PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

>> VACCINE IS FLOWING INTO THE STATE, BUT AS SCHOOLS REOPEN, MANY TEACHERS STILL WONDER WHEN THEY'LL GET A SHOT.

AND EDUCATION POLICY HEEFTS UP AT THE STATE CAPITOL AS REPUBLICANS WORK TO BAN TRANSGENDER ATHLETES FROM GIRLS AND WOMEN'S SPORTS.

>> TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," SCHEDULING A VACCINATION IS CHALLENGING FOR VISUALLY-IMPAIRED PEOPLE.

COVID'S IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

AND TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN WOMEN'S SPORTS.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH 5.

>> FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

>> THE WEEK INCLUDED A FLASHING SHOW OF SUPPORT FROM DANE COUNTY EMERGENCY TEAMS REMEMBERING THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE AREA FROM COVID-19.

AND EVEN AS SOMBER MEMORIALS ARE GIVEN, WISCONSIN'S CASE NUMBERS REMAIN COMPARATIVELY LOW, LOW ENOUGH THAT DANE COUNTY LOOSENED RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLIC GATHERINGS.

RESTAURANTS CAN NOW SERVE UP TO 50% CAPACITY.

TAVERNS MAY OPEN THE DOORS TO UP TO 25% CAPACITY.

SO FAR IN WISCONSIN, MORE THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED THE FIRST DOSE OF VACCINE.

THAT AMOUNTS TO OVER 17 OF% OF THE POPULATION AUTHORIZED.

JUST OVER A HALF MILLION WISCONSINITES HAVE COMPLETED THE SERIES.

THAT'S NEARLY 10% OF THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION.

WHILE THE NUMBERS SHOW PROGRESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID, STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS STILL STRONGER ENCOURAGE PERSONAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

AND NOW THE NEED FOR CONTINUED TESTING PARALLELS THE VACCINE SUPPLY AND DEMAND, INCLUDING SHIPMENTS OF THE NEW JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE HEADED INTO WISCONSIN NEXT WEEK.

>> THE ADDITION OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE TO OUR FEDERAL ALLOCATION AND THE NEWS OF INCREASED PRODUCTION FOR ALL THREE VACCINES MEANS OUR STATE WILL GET MORE VACCINE.

THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE EFFORT, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO REFINE AND IMPROVE OUR SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES, AND WITH MORE VACCINE SUPPLY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO MORE EFFECTIVELY UTILIZE OUR NETWORK OF VACCINATORS ACROSS WISCONSIN TO GET SHOTS IN ARMS QUICKLY, SAFELY AND EQUITABLY.

>> MORE VACCINE FLOWING INTO WISCONSIN NEXT WEEK IS ESPECIALLY WELL-TIMED.

THAT'S BECAUSE DEPUTY SECRETARY VAN DYKE ALSO ANNOUNCED THE GROWING PRESENCE OF CORONAVIRUS VARIANTS IN THE STATE.

THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 19 CASES OF THE B1 VARIANT FOUND IN WISCONSIN.

THAT'S THE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS VARIANT ORIGINALLY FOUND IN THE UNITED DING UNITED KINGDOM.

ANYONE WHO'S TRIED TO SIGN UP FOR THE VACCINE CAN ATTEST IT'S NOT ALWAYS.

IT CAN BE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE WITH NO OR LOW VISION.

WE TURN TO EXPLORE.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING ABOUT PEOPLE TRYING TO NAVIGATE VACCINE SIGN-UP SITES ONLINE?

>> WE HEAR FOLKS EXPERIENCING ANXIETY ON A NUMBER OF LEVELS.

FIRST OF ALL, THE SHEER NOTION THAT SOME OF THE SIGN-UPS HAVE TO BE DONE ONLINE IN SOME CASES OR FOLKS DON'T KNOW THE PHONE NUMBER TO MAKE THAT CONTENT IS ALREADY PROBLEMATIC FOR OUR POPULATION.

THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS IN THE STATE WHO LIVE WITH VISION IMPAIRMENT ARE OLDER ADULTS.

WHILE THERE ARE CERTAINLY FOLKS WHO HAVE LIVED WITH VISION IMPAIRMENT ALL OF THEIR LIVES LIKE I DO, WE SEE SUCH AN INCREASE AMONG OLDER ADULTS BECAUSE OF DISEASES.

