The following is a transcript of the testimony I gave to the Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee regarding SB2 & SB32, the transgender sports ban bills.
I’m Molly Carnes and I am the Christian parent of a precious transgender daughter. I’m speaking in opposition to SB2 and SB32.
We all know
this isn’t about sports. This is a conservative vote getter. I’m going to focus on the most ugly part of
this bill. Creating a barrier to
changing a minor’s gender marker on their birth certificate is a Discrimination
Domino.
The way this
bill is written, it forces minors to decide to either live truthfully or to live
as an imposter – this last option having grave consequences for their mental
health. And since we’re talking about
children… Here’s the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie effect of your
bill. If you are transgender and you
don’t get a birth certificate that reflects your true gender…
· Not only can you not participate on
the sports team of your gender
· Depending on when your 18th
birthday falls (I graduated at 17)
· You can’t get a transcript in your
correct name/gender
· You can’t get a correct diploma
· You can’t get a correct social
security card
· So you can’t complete your FAFSA app
· So you can’t apply for scholarships
· So you can’t get financial aid
· So you can’t go to college.
· And you can’t get an ID
· So you cant open a bank account
· and you can’t travel on an airplane.
· And you can’t get correct medical
records
· and you can’t get your prescriptions in
the correct name.
· And you can’t get a job because you
don’t have a social security card
· So you can’t get a loan or a credit
card.
· So you can’t rent an apartment.
· So you can’t buy a car.
Unless you conform
to the norm and live as an imposter, you are pushed to the margins of society
in every sense: Educational, financial,
vocational, and in danger of being outed and attacked for being
transgender.
When your
civil rights depend on your body – whether that is skin color, your physical
ability, or your private parts – instead of your
inherent worth as a human being - that
is the foundation for discrimination.
The
beautiful thing about transgender people is that they understand at a very deep
level that their soul, not their body, is truly who they are and who we all are. And that is the foundation for dignity and
respect. I believe they are God’s messengers
who are teaching us a very important lesson – perhaps one we should have
learned as children.
