Let’s preface this by saying that while they may not realize it, even the most ardent transphobic dunce has a transgender bathroom in their home. That’s a fact. Everything about the Republican and Trump administration’s opposition to the Democratic Congress’ Equality Act is fear-mongering ignorance. Newly elected Democratic Rep. Katie Hill of California wasn’t having any of the prejudice being slung from across the aisle during today’s remarks before the Democratic-majority House passed an extension of civil rights protections to LGBTQ Americans. Before the vote, Republicans attempted to sidetrack the bill by adding in some worthless amendment that would “protect” girl’s and women’s athletics from trans people. This is where Rep. Hill decided to jump in.
Hill: I can’t believe we are standing here and having a man tell me what kind of protections I need in sports.
Cheers erupted from the audience and fellow Democratic reps. But Rep. Hill wasn’t done wiping the House floor with Republican tears.
Hill: I don't know if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle realize that they met trans people but they have. They definitely have. And I met many and this motion reflects nothing more than the prejudice of my colleagues. My staff have put together a lot of talking points for you today, but it's much simpler than that. The equality act ensures that LGBTQ women and girls who are lesbian, bisexual or transgender will all have the same opportunities as their peers. In sports, in housing, in jobs. the discrimination that trans individuals face just trying to live their lives every single day is something beyond what most of us could ever imagine.
It isn’t hard to understand and this might be why people like Rep. Hill are so absolutely frustrated by the bigoted posturing on the right. So just to make sure that conservatives are afraid of trans people ruining sports, Rep. HIll wanted to make it crystal clear that the costs of being a trans person in the world isn’t worth a track and field trophy in high school.
Hill: Through my work on the issue of homelessness, I saw trans women affected by discrimination at every single stage of their lives. They have higher rates of poverty, higher rates of sexual abuse, higher rates of homelessness, and i can tell you, no trans person is trying to game the system to participate in sports. That does not happen, and that is a sad scare tactic that has no place on the floor of the People's House.
Rep. Hill went on to explain that there is only evidence that allowing trans people to participate in sports doesn’t seem to have any adverse affect in either men’s or women’s athletics, so the Republicans’ motion is only an attempt to curb equal rights. But since the Republicans brought up sports, Rep. Hill decided to stick her dismount.
Hill: This is 2019 and we are not afraid of the boogie man that you are trying to create. We are ready to move forward and tell all of our constituents, all of our communities, all of Americans that they matter equally. You, my colleagues, are on the wrong side of history and we will be waiting for you on the other side when we reject this amendment and pass H.R. 5
Watch below,.