AND SO THEY ARE FOLKS WHO ARE NEW TO TECHNOLOGY USE, POTENTIALLY.

POTENTIALLY ALSO NEW TO ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY USE.

AND THEY ALSO MAY LIVE IN PLACES THAT THEY DON'T HAVE GREAT BROADBAND.

SO JUST THE SHEER NOTION OF HAVING TO USE A PLATFORM LIKE AN APP OR A WEBSITE, THAT IS ONE LAYER.

AND THEN ONCE YOU GET INTO THAT WEBSITE OR THAT APP, WHETHER IT'S CODED PROPERLY FOR BEING ABLE TO BE USED WITH ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY OR NOT IS A WHOLE NOTHER BALL GAME.

SO THE ADA AND WEB ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES REQUIRE ACCESSIBILITY OF WEBSITES AND WHAT WE KNOW THAT REQUIREMENT AND REALITY DON'T ALWAYS LINE UP.

>> SO YOU'VE SPOKEN TO THIS A LITTLE BIT, BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMON ISSUES FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW OR NO VISION WHEN THEY CONFRONT A WEBSITE, SAY, IN TERMS OF BEING, IF YOU ARE LOW VISION, NOT BEING ABLE TO EVEN WORK WITH IT?

WHAT IS IT ABOUT WEBSITES THAT ARE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW VISION?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, MANY PEOPLE WITH LOW VISION USE SOME SORT OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY OR ACCESS TECHNOLOGY.

SO MAYBE THEY MAGNIFY THEIR SCREEN PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY OR USE A SCREEN READER TECHNOLOGY.

I USE A COMBINATION OF BOTH AND SO DO OTHER USERS.

SO WHEN YOU INTERACT WITH A WEB NIGHT USING THOSE TECHNOLOGIES, SOMETIMES THE WEBSITE IS FRAGILE, SO WHEN YOU GO TO DO THE MAGNIFICATION THINGS MOVE, SO YOU HAVE TO REORIENT YOURSELF TO THE PAGE.

IF YOU'RE USING A SCREEN READER, THE KEY STROKES YOU HAVE TO USE IN ORDER TO NAVIGATE DOWN THE PAGE, AND THOSE KEY STROKES AND THE PAGE ITSELF SHOULD TELL YOU WHERE YOU ARE ON THE PAGE AND WHAT ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE ON THE PAGE, WHETHER SOMETHING IS CLICKABLE OR HAS A LINK OR IS SELECTABLE.

A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE EXPERIENCE IS THAT THAT CONTENT ISN'T AVAILABLE.

SO CONCRETELY WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AND YOU WANT TO CHOOSE YOUR DAY AND TIME, YOUR SCREEN READER MAY TELL YOU THAT THERE'S AN APPOINTMENT ON FRIDAY, MARCH 5, AND AT 3:00, 4:00 AND 5:00 AND YOU HEAR THAT CONTENT BUT IT'S NOT CODED TO TELL YOU CAN SELECT IT.

SO CAN I SELECT THIS?

IS THIS JUST READING, GIVING ME A LIST?

SO YOU'RE UNCLEAR WHAT ACTION YOU CAN TAKE.

SO YOU HAVE TO START HITTING KEYS AND HOPING FOR THE BEST.

ONE PERSON TOLD ME THAT WHEN HE SCHEDULED HIS VACCINE APPOINTMENT, HE THOUGHT HE'D CHOSEN THE RIGHT DAY BUT HE WASN'T GETTING THE AUDIO FEEDBACK HE NEEDED SO HE WAS GREATLY RELIEVED WHEN HE GOT HIS CONFIRMATION THAT HE'D SIGNED UP FOR THE TIME HE'D SIGNED UP FOR.

>> AS THOUGH THERE AREN'T ENOUGH HURDLES.

REALLY INTENSE FOR PEOPLE IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.

JUST YESTERDAY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SET UP A PHONE NUMBER FOR PEOPLE TO CALL FOR VACCINE HELP.

WE WANT TO GIVE HA HERE.

>> YES.

>> THAT NUMBER IS 844-684-1064.

I CALLED IT.

IT'S UP.

IT'S ACTIVATED.

IT WORKS.

