Weekly Update: Tell Your Congressional Reps to Protect Trans Healthcare Amid Government Shutdown!
LGBTQ2SIA+ news you should know, things you can do, and ways you can help. If you have questions, reach out here. To receive this newsletter as a weekly email, signup for email updates at the bottom of our Contact Us page. BRO’s work—including this newsletter—is funded entirely by our supporters. Donate here.
Good afternoon, BRO friends! Here’s your update on feds in Portland:
Right now, a federal judge is deciding whether to halt or allow the Trump administration to send National Guard troops into Portland. If the judge allows it, we will likely see them deployed early next week. If the judge halts the action, that means there won’t be National Guard troops here in the immediate future, though Trump may keep trying. We aren’t sure exactly when that decision will drop (maybe it already has as you’re reading this!), so keep an eye on local news today for updates.
Regardless of what the judge decides, we are already seeing an influx of agents from ICE, DHS and the FBI at the ICE facility on SW Macadam, despite largely peaceful protests. And we know that these agents do not hesitate to harm those protesters without provocation. That said, there is safety in numbers, and many different roles you can take in protesting that don’t involve being on the front lines. If you are wanting to exercise your First Amendment rights at the ICE facility, this march happening Saturday is a good opportunity (see photo).
Act Now: Tell Your Reps to Hold the Line on Gender-Affirming Care Amid Government Shutdown.
Leading up to Wednesday's federal government shutdown, Republicans attempted to force through a funding package that would have banned any Medicare funding for gender-affirming care—and maybe even deny any federal funds to any institution that provides trans healthcare, depending on how it is interpreted. This move would leave more than half of trans folks in the United States without life-saving, medically necessary healthcare.
The package also included a ban on Pride flags in all public buildings, a military bathroom ban, and a federal anti-trans sports ban. These policies send a signal that LGBTQ2SIA+ folks ought to be feared and marginalized, and only serve to further isolate our communities.
To learn more about the situation, read this helpful article by transgender journalist Erin Reed.
We need you to contact your Oregon representatives in the House and Senate to help ensure these dangerous anti-LGBTQ2SIA+ policies do not pass. Our representatives are under immense pressure to end the government shutdown, but that cannot come at the expense of our lives and rights. Help us thank the representatives who have already stood up for our communities, and implore all Oregon reps to not support any package or bill that includes these poison pills.
And now, something fun…
On Monday, Governor Tina Kotek signed the Freedom to Read Act into law. It’s official: books can’t be banned at Oregon public schools and libraries for featuring LGBTQ2SIA+ or BIPOC characters, themes, or history!
Gov. Tina Kotek signs the Freedom to Read Act into law.
On that note, your BRO newsletter correspondent would like to offer a personal recommendation for your next queer read: Best Woman by trans author Rose Domu is a witty and fun take on rom-com classics like My Best Friend’s Wedding, but with the central romance being between a bisexual trans woman and a cis lesbian. It’s important for us to rest our bodies and minds regularly so we can keep fighting in the long haul, and this book provides a great little escape while also staying immersed in queer community. You can reserve it at the library, grab a copy at an indie bookstore near you, or order it on Bookshop.org!
That’s all we’ve got for today! Stay safe and stay kind.
Love,
The BRO team 🌈