{"id":925197,"date":"2024-12-16T10:33:52","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T15:33:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glaad.org\/?p=925197"},"modified":"2024-12-16T10:59:26","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T15:59:26","slug":"queer-and-transgender-public-officials-tell-glaad-that-bullying-transgender-people-is-not-the-way-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glaad.org\/queer-and-transgender-public-officials-tell-glaad-that-bullying-transgender-people-is-not-the-way-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"Queer and Transgender Public Officials Tell GLAAD that Bullying Transgender People is Not the Way Forward"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this month, the GLAAD Media Institute\u2019s Education & Advocacy team traveled to Washington, D.C. in advance of the <\/span>Victory Institute\u2019s 2024 LGBTQ International Leaders Conference<\/span><\/a>, to train and consult public officials on how to best message for their constituents and proactively thwart anti-LGBTQ messaging when on the campaign trail.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The GLAAD Media Institute<\/a> is GLAAD\u2019s consulting, training, and research division of the organization.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund<\/span><\/i> \u2013 which works to elect to public office pro-equality, pro-choice candidates who are out members of the LGBTQ+ community \u2013 LGBTQ-electeds made history this year, winning <\/span>72% of races<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since the General Election in November, a number of the Presidential cabinet picks of the incoming administration have continued to make and regurgitate baseless claims about LGBTQ people, including inflammatory anti-transgender rhetoric and attacks on the broader LGBTQ community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Through it all, LGBTQ electeds are using their platforms to fight for good governance, while also combatting harmful, disinformation against the LGBTQ community, predominantly, the transgender, two-spirit, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming community. As the GLAAD Media Institute sat with public officials, transgender activists from Gender Liberation staged a sit-in at Capitol Hill<\/a> in response to Sen. Nancy Mace and Rep. Mike Johnson\u2019s transgender exclusionary bathroom bans, directly on the heels of <\/span>United States vs. Skremetti<\/span><\/i>\u2019s oral arguments.<\/span><\/p>\n

READ MORE: Fact Sheet: Landmark Supreme Court Case Challenging Tennessee Transgender Health Care Ban, <\/a>RECAP: Oral Argument in Landmark Supreme Court Case on Transgender Health Care<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In opening remarks, LGBTQ+ Victory Institute President & CEO <\/span>Annise Parker<\/b> talked about steering \u201cprogress under pressure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+ Victory Institute President & CEO Annise Parker gives opening remarks; photo by Lana Leonard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cOne of the things we saw under the first Trump administration \u2013 in 2016 he came in \u2013 in 2018 we saw a huge surge in candidates,\u201d Parker said. \u201cCandidates of all kinds, stepping up for the first time, and saying: \u2018this is not the America that I want to see. I want to do something about it.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust watch and see,\u201d Parker instructed with a confident smile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0Inside the 2023 LGBTQ International Leaders Conference<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

For Lexington, Kentucky, City Councilwoman <\/span>Emma Curtis<\/b> being transgender and a public official are inseparable. Curtis, the daughter to a family of farmers, says she is one of the first trans people in Kentucky to hold city office. Curtis joined Vice President of the GLAAD Media Institute Ross Murray, Consultant Brian Martin, and Associate of the GLAAD Media Institute Lana Leonard to discuss her historic win.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Last week, I was blessed to attend and speak at the @victoryinstitute.bsky.social International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference in Washington, DC.<\/p>\n

It was a humbling and restorative experience to be amongst so many friends and colleagues as we prepare for the fight ahead.<\/p>\n

Here are 5 highlights from it \ud83e\uddf5\ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n

[image or embed]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Emma Curtis (@emmacurtis.bsky.social<\/a>) December 14, 2024 at 11:35 AM<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n