To the Editor:
Re “Pain Is the Point of Trump’s Transgender Policy,” by Jennifer Finney Boylan (Opinion visitor essay, Feb. 18):
For many of my life I feared what would occur if anybody knew that I skilled a full spectrum of each female and masculine expressions. The disgrace started after I was a small baby and adopted me all through a lot of my life. Even so I didn’t develop up with a concern of my authorities. America was a piece in progress.
I’ve seen rights progressively prolonged to girls, racial minorities and sexual minorities, together with trans and nonbinary folks. Nevertheless, right this moment I discover myself becoming a member of the quickly rising ranks of harmless Individuals who stand up every morning fearing their very own authorities.
By focusing on trans and nonbinary folks, our president seeks to safe unchecked energy on the expense of the susceptible and harmless. Scapegoating minorities is a tried and true mannequin for dictators all through historical past. Right here President Trump joins the likes of Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orban by manufacturing a perceived menace from an harmless minority, which is able to ultimately justify restrictions on civil rights for everybody.
I’ve listened to his requires a return to a time when there have been solely two genders. That was additionally a time when America freely and overtly discriminated towards girls, folks of coloration, Jews and others. The actual fact is there have by no means been simply two genders. Many societies accepted us, and even people who tried to ban us acknowledged our existence in these very bans.
We is not going to disappear once more into the shadows. We’ll resist, those that love us will resist, and people who are respectable will resist. So long as we achieve this, the best that every one Individuals are created equal is not going to fade, that this nation may endure and develop as soon as once more.
Mark Petersen
Park Metropolis, Utah
To the Editor:
Re “Trump’s Shameful Campaign Against Transgender Americans” (editorial, Feb. 16):
The Trump administration’s assaults on transgender and nonbinary people compromise our security and try and strip us of our rights and our humanity. These insurance policies aren’t simply merciless — they’re additionally deeply un-American.
However President Trump’s assault on the trans and nonbinary group goes past govt orders on prisons, identification paperwork and colleges. His ongoing assaults on Medicaid put thousands and thousands — together with trans nonbinary people — liable to dropping crucial care.
As a transgender girl, I do know firsthand how troublesome it’s to entry gender-affirming care. Once I couldn’t get hold of protection, Medicaid grew to become my lifeline. It allowed me to achieve entry to main care, psychological well being care, hormone remedy and have surgical procedure that aligned my physique with my id — a necessary, life-changing second of liberation and reduction.
Medicaid isn’t only for the nonbinary group — it serves greater than 70 million Individuals, together with adults and youngsters with disabilities, low-income households, folks with power situations like diabetes and H.I.V. It’s extra than simply insurance coverage; it’s a dedication to creating more healthy communities throughout the nation. As an alternative of gutting it, we should strengthen and develop it. Congress should act; too many lives rely upon it.
R.A. Melendez
New York
To the Editor:
The official present coverage of america authorities that there are solely two genders — female and male primarily based on both XX or XY genotype — is illiterate from the perspective of human biology. Whereas most people are born with both XX or XY chromosomes (figuring out feminine or male intercourse, respectively) some are usually not. There are a number of scientifically verified variations on these two genotypes that we find out about, whilst continued medical analysis guarantees to disclose extra.
A bit of recommendation typically attributed to Albert Einstein, however that rings true for many scientists is acceptable right here: “The whole lot needs to be made so simple as attainable, however not easier.” Allow us to maintain this in thoughts as we navigate sophisticated intercourse and gender points.
Leonid Poretsky
New York
The author is the chief of endocrinology at Lenox Hill Hospital.
To the Editor:
Please don’t perpetuate the falsehood that objection to gender ideology is a right-wing place. Lifelong liberals like me object to organic males in girls’s sports activities and prisons and gender therapy for youngsters not as a result of these are liberal concepts, however as a result of they aren’t.
We who oppose gender ideology don’t object to feminism. Defending girls’s sports activities and Title IX, which have been hard-won liberal victories, isn’t anti-feminist. We don’t object to homosexual rights; the truth is, encouraging gender nonconforming and same-sex-attracted youngsters to consider they’re actually the alternative intercourse is the peak of gender conformity and homophobia.
Opposing gender ideology is about defending the susceptible and standing up for equity and justice, values that I’ve all the time taken satisfaction in as a liberal Democrat. However the Democratic Social gathering’s present positions on gender go towards these values, and the get together silences these of us who disagree as bigots. We’re horrified that we’re trapped within the catastrophe of a second Trump presidency as a result of our get together wouldn’t take heed to us.
Erica Avery
Greenfield, Mass.
To the Editor:
Your editorial concerning the Trump-led Republicans’ marketing campaign towards transgender Individuals leads me to ask a easy query: What a part of “liberty” do they not perceive?
Denying others, whether or not a tiny minority or not, the proper to stay as they select reduces liberty to a mere slogan, as a result of liberty should apply to everybody. It’s, in spite of everything, unalienable.
I suppose that many would argue that free gender expression limits their very own liberty. But liberty isn’t about one’s emotions, it’s about one’s actions.
Those that are limiting the freedom of others ought to show that their liberty is definitely encumbered earlier than denying others the proper to stay free.
Jonathan L. Gleit
Tarrytown, N.Y.
‘I Am So Sorry’
To the Editor:
Re “A Humiliating Month to Be an American,” by Nicholas Kristof (column, Feb. 20):
To the great folks of Ukraine: I’m sorry that we’re deserting you. To the great folks of Europe: I’m sorry which you could now not rely on us to face up towards world tyrants.
To the great individuals who as soon as benefited from applications that helped eradicate lethal ailments: I’m sorry that the brand new insurance policies will set your nations again years (if not many years).
To the great folks the world over who thought they may rely on a sane U.S. authorities to assist maintain the world a protected place: I’m sorry that’s now not the case.
We Individuals have quite a bit to be sorry for nowadays.
Proper now, I’m most involved with the plight of the Ukrainians. You deserve a lot extra.
Miriam Mittenthal
Towson, Md.
Mendacity to Kids
To the Editor:
Re “There’s One Lie I Will Never Tell My Children,” by Allison Candy Grant (Opinion visitor essay, Feb. 23):
I agree with not telling white lies to our youngsters after they’ll really feel ache, inflicting a way of grownup betrayal.
My mom used to say, “That is going to harm me greater than you.” Actually?
Once I had my tonsils out on the age of 5, she promised to stick with me, but I used to be whisked away behind closed doorways, petrified and in tears. An surprising ether masks was thrust over my face.
To at the present time, I concern any sort of anesthesia. I’ve been extra trustworthy with my very own daughter, and others needs to be too.
Sweet Schulman
New York
