they don't give a fuck about our kids, about any 104 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: of them, not the queer ones, not the black ones, 105 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: not the Latin X ones, not the Asian ones, none 106 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: of them except white kids, straight white kids, straight sis 107 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 1: white kids. But we don't have the balls to fucking 108 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:46,599 Speaker 1: call them out on their bullshit. Where the Party of 109 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: Family values you could give a fuck about people's families. 110 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: And just so that we're all clear, family doesn't just 111 00:08:55,960 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: look like the nuclears heteronormativity. We have an opportunity right 112 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: to be at a place of expansion. And that is 113 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 1: why all of these pieces of legislation or all of 114 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: these threats are coming down because they are scared to 115 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: death white Evangelical Christians and these quote unquote the Maga faction. 116 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: They are terrified of what a country looks like of 117 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: people who are authentic right, who can live how they 118 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 1: want to live, love how they want to love, who 119 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: are demanding equity and justice because their assumption right is 120 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: that when we are in power, that we will treat 121 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 1: them the way that they have treated us. But you say, 122 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: I don't care. You want to be a racist, over 123 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: zealous like bigot go do you, but do you without 124 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: doing harm to me? Right? This is why we're supposed 125 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: to have a separation of church and state, which we don't. 126 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 1: This is why you know, we're supposed to not have 127 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: religions in school, which we do. Not think about what 128 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: it will look like down the line when Republicans take 129 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: over prayer back in school, no diverse education or thought 130 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: about anyone outside of the white race. And how amazing 131 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:26,319 Speaker 1: it is right that they will cherry pick what is told, 132 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: what is said, not only in your children's curriculum, on 133 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: the news, in the papers. They want America to look 134 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: like Putin's Russia, where LGBTQ people are scared and scarce 135 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 1: right in terms of their ability to live open and free, 136 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 1: because they are under threat of violence and jail. That's 137 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: what they want here in America, not just for queer people, 138 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: but for people of color, for women who decide to 139 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: have bodily autonomy, for people with uterus is who decide that, 140 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: you know what, I'm not ready to start a family, 141 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: and I get to make that choice. I get to 142 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: say I need an abortion, not just oh to keep it. 143 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: Would they say safe legal and rare? No, it's safe 144 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: legal and whenever the fuck it's necessary. We are in 145 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: the danger zone, and I know that you all know this, 146 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 1: and I just can't understand where the urgency is in 147 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 1: this administration. And I'm going to keep saying that, folks. 148 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 1: I'm sorry. I'm not going to be one of those 149 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: silent Democrats that just fall in line when I know 150 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 1: that the line that I'm falling into ain't marching in 151 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:53,839 Speaker 1: the direction that we need to be headed. We are 152 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: having so much goddamn tough talk too putin too NATO 153 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: about what is happening in the Ukraine, and we are 154 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: not paying attention to what the fuck is happening in 155 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 1: the United States. We are in the danger zone with 156 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: eight months left to go, where Texas and Florida are 157 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: going to be replicated all across the country, first going 158 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 1: to red states and then going into squeeze blue states 159 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: to their will. Folks, I know that we are exhausted. 160 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 1: We have dealt with more than I think some generations 161 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 1: have dealt with. I'm gonna be honest, and I know 162 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 1: there are folks that have gone through World War One, 163 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 1: World War two, the Vietnam War. But I'm telling you this, 164 00:12:49,800 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: compounded these compounded crises that seem daily are overwhelming, but 165 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:03,719 Speaker 1: they are trying to wear us down. They are trying 166 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: to wear us out to a place where we just 167 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 1: give up and we say that we can't take it anymore. 