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April 1, 2022, 12:18 a.m.

Transgender community marks day of visibility as state laws target LGBTQ youth

Summary

President Biden commemorated Transgender Day of Visibility by announcing a number of changes to make the government more inclusive, including giving trans people the right to mark "X" for gender identity on their passports. The president's message came as more states passed laws limiting transgender rights. Award-winning writer and activist Raquel Willis joins William Brangham to discuss.

Five Facts

  • What is International Transgender Day of Visibility, according to this piece?
  • What executive orders did President Biden sign to mark the day?
  • Why are some states across the country passing laws that target transgender rights?
  • Who is interviewed in this piece, and what is her background?
  • How has recent legislation impacted trans individuals and their families, according to this piece?

Focus Questions

Raquel Willis says that some politicians are targeting trans rights because they "know overwhelmingly that we still have a general public that is unfamiliar with the experiences of trans people. Many folks still say that they don't know a trans person who live in America." Do you think a better understanding of the lives of trans people's lives would help lower the interest in passing laws that target trans rights? Media literacy: Who else would you want to hear from to know more about how some trans youth are being affected by recent passage of bills targeting trans rights?

For More

In Florida, a group of lawyers has sued the state after it passed a bill limiting what could be taught in class about gender identity. Read more about that here .
Students walk out of school to protest law known as "Don't say gay bill\
Hillsborough High School students protest a Republican-backed bill dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" that would prohibit classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure Democrats denounced as being anti-LGBTQ, in Tampa, Florida, U.S., March 3, 2022. REUTERS/Octavio Jones
Hillsborough High School students protest a Republican-backed bill dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" that would prohibit classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure Democrats denounced as being anti-LGBTQ, in Tampa, Florida, U.S., March 3, 2022. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

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