AND WE WILL REPEAT THAT PHONE NUMBER IN A MOMENT.

BUT HOW NEEDED IS AN ACTUAL PHONE NUMBER FOR FOLKS TO CALL?

>> OH, IT'S SO CRITICAL.

I'LL JUST GIVE AN EXAMPLE.

WE HAVE -- OUR ORGANIZATION HAS A WEBSITE AND A SMALL RETAIL STORE AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE PHONE.

AND STILL THE MAJORITY OF OUR ORDERS AND REQUESTS COME IN VIA PHONE.

EVEN THOUGH OUR WEBSITE IS BUILT FOR ACCESSIBILITY.

JUST BECAUSE THERE'S COMFORT IN HEARING A HUMAN VOICE.

AND FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR POPULATION, ISOLATION AND LONELINESS ARE PROFOUND.

YOU CAN'T GET OUT.

YOU CAN'T DRIVE YOURSELF SOMEPLACE.

SO BEING ABLE TO TALK TO A HUMAN BEING WHO HEARS YOU, WHO CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, WHO CAN BE A COMFORT, THAT EMOTIONALLY IN A SCARY TIME IS HUGE.

AND THEN FOR ANYBODY WHO CAN'T NAVIGATE THE WEBSITE, IT IS VITAL.

OTHERWISE HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT ASSURING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE VACCINE?

>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANKS FOR YOUR WORK AND THANKS FOR ENLIGHTENING US ABOUT THIS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AGAIN, FOR VACCINE HELP, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES HAS JUST MADE A PHONE NUMBER AVAILABLE TO CALL.

IT'S 844-684-1064.

WELL, THERE MAYBE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE COVID TUNNEL WITH GROWING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE BEING VACCINATED, BUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC THE MENTAL HEALTH OF PEOPLE HAS DETERIORATED DUE TO LOSS OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, JOB LOSS, ISOLATION AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AND YOUNGER PEOPLE IN THE 18 TO 24 AGE GROUP HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY HIT AS HAVE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

FOR EXAMPLE, COMPARED TO WHITE RESIDENTS, BLACK RESIDENTS HAVE TWO TIMES THE HOSPITALIZATIONS RELATED TO COVID.

OUR NEXT GUEST IS THE DIRECTOR OF OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAMS AT THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION, KEN GINLACK.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO, THE SHARE OF ADULTS REPORTING SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION HAS JUMPED FROM 11% BEFORE THE PANDEMIC TO 41% NOW ACCORDING TO THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN YOUR PRACTICE?

>> YES.

THERE HAS BEEN A HIGH NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COMING IN SINCE THE PANDEMIC AND, YOU KNOW, THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AS WELL AS ANXIETY HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, ALONG WITH THE STRESS OF THE PANDEMIC, THE PEOPLE, THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE BEEN HIT THE HARDEST AS FAR AS WHAT WE'RE SEEING AS THE NUMBERS COMING IN.

>> YEAH.

>> FOR SERVICES.

>> SO WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST DRIVERS OF THIS ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION?

>> WELL, JOB LOSS, YOU KNOW, WORRIES, STRESS OVER PAYING THE BILLS, INTERRUPTING THE ROUTINE, THE DAILY ROUTINE, THE HIGH NUMBER OF -- THE ISOLATION AS WELL, WHICH WOULD CAUSE DEPRESSION, AND NOT HAVING THAT CONNECTION WITH FAMILY.

>> SO YOUNG ADULTS SHOW SYMPTOMS, ACCORDING AGAIN TO KAISER, AT 56%.

WHY IS IT AFFECTING THAT AGE GROUP MORE SO?

>> IN YOUNG ADULTS, PARTICULARLY ADOLESCENTS, THEY USUALLY ARE GETTING SERVICES THROUGH SCHOOL OR, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO SOCIAL WORKERS AND THAT TYPE OF THING AT SCHOOL.

AND ALSO, WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND TALK WITH THEIR FRIENDS, SO THE SOCIALIZATION, THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

AND SO AS UNIVERSITIES CLOSE AS WELL, THAT AGE GROUP IS SUFFERING FROM THE LACK OF SOCIALIZATION AS WELL.

>> IN FACT, THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE SITS AT 26% COMPARED TO ALL ADULTS AT 11%.

