Transgender rights: Protesters, supporters try to drown out rhetoric at Colorado Capitol

Photo byNikolas GannononUnsplash

Groups supporting transgender people, such as Housekeys Action Network Denver, or HAND, plan to drown out anti-trans voices at the Colorado Capitol Saturday. “Groups like Gays Against Groomers, Moms For Liberty, Dad Army, and others are holding a rally to spread their dangerous rhetoric against the trans community, especially trans kids,” HAND stated in a news release. “These groups spread lies about gender affirming care for minors, pushing for laws that would end the opportunity to access puberty blockers and other lifesaving care. They spread lies that transgender adults are grooming young children to be transgender against their will. Science has consistently proven these dangerous theories to be untrue..”

HAND calls upon trans supporters “to come out at 9 a.m. Saturday Oct. 5 on the sidewalk directly in front of the Colorado State Capitol building to show these hate-mongers that we stand in solidarity against their hateful lies, and we will protect our trans youth.”

Fierce rhetoric from both sides

Both sides of the transgender discussion use fierce rhetoric in arguing their points. Organizers of the anti-trans rally believe they are saving trans children. The Stop the War on Children rally Facebook page states:

“Erin Lee will share her experience as a mother who rescued her 12-year-old daughter from the predators in the gender ideology cult. Jeanette Cooper, co-founder of Partners for Ethical Care. Will share her insights on the gender affirming care industry and the harms it causes to children from both a mother’s perspective and a medical perspective.

“Jen Sey. Female Athlete, founder XX-XY Athletics. Jen will share the harms gender ideology, and the trans rights movement is having on women and girls, and why we must fight to protect girls’ sports....

“Chance: A female to male detransitioner who will share her story of recovery from medical transitioning. Rep. Ken DeGraaf and other legislators will speak on the harms of gender ideology and the fight to protect our children at the State Capitol. Sasha, co-founder of Gays Against Groomers, will speak about the fight to protect children.

“Adam with Dad Army will share his story and discuss how we protect parental rights and our children from intrusive government policies that tear apart families under the guise of inclusion.”

Transgender people at greater risk of homelessness

In their news release, HAND noted that “transgender people of all ages are also at a much higher risk of becoming houseless due to discrimination. This is especially true of transgender youth. Transgender youth are at a much higher chance of becoming houseless than cisgender youth. They are kicked out of their homes due to their own families not accepting them. These young people not only have to go through the pain of trying to understand themselves, and the pain of the loss of their family, but also now have to deal with the issues of being a houseless youth.”

The City and County of Denver operates a tiny home village for the transgender homeless community.