Hello everyone, my name is Nick Arteaga, he/they pronouns, and I am the Transgender Rights Strategist and Organizer with the ACLU of Utah. I am also a nonbinary, trans-masc Latine neurodivergent person, ADHD, and autistic. I just want to say thank you to everyone who came out in this unbearable cold on a weekday to rally for trans rights, listen to our speakers, and exercise your rights as Utahns to free speech and protest. One of the quotes the ACLU likes to use is from the late Ruth Bader Ginsberg, “Dissent is patriotic.”
This is what a true democracy looks like, and I am so proud of all of you! A fabulous trans icon, Laverne Cox, has said, “It is revolutionary for any trans person to choose to be seen and visible in a world that tells us we should not exist” ~Laverne Cox. This is day one of a grueling 45-day legislative session. This is my 3rd year of showing up in committee and sitting in sessions, but it is my first time under this administration. I’m going to be honest, I have a lot of feelings. I am terrified and worried for my communities that are being violently and often fatally targeted by these bills we see lined up for this legislative session, and 900 pages of violence that this administration has so proudly promoted over the last year or so.
One of the anti-trans bills we expect to hear later this week is HB269. This anti-trans bill aims to keep trans women out of dorms in colleges and universities. The bill was sparked by an outraged mother who couldn’t fathom her daughter living on campus with a dorm mom who’s been vetted and eligible for that position and who happens to be trans. There was no incident or altercation to provoke this outrage; it was just her existing authentically. We are so powerful that us living our truth and being our fabulous queer selves continues to be seen as harmful to those who do not understand us or see us as human beings. Unfortunately, living authentically comes at a cost and is unfair. If you have the capacity, energy, time to show up to committee we are expecting to hear HB269 in committee on Thursday 2PM. Sign up for our action alerts to get real-time updates and instructions on how to join us and take up space!
This is your state capitol; these are your legislators and representatives who are supposed to serve you. Maybe we’re not being loud enough?
Maybe they need a little more reminders of who serves whom. Let’s put these public servants to work!!! Write to them, email them, call them, or text them. Their contact information is online and public! They want to hear FROM YOU, so let’s tell them what we think about their bills. Register for free at le.utah.gov and track bills you want to receive real-time updates.
Now, I want to let you know that even though things are bleak and scary, look around; we are still here and not going anywhere! Trans people have always existed and we deserve to take up space, we belong in public spaces and we will peepee caca in public restrooms. Just a reminder: you can use any restroom that aligns with your gender identity, even in a government building, as long as it’s not attached to a locker room or changing room. If you are still worried about using the restroom in public, take a friend, or I’ll go with you!
I am grateful for all of you; your visibility, smiles, and sweet spirits give me hope and remind me why we do this. So much love to all of you. Please be safe out there.