HOW FRIGHTENING ARE THOSE NUMBERS TO YOU?

>> OH, THEY'RE VERY FRIGHTENING.

AND, YOU KNOW, IN FACT, IN MILWAUKEE THERE WERE 131 SUICIDES IN 2020.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A HIGH NUMBER.

ACTUALLY, IT WAS 131 VERSUS, YOU KNOW, -- I'M SORRY.

IT WAS 216 SUICIDES VERSUS 131 PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> TRAGIC, REALLY TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF THE ANXIETY/DEPRESSION.

COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AS WE'VE SAID, HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC AND LIKEWISE ACCORDING TO DATA HAVE BEEN MORE LIKELY THAN WHITE ADULTS TO SUFFER MENTAL HEALTH EFFECTS.

IS THERE ENOUGH SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO TREATMENT AVAILABLE?

>> WELL, THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF THERAPISTS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC AND ESPECIALLY THERAPISTS OF COLOR, RIGHT?

AND SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S STILL A BIG CHALLENGE AS FAR AS HAVING WAITING LISTS AND ACTUALLY HAVING ACCESS TO THOSE SERVICES.

WHEN YOU THROW THE PANDEMIC IN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, LACK OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO PROVIDERS, UNINSURED.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE SERVICES ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SOMETHING YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF, WE ACTUALLY HAVE STARTED TO OPEN CLINICS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO LESSEN SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS OF TRYING -- YOU KNOW, FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES.

>> WELL, THAT'S GREAT NEWS.

OTHER THAN THAT KIND OF ACCESS, TO YOUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE DO TO TRY TO HELP THEMSELVES OR THEIR LOVED ONES IF THEY SEEF SEE THESE KINDS OF THINGS LIKE ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION?

>> REACH OUT.

YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST THING I CAN SAY IS REACH OUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT TO THAT FAMILY MEMBER.

JUST GIVE THEM A CALL.

JUST TO SAY HELLO.

DO WELLNESS CHECKS.

YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU KNOW.

ALSO, THOSE THAT SUFFERING ALONE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ACTUAL VIRTUAL GROUPS THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY ATTEND.

AND JUST TALK TO SOMEONE.

ALSO CALLING THE CRISIS HOTLINE.

SO THERE'S VARIOUS THINGS THAT THEY CAN TRY TO DO TO CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE AND RELEASE SOME OF THAT PRESSURE OF BEING ALONE.

>> YEAH.

WE SHOULD ALL KEEP OUR EYES OPEN.

KEN GINLACK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> DEBATE CONTINUED TODAY IN WASHINGTON OVER THE COVID-19 STIMULUS PACKAGE.

THIS, AFTER THE READING ALOUD OF THE ENTIRE 628-PAGE BILL THAT CONCLUDED AROUND 2:00 THIS MORNING.

THE READ-ALOUD WAS FORCED TO HAPPEN BY WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN SENATOR RON JOHNSON.

QUOTE, I'M GOING TO MAKE THE SENATE CLERK READ THE DEMOCRATS' $1.9 TRILLION BILL ON WEDNESDAY.

THEN I'M GOING TO OFFER MANY AMENDMENTS.

PROTECTING THE WOMEN IN SPORTS ACT IS BEING INTRODUCED IN WISCONSIN.

STATEHOUSES ACROSS THE NATION ARE LOOKING TO PASS SIMILAR LEGISLATION.

THE AIM?

TO PREVENT TRANSGENDER ATHLETES FROM PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS UNFAIR COMPETITION.

THE PROPOSAL'S AUTHOR, BARBARA DITTRICH OF OCONOMOWOC WAS SCHEDULED TO JOIN US TO TONIGHT.

IT WOULD ADD WISCONSIN TO A GROWING LIST OF STATES THAT ARE PURSUING SUCH LAWS AS AN EFFORT TO PUSH BACK ON RECENT GAINS IN PROTECTIONS FOR TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS, ACCORDING TO A JOINT STATEMENT FROM TWO WISCONSIN LBGT Q ADVOCACY GROUPS.

MEGIN MCDONELL IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FAIR WISCONSIN, A GROUP WORKING FOR THE CAUSE OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER EQUALITY.

SHE'S IN MADISON.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID HE WILL VETO IN LEGISLATION IF PASSED.