168 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 1: Do what you will. We cannot allow ourselves to get 169 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 1: to this place. So whatever it is that's going to 170 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:23,160 Speaker 1: allow you to rest and restore, to get back to 171 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: the front lines of the fight for justice in this country, 172 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 1: you need to do it. We need to do it 173 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: because we are literally in the fight for our lives. 174 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: There has never been a time darker than the ones 175 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 1: that we are headed in. Pending World War three, climate crisis, 176 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: voter suppression, anti abortion bills, anti LGBT bills. I mean, 177 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 1: it is wild. My head spins most days. But I 178 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:08,440 Speaker 1: can't continue to have us pay attention to the threats 179 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: that are abroad and put no juice and energy into 180 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: the threats that we are facing at home. We have 181 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: to have to have the ability to do both, and 182 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 1: to both work to protect democracy abroad or what is 183 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: left of democracy abroad, and work to secure it here. 184 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: Because I'm telling you, folks that if America falls democracy 185 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: around the world, it will be a domino effect like 186 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: something we have never seen. We've never seen America cross 187 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: over to the side of authoritarianism and dictatorship, but that 188 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: is exactly where we are headed if we do not 189 00:14:55,520 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: pay attention. Coming up next, my conversation with Ricardo Martinez, 190 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: the CEO of Equality Texas. Folks, I am very happy 191 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: to welcome to WOKA affadaily for the first time the 192 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: executive director and head of Equality Texas, Ricardo Martinez, who 193 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 1: is on the front lines of Texas's entire I don't 194 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 1: know what it is. If it's a strategy, if it's 195 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 1: a campaign of anti LGBTQ, just horrible bills, one right 196 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: after the other. It seems that to me, Ricardo, Florida 197 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: and Texas are trading off on how to be literally 198 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: the worst state. Give us a picture of what is transpiring, 199 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: what you have been feeling and hearing from your folks 200 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: on the ground in Texas. Yeah, Danielle, number one, thank 201 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: you for having me. I really appreciate the platform to 202 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: be able to bring more attention to what has been 203 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: happening here in Texas for quite a while. People like 204 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: to point to this moment as the moment where people 205 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 1: woke up, but at the boiling point. Right, But this 206 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: has been simmering for quite a long time now, and 207 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 1: I'd like to begin this conversation usually even context of 208 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 1: what happened. In twenty twenty one was the worst legislative 209 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 1: year for any state in the country ever in history. 210 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: We had seventy six anti LGBTQ bills filed here in Texas, 211 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: seventy six And to give you just a comparison, the 212 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: last time that we were in session, back in twenty nineteen, 213 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: there were fifteen bills that targeted our community. That is 214 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: an escalation of just unprecedented proportions. We typically only meet 215 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: once every two years for about one hundred and twenty days. 216 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty one, there was a regular session that 217 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 1: fulfilled that time. We also had three special sessions, right, 218 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: so by the end of the regular session, the legislature 219 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:12,160 Speaker 1: wasn't done with us, and then subsequently went into special 220 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: session number one, the second called special session, and the 221 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:19,919 Speaker 1: third call special session. During the third call special session 222 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 1: in October was when a bill finally got through the legislature. 223 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: So we put up a valiant fight. Let me tell 224 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: you that people in Texas are fighters. There are people 225 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: here who do not give up their relentless pursuit for 226 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: the live. The quality of LGBTQ people is steadfast, and 227 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: it is undying and unwavering. So let's just start with 228 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 1: the hope. Right. There are people here that believe that 229 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: what seventy percent of Texans believed. What we know to 230 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 1: be true is that seventy percent of Texans believed that 231 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: discrimination against LGBTQ people was wrong. But there were eleven people, 232 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,640 Speaker 1: and this is really important to underscore, there were eleven 233 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:08,239 Speaker 1: people at the Texas Legislature that at the House in 234 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 1: the House side that pushed these bills. That is a 235 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: minority of electeds. Which brings me to my next point, 236 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: which is people