Teresa Leger Fernandez: “Republicans have a series of amendments targeting trans people and the ability of servicemember parents to make…”

“Republicans have a series of amendments targeting trans people and the ability of servicemember parents to make decisions about healthcare for their children. All of these amendments, including this one, do not do anything to make us safer or to honor our commitment to the servicemen and -women who are willing to give their lives for this country. These amendments are part of a culture war that is intended to make Americans angry, divided, and fearful. They want to rename it the Department of War because they are in a war against the idea that the American life is something that includes all of us, that we can all belong. Their proposed facilities ban is a huge violation of privacy and would make all women and girls less safe. Will Republicans require menstrual monitoring, checking reproductive organs, as has happened, as my colleague pointed out? Girls and women who are tall, strong, and gender-nonconforming are already being questioned and yelled at. Republicans seem to always want to dictate from D.C. what we can do with our bodies, and that is not freedom. I stand with all our servicemembers, including our trans servicemembers, who are willing to fight and die for our freedoms. I am going to fight for their freedom to be who they are, to fight for an America where we all belong. We should not be at war with each other. We all belong.”