BUT AS REPRESENTATIVE DITTRICH WORKS TO GATHER COSPONSORS, GOVERNOR EVERS SENT A MESSAGE TO TRANSGENDER STUDENTS SAYING THEY ARE WELCOME, WANTED AND THEY BELONG.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU THINK THIS KIND OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION SENDS?

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONE THING THAT THIS LEGISLATION DOES DO IS SEND AN INCREDIBLY NEGATIVE MESSAGE TO TRANSGENDER YOUTH IN WISCONSIN THAT THEY'RE NOT VALUED, THEY'RE NOT WELCOME AND THEY DON'T BELONG.

AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, VERY MUCH APPLAUD THE GOVERNOR FOR TAKING A VOCAL POSITION LIKE THAT TO SEND THAT MESSAGE OF WELCOME AND SUPPORT TO OUR YOUTH.

SO THAT'S VERY APPRECIATED.

>> THE PARTICULARS OF THE LEGISLATION INCLUDE BANNING TRANSGENDER ATHLETES FROM PARTICIPATING IN GIRLS AND WOMEN'S SUPPORTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COLLEGE.

THE CDC DATA SAYS UNDER 2% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER AND THE WIAA SAYS THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS.

WHAT IS THEN GOING ON WITH THIS PROPOSAL?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T REALLY SPECULATE AS TO THEIR MOTIVATION.

I KNOW THAT REPRESENTATIVE DYT TRYCH MENTIONED THINGS.

THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT SOMETHING LIKE 45 ATHLETE BANS IN ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT STATES RIGHT NOW AND THERE'S OVER 100 ANTILBGT Q BILLS IN GENERAL.

I DO THINK THAT A LOT OF THE GAINS WE'VE MADE AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A MOVEMENT EVIDENCED BY THINGS LIKE THE PROGRESS THE EQUALITY ACT IS MAKING, THE VOCAL AND VISIBLE SUPPORT THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE ON DAY ONE THROUGH SOME OF HIS EXECUTIVE ORDERS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE -- AT LEAST SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS FLOOD OF ANTI-LBGT Q AND TRANSGENDER ACTION THAT'S WE'RE SEEING AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> AND SPECIFIC TO THE ONE HERE IN WISCONSIN, THE OTHER THING THAT IT WOULD DO IS CREATE THREE TYPES OF TEAMS: BOYS, GIRLS AND CO-ED, ALLOWING TRANSGENDER ATHLETES TO GO INTO THAT CO-ED SQUAD.

IS THAT DISCRIMINATION IN YOUR MIND IN ITSELF?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, IT DOES -- YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE THING.

TRANSGENDER KIDS WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY SPORTS FOR THE SAME REASON AS OTHER KIDS DO, TO BE PART OF A TEAM WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG.

AND THIS DOES ESSENTIALLY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THOSE KIDS.

IT MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE A GIRLS TEAM AND A BOYS TEAM AND THEN A TEAM FOR TRANSGENDER KIDS.

AND WE JUST WANT TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT TRANSGIRLS ARE GIRLS.

TRANSBOYS ARE BOYS.

AND WHEN WE DO THINGS TO LIMIT PARTICIPATION OF TRANSGIRLS IN PARTICULAR IN GIRLS' SPORTS, WE ARE HURTING ALL GIRLS IN SPORTS AND ATHLETICS.

>> SINCE 2013 THE WIAA HAS REQUIRED THAT MALE STUDENTS TRANSITIONING TO FEMALE MUST HAVE ONE CALENDAR YEAR OF DOCUMENTED TESTOSTERONE SUPPRESSION TREATMENT TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY ON A FEMALE TEAM.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT REQUIREMENT?

>> WELL, SO THAT REQUIREMENT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT, HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND IT REALLY DOES MAKE IT -- ALREADY THAT POLICY MAKES IT PRETTY DIFFICULT FOR TRANSGIRLS IN PARTICULAR TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN GIRLS ATHLETICS AND SPORTS.

SO IT HAS THAT EFFECT OF EXCLUDING.

AND NOT ALL KIDS HAVE THE -- HAVE ACCESS TO VARIOUS MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS THAT THAT POLICY REQUIRES.