get out and vote. There are eleven 237 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 1: people that are causing all of this, that caused this 238 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty one. If they weren't there, if we 239 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 1: really paid attention to who cares about our issues and 240 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 1: who was willing to represent every Texans instead of just 241 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:36,360 Speaker 1: some Texans, we wouldn't be here. You know, you bring 242 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: you bring up or caught a couple of major numbers, right, 243 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:45,920 Speaker 1: which is the seventy percent, the seventy percent of Texans 244 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: who believe that anti lgbt you know, discriminatory policies, they're 245 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 1: not for them. Right. But then you have these eleven members, right, 246 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: what is what is their background and makeup and where 247 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: you know, because I always say on this show and 248 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 1: others follow the money, right, who are their biggest donors? 249 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: Who are the ones that are saying, oh, we need 250 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 1: this kind of legislation? Because I believe and many others 251 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: who are you know, working in democratic politics, believe that 252 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: what's happening in Texas in Florida is a preview for 253 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: what will happen across the country if Abbot or if 254 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 1: Desantists decide that Donald Trump isn't going to run in 255 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, and so this is a preview for 256 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:33,120 Speaker 1: what we can expect from Republicans. So I'm curious to 257 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: know about these eleven individuals, where, who and what kind 258 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: of donors they're affiliated with? And what you think about 259 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:47,439 Speaker 1: Texas being the Petrie Dish for the Republican Party. Yeah, 260 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:49,679 Speaker 1: I think you're bringing up excellent points and things that 261 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: we talk about all the time. Right, this is part 262 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:56,679 Speaker 1: of a coordinated effort countrywide. This is not specific to Texas, right, 263 00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: But to your point, people come here and try to 264 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: perfectings in Texas and then replicated across the country. Because 265 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: it works in Texas, we have a tremendous amount of 266 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 1: political influence across the country. We do, and that's why 267 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 1: we take our job very, very seriously. Here. This is 268 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: a coordinated effort, right. And if you went and you 269 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 1: took a look at all of the bills that tried 270 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: to stop transgender people from living their lives, from limiting 271 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: their participation in daily life, they are almost replicas of 272 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 1: each other. They might be different slightly depending on the 273 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:42,199 Speaker 1: level of hatred that is available or the threshold of 274 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:46,199 Speaker 1: hate of whichever state right, but there are fundamentally the 275 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 1: same and they seek to do the same right. And 276 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: I think what is happening here is that anti LGBTQ 277 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:55,640 Speaker 1: legislators they poll test these things, right, and what they 278 00:20:55,640 --> 00:21:00,439 Speaker 1: have found is that there is a knowledge void, a 279 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:06,959 Speaker 1: knowledge gap, a familiarity gap that most Americans have about 280 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:10,880 Speaker 1: transgender people. And so what they have done is exploited 281 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:15,159 Speaker 1: that gap and filled it with disinformation about creating this 282 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:20,639 Speaker 1: caricature of who trans people are, right, to create this boogeyman, 283 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 1: to create people that um that are scary to the 284 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: everyday American because they don't have the luxury or the 285 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: blessings of having transgender people in their life, because if 286 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: they did, they would know that transgender people are doctors, 287 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: they are teachers, their neighbors, they're sitting next to you 288 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 1: in the pews of worship right there. Transgender people exist 289 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 1: everywhere and have existed everywhere for forever, and so I 290 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: think it's just the Their goal is to erode the 291 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: support that we have so that we for so hard 292 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:03,919 Speaker 1: for more than thirty years, right, And the same thing 293 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 1: that was happening with Anita Brian back in the late 294 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 1: seventies post AIDS epidemic. All of these are replicating over 295 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:15,439 Speaker 1: and over and over because if you look at the 296 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 1: messaging that was used in the seventies, if you look 297 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:19,399 Speaker 1: at the messaging that was used in the eighties and 298 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 1: even during marriage equality, all of it is being brought 299 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 1: back because it has worked before, and now they're finding 300 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 1: another way to exploit