FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: GENERAL ASSEMBLY RAINBOW CAUCUS STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH VERMONT LGBTQIA+ YOUTH TO OPPOSE FLORIDA AND TEXAS ANTI-LGBTQIA+ YOUTH EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE POLICY
CONTACT
Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak
Rainbow Caucus
emulvaneystanak@leg.state.vt.us
We, the undersigned members of the Rainbow (LGBTQIA+) Caucus of the Vermont General Assembly, stand with Vermont LGBTQIA+ youth in love and solidarity as harmful legislation is enacted around the country targeting LGBTQIA+ youth. Efforts to limit, ban or erase curriculum in schools, equitable access to health care, and inclusive access to school and college sports and activities are nothing new in our country. However, recent legislation passed in Florida and Texas cannot go unacknowledged. In February, Florida’s legislature passed HB1577 - which bans school districts from including LGBTQIA+ topics in curriculum that are not “age-appropriate,” requires school districts to out LGBTQIA+ students and encourages parents to sue the school district if they believe a district violates this law. Also in February, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a directive stating his interpretation that trans-affirming healthcare for minors equates to child abuse and requiring mandatory reporters (health care providers and teachers) to report trans youth who receive affirming healthcare. Both actions create fear and stigmatization and criminalize the existence of LGBTQIA+ youth.
We stand with all LGBTQIA+ youth in our country to unequivocally state that you are loved and valued for exactly who you are. We celebrate who you are and stand to oppose any action in our state that looks to limit, ban or erase you. Instead, we commit to identifying and supporting proactive legislation that affirms LGBTQIA+ people and removes inequities that exist in our state laws that harm LGBTQIA+ Vermonters.
We also stand with Vermont LGBTQIA+ youth taking action around the state and the country this week to publicly oppose the actions in Florida and Texas. Visibility matters and we thank you for your leadership in calling attention to these concerning policies. We must do better.
Sincerely,
Sen. Becca Balint (she/her) (Windham County)
Rep. Tiff Bluemle (she/her) (Burlington) Sen. Brian Campion (he/him) (Bennington County) Rep. Brian Cina (he/she/they) (Burlington)
Rep. Kate Donnally (she/her/they) (Belvidere, Hyde Park, Johnson, Wolcott),
Rep. Kathleen James (she/her) (Arlington, Manchester, Sandgate, Sunderland)
Rep. John Killacky (he/him) (South Burlington)
Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (she/her) (Brattleboro)
Rep. Bill Lippert (he/him) (Hinesburg)
Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak (she/her) (Burlington) Rep. Taylor Small (she/her) (Winooski, Burlington)
Rep. Heather Surprenant (she/her) (Barnard, Quechee, Hartford)
Rep. Becca White (she/her) (Hartford)