BUT EVEN WHEN THEY DO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT, WHETHER OR NOT THEY CHOOSE THOSE INTERVENTIONS, THEY ARE TAKING PLACE UNDER THE CARE OF A PHYSICIAN.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING ABOUT THESE BILLS, IS THAT THE WIAA POLICY ALREADY MAKES IT PRETTY DIFFICULT FOR TRANSKIDS TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN ORGANIZED SPORTS IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

SO REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY ALL THIS BILL REALLY ACCOMPLISHES IS SENDING THAT NEGATIVE MESSAGE OF EXCLUSION TO OUR YOUTH.

>> TITLE IX PROTECTS FROM FROM DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEX IN SPORTS.

REPRESENTATIVE SAYS THAT IT PROTECTS ALL BIOLOGICAL FEMALES FROM BEING REQUIRED TO COMPETE AGAINST MALES.

IS THAT WHAT TITLE IX SAYS?

>> TITLE IX'S BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF ADVANCING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO DEFEND AND PRESERVE THE IMPACT OF TITLE IX.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT ENSURING FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LBGT Q YOUTH, ESPECIALLY TRANSGENDER, DOESN'T UNDERMINE THOSE PROTECTIONS.

LIKE WE SHOULD REMEMBER WHAT TITLE IX IS ALL ABOUT, MAKING SURE THAT ALL GIRLS, INCLUDING GIRLS WHO ARE TRANSGENDER, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS.

AND KIDS LEARN A LOT OF IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS IN SUPPORTS: LEADERSHIP, CONFIDENCE, SELF-RESPECT, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE PART OF A TEAM.

SO LOCAL SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN STATES THAT HAVE POSITIVE, PROACTIVE POLICIES THAT HELP TRANSKIDS PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS.

MINNESOTA, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR NEIGHBORING STATE.

AND THOSE POLICIES ARE WORKING.

SO WE CAN CELEBRATE GIRLS' SPORTS AND PROTECT TRANSYOUTH FROM DISCRIMINATION AND MAKE SURE ALL STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE LIFELONG BENEFITS THAT ORGANIZED ATHLETICS CAN PROVIDE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> WE STARTED BY TALKING ABOUT MESSAGES.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO TRANSGENDER YOUTH IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS?

>> WELL, THE GOVERNOR SAID IT REALLY WELL IN HIS TWEET, THAT WE ALL -- WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE AND ECHO THAT.

AND I MEAN I'M JUST HERE TODAY.

I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

I HAVE TWO TEENAGERS MYSELF.

ONCE IS TRANS TEENAGER IN HIGH SCHOOL.

BILLS LIKE THESE ARE REALLY HARMFUL.

THEY DON'T ACHIEVE WHAT THEIR GOALS ARE SUPPOSEDLY ACHIEVING.

AND, AGAIN, THE ONE THING THAT IS CLEAR THAT THEY DO DO IS SEND THOSE NEGATIVE, HARMFUL MESSAGES TO YOUTH THAT ALREADY HAVE A REALLY OFTEN DIFFICULT TIME IN THE SCHOOLS.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOVED, YOU'RE WELCOME AND WE SEE YOU AND WE'RE HERE FOR ON YOU AND WE ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE DOING A LOT OF ORGANIZING IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME AROUND THESE BILLS.

ALSO POSITIVE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE ADVANCING WITH OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES IN THE LEGISLATURE AND WITH OUR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE G-SAFE AND THE WISCONSIN TRANSHEALTH COALITION, MANY OTHERS OF OUR COLLEAGUES AROUND THE STATE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUTH AREN'T -- WE CAN HOPEFULLY MINIMIZE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THESE BILLS ON OUR YOUTH AND MAKE SOME ADVANCES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS VERY MUCH, MEGIN MCDONELL.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> STAY UP-TO-DATE ON STATE CAPITOL COVERAGE BY GOING TO pbswisconsin.org AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.

"HERE AND NOW" COVID-19 COVERAGE CAN BE FOUND ON THE NEWS PAGE.

AS MORE VACCINE FLOWS INTO THE STATE NEXT WEEK, INCLUDING THE NEW JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOT, WISCONSINITES WILL CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR APPOINTMENTS.

THE NEW STATE VACCINATION HOTLINE PHONE NUMBER IS 844-684-1064.

AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.