it and reinforce those messages that 301 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:33,360 Speaker 1: have been so successful in the past. So, Ricardo, we 302 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:37,159 Speaker 1: know this, right, we know, and we know that Republicans 303 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 1: and conservatives use the same messaging over and over again. Right, 304 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 1: It's been the same messaging around Roe v. Wade. It's 305 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: been the same messaging around voting a voter suppression. It's 306 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:53,360 Speaker 1: been the same. And yet we seem on our side 307 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 1: to have difficulty in filling in what you said. And 308 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:01,119 Speaker 1: I love this the knowledge gap, right. You know, I 309 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: can remember not too long ago, working on Capitol Hill 310 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:08,160 Speaker 1: in way back in the one hundred and thirteenth Congress, 311 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 1: when we were trying to fight for a LGBTQ bill 312 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 1: and wanted to take gay people right. Members of the 313 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: community like me and you wanted decided that we were 314 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 1: going to leave trans folks behind, needed to take them 315 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: out of the legislation because there were more people who 316 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:32,959 Speaker 1: were aware of and knew had a lesbian friend or sister, 317 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 1: or a gay brother or cousin or bisexual, but did 318 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 1: not have any real connection understanding of the trans community. 319 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 1: And so even within our own community, we were willing 320 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 1: to leave those folks behind. So I feel like we 321 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 1: bear the burden also of the knowledge gap that in 322 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 1: that is present, right. I mean, somebody should have told 323 00:23:59,920 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: me that woke AF was really woke AF because I'm 324 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 1: having a really good time right now, mostly because you know, 325 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:08,440 Speaker 1: I want to be able to have this conversation with 326 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 1: people that get it right, and I get twenty twenty 327 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: one was hard, right. We are still experiencing the pandemic. 328 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: So everyone has this added layer of trauma, whether they 329 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:19,360 Speaker 1: recognize it or not. Everyone has been through a very 330 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 1: traumatic moment in our lifetime. Right. And on top of that, 331 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:26,760 Speaker 1: Texans went through the freeze last year. People died because 332 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 1: we were on The government did not protect us, they 333 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: did not do anything to help us. On top of that, 334 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: you add legislative session last year, where every issue was 335 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:39,959 Speaker 1: on the table, right, nobody was off the table. It 336 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,919 Speaker 1: wasn't just LGBTQ people and people that are at the 337 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 1: intersections of LGBTQ and immigration, people who are mostly marginalized 338 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: in terms of like voting rights or reproductive rights. It 339 00:24:56,200 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 1: was incredibly traumatic last year, right, So you're compounding all 340 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: of these traumas and trying to do advocacy at the 341 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:08,119 Speaker 1: same time. Right. And so let's remember back in twenty 342 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 1: twenty one when this all began to pick up steam. 343 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: We vaccines were not readily available. People were showing up 344 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:20,159 Speaker 1: to the Capitol to testify without any added protection, with 345 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 1: just masks, and there were no mass mandates here. So 346 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:25,680 Speaker 1: you could walk around the building here at the Capitol 347 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 1: with people that weren't necessarily putting your life, putting your 348 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 1: life maybe slightly more at risk because they were unwilling 349 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:38,479 Speaker 1: to protect themselves. Right. So like last year, we needed 350 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 1: our allies to be there, and we had a really 351 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:47,239 Speaker 1: hard time turning out LGBT plus people because mostly as 352 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:49,679 Speaker 1: a trans issue that didn't impact us. But guess what, 353 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: it is always a means to an end. They are 354 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 1: not going to stop at trans people, right, and you 355 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 1: should show up because it's the right thing to do, right, Like, 356 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: we don't play that like I you know, I have 357 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 1: always had this mandate in like this this vision for 358 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:08,399 Speaker 1: what I want to do with my life, and I 359 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:11,120 Speaker 1: want to live it through service, right, And I did 360 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,440 Speaker 1: buy faith and I walk through faith, and I trust 361 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:14,959 Speaker 1: that I am put in a position where I need 362 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:17,880 Speaker 1: to be. I want to bring everybody with us. There 363 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 1: is a place for everyone in this fight. You can 364 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 1: contribute as little or as much as you can at 365 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:25,440 Speaker 1: any given moment. From home, you could do a ton 366 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: of stuff. Stopping transphobia in conversations with your friends helps. 