Trans Rights Brochure
Helping people understand the attacks on trans rights
Hey everyone - if you’re here, it’s either because you subscribe to my substack or because you scanned a QR code on this brochure! Thank you either way!
This page will provide sources for the information in the brochure, which simply did not fit in the printed version. You can also access the latest version of the brochure!
Footnotes
Cover
1: “But we’re a small community – only 11% of Americans say they know a trans person well”; “Over 60% of Americans say they don’t know a trans person, so it’s easy to spread misinformation about the community.”
PRRI, Gender and Politics Survey, 2023. Specifically, 1% said they are transgender, 5% said a close friend is, and 5% said a family member is. An additional 25% have a transgender acquaintance. 63% say they do not know someone who is transgender.
“How are trans rights under attack”
2: “Lawmakers across the country have introduced over 2,000 anti-trans bills in the last three years.”
Source: Trans Legislation Tracker. As of July 26, 2025, 953 anti-trans bills had been introduced in 2025 alone, on top of 701 in 2024 and 615 in 2023. 258 of those bills have passed.
3: “Donald Trump’s campaign spent over $200 million on anti-trans ads”
Source: The Drum. “What Trump’s win – and $215m worth of anti-trans ads – mean for the future of advertising”
4: “27 states now ban gender-affirming care for minors”
Source: Human Rights Campaign. “Map: Attacks on Gender Affirming Care by State”
4a: “Many have made it difficult or impossible to change gender markers on ID, and Trump is trying to do this with passports, too.”
Source: Assigned Media. “Passports Are Again Available to Transgender Americans, However Briefly”
5: “Under Trump’s orders, trans people are being kicked out of the military.”
Source: Erin in the Morning. “SCOTUS Allows Military Ban That Calls Trans People "Dishonorable" To Go Into Effect”
6: “29 states ban trans girls in girls’ sports, even in elementary school.”
Source: Movement Advancement Project. “Bans on Transgender Youth Participation in Sports”
7: 19 states have trans bathroom bans, forcing trans people to use the wrong restroom in at least some certain circumstances.7
Source: Movement Advancement Project. “Bans on Transgender People Using Public Bathrooms and Facilities According to their Gender Identity”
8: “‘Don’t say gay’ bills target trans kids and teachers in schools as well”
Source (for one example): Erin in the Morning. “11th Circuit Rules Trans Teacher Must Misgender Herself In Classroom In Accordance With FL Law”
9: “Prominent conservatives are calling for ‘transgender ideology’ to be ‘eradicated’ from society entirely. This is genocidal language.”
Source: Los Angeles Times. “What the CPAC speaker meant when he said ‘transgenderism must be eradicated’”
“But why?”
1: See above PRRI Survey
10, 11: “And with left-wing figures10 and media11 staying silent (or even supporting the attacks)), the right’s campaign is working.”
Source (10): “Newsom’s Bizarre Interview with MAGA Podcaster Platforms Anti-Trans Conspiracies”
Source (11): Erin in the Morning: “After Getting The Ruling It Wanted, New York Times Publishes 6 Anti-Trans Articles”
"About transgender people”
12: “Over two million trans people live in America.”
Source: USAFacts. “What percentage of the US population is transgender?”
13: “Gender-affirming health care is endorsed by every major health care organization in the United States.”
Source: Advocates for Trans Equality. “Medical Organization Statements”
14: “94% of those who transition report increased life satisfaction.”
Source: US Trans Survey. “Early Insights”
15: “Trans kids and adults have a high risk of suicide, homelessness, and violence, due to hate and discrimination in our society. These disproportionately affect trans people of color, particularly trans women of color.”
Source: Trevor Project. “Facts About Suicide Among LGBTQ+ Young People”
Ok, so what do I do?
16: “Wear a t-shirt or put a sticker on your car”
These are readily available on Etsy and Amazon!
17: “Learn more about trans issues”
Books I recommend (These are not affiliate links, I earn nothing from these recommendations)
“Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity” - Jack Turban MD
“Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Trans (But Were Afraid to Ask)” - Brynn Tannehill
Journalists you should check out and subscribe to:
Feel free to comment if you have other resources you think everyone should check out! I’ll vet and add great ones to this list!
18: Support trans non-profits
I recommend Lambda Legal, the ACLU, and the Trevor Project. Again, comment below if there are organizations you think are worth inclusion, and I’ll vet and add them to this list as I’m able!
19: House Budget Bill bans federal funding for gender-affirming care at any age
This one would definitely affect those on Medicaid and Medicare, could affect those on a plan purchased through the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), and a broad interpretation of this could affect hospitals receiving federal funding, requiring that they stop providing gender-affirming care entirely. Even the threat of this may have a chilling effect. For example, while this isn’t settled, in reaction to similar rules for minors, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has stopped providing gender-affirming care for minors, potentially complying in advance.
20: The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) appears likely to overturn bans on conversion therapy.
Licensed therapists are prohibited from providing “conversion therapy” to minors in many states. Conversion therapy has been shown to cause immense damage, not to mention be ineffective. It’s not possible to change a person’s gender identity or sexuality through therapy, and it’d be an awful thing to do even if it did work. Nothing is wrong with LGBTQIA+ people. Conversion therapy is condemned by all relevant organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association and American Psychological Association. Read more from Human Rights Campaign here.
SCOTUS, including Justice Kagan, appears ready to overturn this ban on “free speech” grounds.
Thank you so much again for checking this out!
As a trans advocate and mom of a trans woman, this is awesome sauce. Thank you!
This is immediately so helpful, Celeste, thank you!