367 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: It might not be showing up at the Capital giving testimony, 368 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 1: but it helps. There's a tangible thing that everyone could 369 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:42,920 Speaker 1: do to contribute to creating a landscape where trans people 370 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 1: are not just simply trying to survive, but are thriving 371 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: and are living their fullest potential authentically without the fear 372 00:26:56,680 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 1: and anxiety related to their their safety and well being. Ricardo, 373 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 1: how do you all, equality Texas, you know, deal with 374 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:11,640 Speaker 1: the emotional fatigue that people have. I mean, you just 375 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 1: listed out the onslought right of bills that have come 376 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:21,040 Speaker 1: out of your state. I mean you're talking about you know, folks, 377 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:24,440 Speaker 1: you know, not showing up in terms of protests because 378 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:28,119 Speaker 1: of the pandemic. And wasn't it also in twenty twenty 379 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:32,879 Speaker 1: one where the Democrat, the Texas Democrats fled the state 380 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:36,199 Speaker 1: to go to Washington, DC to say you need to 381 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:42,440 Speaker 1: do something. And even that major courageous act didn't turn out, 382 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: like didn't didn't get the results that were needed. And 383 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 1: so how do you all knowing that it's our voices, 384 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:53,199 Speaker 1: the voices of those within the LGBTQ community, but the 385 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:56,520 Speaker 1: voices of our allies that are needed in this moment, 386 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 1: and yet we're experiencing COVID fatigue, you know, our democracy, 387 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:08,959 Speaker 1: all of these things are just compounded and folks are exhausted. 388 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 1: Folks are exhausted. So I'll take this in two ways. 389 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:17,919 Speaker 1: People that do this work do it because it's passion work. Right. 390 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:20,520 Speaker 1: They want to do this because they are really passionate 391 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:25,040 Speaker 1: about this work, and that comes with a certain amount 392 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:30,399 Speaker 1: of risk when it comes to emotional, emotional, and physical health. Right. Yeah, 393 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,960 Speaker 1: if you're not actively trying to take care of yourself, 394 00:28:33,160 --> 00:28:36,679 Speaker 1: you're going to be consumed by this work, and that 395 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: is unavoidable. You are going to be consumed. So unless 396 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 1: you're inserting joy into life, unless you are in tune 397 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:51,479 Speaker 1: with the small parts of life that give you that joy, 398 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 1: that help refill your cup, you're going to burn out 399 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 1: very quickly. So what we try to do is provide 400 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 1: that emotional support. We try to provide as many benefits 401 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 1: as possible for our staff, but also recognizing that this 402 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 1: work is just hard and we have to take care 403 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 1: of ourselves. And in terms of folks on the ground, 404 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 1: a constituents, parents advocates to turn out, you know, we 405 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,640 Speaker 1: try it as best as we can to be mindful 406 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 1: of their trauma. So, for instance, fast forward to the 407 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:27,760 Speaker 1: DFPS situation that we're going through now. So the Governor 408 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 1: and the Attorney General a couple of weeks ago release 409 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 1: both an Attorney General opinion and then a subsequent guidance 410 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 1: from the Governor saying that affirming your child's gender identity 411 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: and giving them access to life saving healthcare is child abuse. 412 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 1: It's child abuse. Might swear to God, don't even get 413 00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 1: me started. And that in itself doesn't have the backing 414 00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 1: of law. Right, neither the governor nor the Attorney in General. 415 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 1: Can you no latter really say I'm going to change 416 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 1: that law doesn't happen that way. That's why the legislature exists. 417 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:09,080 Speaker 1: That's why this same bill. They tried this, They tried 418 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 1: this effort via a bill that failed in twenty twenty one. 419 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:16,920 Speaker 1: So they're trying to do it administratively, but they can't. 420 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 1: And so what people don't what people are experiencing right 421 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 1: now are the practical applications of confusion. Right, people believes 422 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:33,880 Speaker 1: of power are going to tell them and give them 423 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:37,840 Speaker 1: the guidance and the truth that they seek. Right, because 424 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 1: they are supposed to be trusted people in positions of power, 425 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:46,080 Speaker 1: and so they are putting the full force and power 426 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:51,760 Speaker 1: of the office of the governor to investigate loving families 427 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:56,320 Speaker 1: instead of actually addressing a Department of Family and Protective 428 00:30:56,360 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 1: Services that has been sanctioned and for over ten years 429 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 1: to fix the problems that currently exist. There are kids 430 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 1: that are awaiting placement, sleeping in administrative offices. There are 431 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 1: DFPS workers who are not being paid a living wage, 432 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 1: they have unmanageable case loads. And you're going to take 433 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 1: all of the existing resources to investigate people who love 434 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 1: their children. Is bonkers. I mean, that is just insane, right, Like, 435 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:37,560 Speaker 1: I think that the legislative misconduct the lies, right because 436 00:31:37,560 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 1: a lot of what Texas is doing is creating these 437 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:45,560 Speaker 1: laws that are trigger laws, right, Like, there's no way 438 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:50,120 Speaker 1: to really build up lawsuits, which the ACLU other folks 439 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:53,920 Speaker 1: have done Transgender Law Center. You know, people are suing Texas, 440 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:58,920 Speaker 1: but they're writing these legislations in such a way that 441 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 1: it is the threat of it that forces people to 442 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:07,680 Speaker 1: shut down, Right, it's the threat of being investigated. I 443 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:10,880 Speaker 1: think I read something, and I'm certain that you know 444 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:16,480 Speaker 1: about a family. A woman, she works for Texas government, 445 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 1: her child is transgender. She's now being investigated, and she 446 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:25,720 Speaker 1: was being investigated and now put on administrative leave. Pending 447 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:30,760 Speaker 1: the investigation of quote unquote abuse. So my question is like, 448 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:36,000 Speaker 1: how do we lift up the things that are not 449 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:41,360 Speaker 1: being done by this Republican administration in turn, and things 450 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:45,640 Speaker 1: that are being done to target and threaten and cause 451 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 1: harm for LGBTQ people. But in doing so, they're leaving 452 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:53,560 Speaker 1: the rest of Texans behind. A couple of things here, 453 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: Number one, these aren't laws, right again, Like this is 454 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:59,520 Speaker 1: just an opinion and a press room. It's just an opinion, okay, 455 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:02,960 Speaker 1: and press they're just it's like my mom saying I'm 456 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:04,760 Speaker 1: going to change the law because you shouldn't be going 457 00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:06,959 Speaker 1: out on Friday night at ten o'clock. That has no 458 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:09,480 Speaker 1: backing of law, and like it just it is just 459 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:12,520 Speaker 1: an opinion. It is nothing that it can be enforced. Right. 460 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:15,480 Speaker 1: But the danger there is that you have people in 461 00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:19,360 Speaker 1: positions of power who are confusing folks who are mandated 462 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:22,160 Speaker 1: to report. Right, And so then you have the practical 463 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:25,360 Speaker 1: applications of everyday life. How does this impact and trickle 464 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:28,840 Speaker 1: down to the daily lives of trans people? Right? And 465 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:32,760 Speaker 1: so parents are kind of going through the asking themselves 466 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:35,720 Speaker 1: the questions of like do I pull my kid from 467 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:38,840 Speaker 1: public school because they might encounter our teacher, a nurse, 468 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:41,800 Speaker 1: a social worker, an administrator who is not supportive of 469 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:47,080 Speaker 1: trans identities and report them to CPS. And what does 470 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:50,280 Speaker 1: my kid do if a CPS investigator shows up to 471 00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:53,440 Speaker 1: school without me knowing? They don't have to call a parent, 472 00:33:54,120 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 1: They can just show up then and talk to your 473 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:06,360 Speaker 1: kid at school? What happens if if a CPS investigator 474 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:10,920 Speaker 1: shows up to my door and knocks with an anonymous complaint. Right, 475 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:14,640 Speaker 1: people don't understand their rights, the totality of their rights. 476 00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:18,880 Speaker 1: And right now, CPS doesn't have to comply with the 477 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:22,360 Speaker 1: governor's demands, but they do because the commissioner is appointed 478 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:26,800 Speaker 1: directly by the governor. So if you get to appoint 479 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:28,520 Speaker 1: the people that you know are going to do your 480 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:32,319 Speaker 1: dirty work, it makes it a lot easier to manipulating 481 00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:37,760 Speaker 1: positions of authority and departments that are supposed to protect 482 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:41,680 Speaker 1: families and children they're not. How do we lift up 483 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:44,480 Speaker 1: the truth? I think oftentimes, you know, we spend a 484 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:48,680 Speaker 1: lot of time focus on negation, right, like right, negating 485 00:34:48,680 --> 00:34:56,319 Speaker 1: their message. Yeah, we state what we believe, right, We 486 00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:59,239 Speaker 1: know who trans people are, that's what we focus on. 487 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:02,600 Speaker 1: We know what the truth is. That's what we focus on. 488 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:07,239 Speaker 1: I don't care to spend my time to figure out 489 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:10,600 Speaker 1: why people and positions of power are not doing right 490 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:14,680 Speaker 1: by constituents that deserve to be protected, deserve to feel safe. 491 00:35:16,160 --> 00:35:19,319 Speaker 1: I don't I don't spend time trying to figure it out. 492 00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:21,959 Speaker 1: I don't negate anything that they say because it doesn't matter. 493 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:27,840 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter. What do you think that this administration, 494 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:34,280 Speaker 1: the Biden administration, could and should be doing in order 495 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:40,480 Speaker 1: to protect LGBTQ youth, particularly trans youth. We had the 496 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:43,120 Speaker 1: State of the Unions, you know, a couple of weeks ago, 497 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:46,880 Speaker 1: and not a mention, not a mention of any of 498 00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 1: these bills that have come out, And I have to 499 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:53,040 Speaker 1: tell you that I was sorely disappointed right on a 500 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:57,520 Speaker 1: number of scales of what was addressed in what wasn't 501 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:00,600 Speaker 1: What do you think needs to happen or would happen 502 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:05,280 Speaker 1: at the federal level to signal to states, these rogue 503 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:08,839 Speaker 1: states like Texas and Florida that this is not going 504 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:15,040 Speaker 1: to be tolerated. You know, I've been in conversations with 505 00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 1: the Office of Civil Rights and HHS. Right they released 506 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:24,759 Speaker 1: a press statement last week about reaffirming the rights that 507 00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:30,520 Speaker 1: transgender people have and when institutions that provide healthcare are 508 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:34,640 Speaker 1: in violation of federal law, which I think is helpful. Right, 509 00:36:35,080 --> 00:36:38,680 Speaker 1: It's also really helpful to have the highest office in 510 00:36:38,680 --> 00:36:41,680 Speaker 1: the country say that they see trans folks right. And 511 00:36:41,680 --> 00:36:44,239 Speaker 1: so when the President mentioned that last week, I know 512 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:46,359 Speaker 1: it might have been in passing, maybe he didn't go 513 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:49,160 Speaker 1: in too much into the weeds of what's happening across 514 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:52,279 Speaker 1: the country. But to be a kid in Texas, a 515 00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:57,280 Speaker 1: family in Texas and here the President say positive things 516 00:36:57,320 --> 00:37:00,680 Speaker 1: about the trans community, I think is affirming in a 517 00:37:00,719 --> 00:37:05,480 Speaker 1: way that we can't really articulate because the rhetoric that 518 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:10,239 Speaker 1: we hear here is completely the opposite. What worries me 519 00:37:10,320 --> 00:37:14,560 Speaker 1: the most is that itself right. Like, if you think 520 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:18,520 Speaker 1: about it, as adults, we spend a majority of our 521 00:37:18,560 --> 00:37:21,360 Speaker 1: adult life undoing the harm and the messages that we 522 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:25,719 Speaker 1: heard when we were come on right so much, so much. 523 00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:30,759 Speaker 1: Imagine how hard it's going to be for the kids 524 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:33,919 Speaker 1: in Texas to undo the last two and a half years. 525 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:37,560 Speaker 1: Every single time that they've had to go into the 526 00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:44,480 Speaker 1: Texas capital to defend their humanity is traumatic. Every time 527 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:47,000 Speaker 1: that they have to sit in a hearing, hearing from 528 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 1: people who don't like them, don't see them, think they 529 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:56,480 Speaker 1: don't exist, want to erase their existence. Is traumatic. We 530 00:37:56,480 --> 00:38:01,040 Speaker 1: were in a hearing having a press conference. People anti 531 00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:05,239 Speaker 1: LGBTQ folks were screaming at parents and bullying children. These 532 00:38:05,239 --> 00:38:10,520 Speaker 1: are adults bullying children in real time. I worry for 533 00:38:10,680 --> 00:38:14,239 Speaker 1: their long term mental health because if I didn't have 534 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:18,040 Speaker 1: such a traumatic childhood and I'm still undoing things that 535 00:38:18,080 --> 00:38:22,520 Speaker 1: I learned about myself through the experience, my lived experience, 536 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:27,600 Speaker 1: I can't imagine what's awaiting them, you know. I love Yeah, well, 537 00:38:28,080 --> 00:38:32,640 Speaker 1: I'm so happy that you brought that up, because, you know, 538 00:38:32,960 --> 00:38:37,920 Speaker 1: for a political party that has gotten away with referring 539 00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:41,319 Speaker 1: to themselves as like the family first Party, the pro 540 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:45,480 Speaker 1: family party, right, it's pro certain people's family, right, it's 541 00:38:45,520 --> 00:38:47,879 Speaker 1: pro families that look like you, pray like you, love 542 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:51,160 Speaker 1: like you. That's that's what it is. But we've allowed 543 00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:56,839 Speaker 1: them to kind of hijack that and not lift up 544 00:38:56,920 --> 00:39:02,560 Speaker 1: the fact that they are trauma traumatizing these kids. They 545 00:39:02,719 --> 00:39:07,560 Speaker 1: are these are future voting citizens right like this, They 546 00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:12,720 Speaker 1: are doing harm and yet using that very same language 547 00:39:12,760 --> 00:39:17,359 Speaker 1: to say what they're loving, caring parents and community are 548 00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:20,680 Speaker 1: doing for them is what is actually causing harm. And 549 00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:23,439 Speaker 1: so you know, when you say what we need is love, 550 00:39:23,640 --> 00:39:27,239 Speaker 1: just with the last few minutes that we have, you know, 551 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:30,480 Speaker 1: what does that look like in your mind? Because there 552 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:33,640 Speaker 1: are people right now, whether they are in the LGBTQ 553 00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:38,080 Speaker 1: plus community or not, that are seeing these seeing what 554 00:39:38,200 --> 00:39:41,480 Speaker 1: is happening, and they want to do something. They want 555 00:39:41,520 --> 00:39:44,000 Speaker 1: to be of support. So what are some of the 556 00:39:44,080 --> 00:39:49,120 Speaker 1: ways that we can you know, envelop these trans kids 557 00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:51,839 Speaker 1: so that they know that they are not alone, that 558 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:54,279 Speaker 1: they are loved. What are some of the ways that 559 00:39:54,320 --> 00:39:59,640 Speaker 1: we can show our support financially, verbally, and by presence. 560 00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:03,799 Speaker 1: You know, I go back to the Golden rule and 561 00:40:03,880 --> 00:40:06,600 Speaker 1: treating people how you want to be treated. Right, It's simple, 562 00:40:06,760 --> 00:40:11,719 Speaker 1: it really is. But being able to recognize someone's divinity 563 00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:16,359 Speaker 1: and knowing that as human beings just really honestly, fundamentally, 564 00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:19,880 Speaker 1: as human beings, everyone has the right to dignity and 565 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:25,240 Speaker 1: respect and that if someone can internalize that message now 566 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:29,400 Speaker 1: because I said it or because somebody else repeated, I 567 00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:33,040 Speaker 1: think that's important. That's important because if you can recognize 568 00:40:33,040 --> 00:40:38,920 Speaker 1: a humanity in someone, it becomes exponentially harder to attack them. 569 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:42,160 Speaker 1: I think tangibly. What people can do is stop transphobia, 570 00:40:42,360 --> 00:40:46,920 Speaker 1: stop homophobia, stop in its track. If you know someone 571 00:40:47,840 --> 00:40:50,240 Speaker 1: who is saying something that you know they shouldn't be saying. 572 00:40:50,280 --> 00:40:52,560 Speaker 1: I think Maya Angelo's she used to say that words 573 00:40:52,600 --> 00:40:55,400 Speaker 1: get into into things, right, and then they become things. 574 00:40:55,760 --> 00:40:58,800 Speaker 1: And that's true. Yea, that is true. They take a 575 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:01,520 Speaker 1: life of their own if you don't interrupt them. So 576 00:41:01,560 --> 00:41:04,240 Speaker 1: I would say, interrupt the negative language that you're hearing. 577 00:41:04,960 --> 00:41:10,040 Speaker 1: Do your research, right, Every credible medical association has said 578 00:41:10,520 --> 00:41:14,279 Speaker 1: that the healthcare that is accessible, that is age appropriate 579 00:41:14,480 --> 00:41:20,480 Speaker 1: best practice for trans young people is appropriate, right like 580 00:41:20,560 --> 00:41:24,040 Speaker 1: they are behind it, squarely behind it, and so I 581 00:41:24,080 --> 00:41:30,120 Speaker 1: would do some research. I would try to meet trans 582 00:41:30,160 --> 00:41:37,080 Speaker 1: folks because they will enrich your life, believe that. And 583 00:41:37,120 --> 00:41:39,600 Speaker 1: then I would just say, get involved in whatever way 584 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:41,839 Speaker 1: makes sense for you right now, whether it's sending an 585 00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:45,640 Speaker 1: email to DFPS they have a hearing on Friday, showing 586 00:41:45,719 --> 00:41:49,280 Speaker 1: up at the hearing on Friday, just to give public 587 00:41:49,280 --> 00:41:54,800 Speaker 1: opinion about their strategic plan, you know, supporting organizations like 588 00:41:54,840 --> 00:41:59,360 Speaker 1: the Transcender Education Network of Texas, the ACOU Human Rights Campaign, 589 00:41:59,400 --> 00:42:03,080 Speaker 1: Texas Freedom Network, land A Legal Equality Texas Resource Center, 590 00:42:03,200 --> 00:42:07,160 Speaker 1: Mantra Center, out Youth, Borderland, Rainbow Center. There are so 591 00:42:07,480 --> 00:42:10,560 Speaker 1: many organizations across Texas that are doing incredible work right now, 592 00:42:11,160 --> 00:42:16,080 Speaker 1: incredible work right now. Bt WI, Black Trans Women Inc. 593 00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:24,080 Speaker 1: They do incredible work. B Tech does incredible work. And 594 00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:29,040 Speaker 1: then I would just say, you know, hug You're like 595 00:42:29,200 --> 00:42:32,719 Speaker 1: people who have a transiendent person in their life, hugged them, 596 00:42:32,920 --> 00:42:36,960 Speaker 1: tell them you love them, because this is not easy. 597 00:42:37,719 --> 00:42:40,480 Speaker 1: This is not an easy time to be authentically who 598 00:42:40,520 --> 00:42:47,440 Speaker 1: you are and then hold that space. Work HARDO. Thank 599 00:42:47,440 --> 00:42:50,640 Speaker 1: you so much for the work that you are doing, 600 00:42:50,920 --> 00:42:54,560 Speaker 1: for powering and holding down the front lines of the 601 00:42:54,600 --> 00:43:00,279 Speaker 1: fight against blatant bigotry and discrimination in Texas. I know 602 00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:03,799 Speaker 1: that this work, as you said, is not easy, So 603 00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:06,040 Speaker 1: I hope that you do take good care of yourself 604 00:43:06,080 --> 00:43:10,279 Speaker 1: and take your own advice about joy and rest and 605 00:43:10,320 --> 00:43:13,520 Speaker 1: all of those things so that you can continue to 606 00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:17,839 Speaker 1: helm equality Texas and continue the fight. So we appreciate 607 00:43:17,880 --> 00:43:20,480 Speaker 1: you and hope that you'll come back to Woke AF 608 00:43:20,880 --> 00:43:23,600 Speaker 1: and talk to us more. I will, and for everybody 609 00:43:23,640 --> 00:43:26,719 Speaker 1: else who's listening, pay attention to your local equality organization 610 00:43:26,800 --> 00:43:31,480 Speaker 1: because the odds are that they're fighting these bills that 611 00:43:31,520 --> 00:43:34,400 Speaker 1: could become statute in law, and luckily for us, this 612 00:43:34,600 --> 00:43:38,640 Speaker 1: can't unless we're an active legislative session. So get involved, 613 00:43:38,880 --> 00:43:41,680 Speaker 1: find a way, and thank you so much, Dania, thank you. 614 00:43:47,000 --> 00:43:50,000 Speaker 1: That is it for me today. Dear friends on Woke 615 00:43:50,040 --> 00:43:53,319 Speaker 1: a f as always, Power to the people and to 616 00:43:53,560 --> 00:43:58,359 Speaker 1: all the people power, get woke and stay woke as fuck.