PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> VACCINE IS FLOWING INTO THE
STATE, BUT AS SCHOOLS REOPEN,
MANY TEACHERS STILL WONDER WHEN
THEY'LL GET A SHOT.
AND EDUCATION POLICY HEEFTS UP
AT THE STATE CAPITOL AS
REPUBLICANS WORK TO BAN
TRANSGENDER ATHLETES FROM GIRLS
AND WOMEN'S SPORTS.
>> TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
SCHEDULING A VACCINATION IS
CHALLENGING FOR
VISUALLY-IMPAIRED PEOPLE.
COVID'S IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH
IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
AND TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN
WOMEN'S SPORTS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH 5.
>> FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE
FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
>> THE WEEK INCLUDED A FLASHING
SHOW OF SUPPORT FROM DANE COUNTY
EMERGENCY TEAMS REMEMBERING
THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE AREA
FROM COVID-19.
AND EVEN AS SOMBER MEMORIALS ARE
GIVEN, WISCONSIN'S CASE NUMBERS
REMAIN COMPARATIVELY LOW, LOW
ENOUGH THAT DANE COUNTY LOOSENED
RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLIC
GATHERINGS.
RESTAURANTS CAN NOW SERVE UP TO
50% CAPACITY.
TAVERNS MAY OPEN THE DOORS TO UP
TO 25% CAPACITY.
SO FAR IN WISCONSIN, MORE THAN
ONE MILLION PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED
THE FIRST DOSE OF VACCINE.
THAT AMOUNTS TO OVER 17 OF% OF THE
POPULATION AUTHORIZED.
JUST OVER A HALF MILLION
WISCONSINITES HAVE COMPLETED THE
SERIES.
THAT'S NEARLY 10% OF THE
ELIGIBLE POPULATION.
WHILE THE NUMBERS SHOW PROGRESS
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID,
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS STILL
STRONGER ENCOURAGE PERSONAL
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.
AND NOW THE NEED FOR CONTINUED
TESTING PARALLELS THE VACCINE
SUPPLY AND DEMAND, INCLUDING
SHIPMENTS OF THE NEW JOHNSON &
JOHNSON VACCINE HEADED INTO
WISCONSIN NEXT WEEK.
>> THE ADDITION OF THE JOHNSON &
JOHNSON VACCINE TO OUR FEDERAL
ALLOCATION AND THE NEWS OF
INCREASED PRODUCTION FOR ALL
THREE VACCINES MEANS OUR STATE
WILL GET MORE VACCINE.
THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE
EFFORT, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO
REFINE AND IMPROVE OUR SYSTEMS
AND PROCESSES, AND WITH MORE
VACCINE SUPPLY, WE WILL BE ABLE
TO MORE EFFECTIVELY UTILIZE OUR
NETWORK OF VACCINATORS ACROSS
WISCONSIN TO GET SHOTS IN ARMS
QUICKLY, SAFELY AND EQUITABLY.
>> MORE VACCINE FLOWING INTO
WISCONSIN NEXT WEEK IS
ESPECIALLY WELL-TIMED.
THAT'S BECAUSE DEPUTY SECRETARY
VAN DYKE ALSO ANNOUNCED THE
GROWING PRESENCE OF CORONAVIRUS
VARIANTS IN THE STATE.
THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 19
CASES OF THE B1 VARIANT FOUND IN
WISCONSIN.
THAT'S THE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS
VARIANT ORIGINALLY FOUND IN THE
UNITED DING
UNITED KINGDOM.
ANYONE WHO'S TRIED TO SIGN UP
FOR THE VACCINE CAN ATTEST IT'S
NOT ALWAYS.
IT CAN BE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE
WITH NO OR LOW VISION.
WE TURN TO EXPLORE.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING ABOUT
PEOPLE TRYING TO NAVIGATE
VACCINE SIGN-UP SITES ONLINE?
>> WE HEAR FOLKS EXPERIENCING
ANXIETY ON A NUMBER OF LEVELS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE SHEER NOTION
THAT SOME OF THE SIGN-UPS HAVE
TO BE DONE ONLINE IN SOME CASES
OR FOLKS DON'T KNOW THE PHONE
NUMBER TO MAKE THAT CONTENT IS
ALREADY PROBLEMATIC FOR OUR
POPULATION.
THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS IN THE
STATE WHO LIVE WITH VISION
IMPAIRMENT ARE OLDER ADULTS.
WHILE THERE ARE CERTAINLY FOLKS
WHO HAVE LIVED WITH VISION
IMPAIRMENT ALL OF THEIR LIVES
LIKE I DO, WE SEE SUCH AN
INCREASE AMONG OLDER ADULTS
BECAUSE OF DISEASES.
AND SO THEY ARE FOLKS WHO ARE
NEW TO TECHNOLOGY USE,
POTENTIALLY.
POTENTIALLY ALSO NEW TO
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY USE.
AND THEY ALSO MAY LIVE IN PLACES
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE GREAT
BROADBAND.
SO JUST THE SHEER NOTION OF
HAVING TO USE A PLATFORM LIKE AN
APP OR A WEBSITE, THAT IS ONE
LAYER.
AND THEN ONCE YOU GET INTO THAT
WEBSITE OR THAT APP, WHETHER
IT'S CODED PROPERLY FOR BEING
ABLE TO BE USED WITH ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY OR NOT IS A WHOLE
NOTHER BALL GAME.
SO THE ADA AND WEB ACCESSIBILITY
GUIDELINES REQUIRE ACCESSIBILITY
OF WEBSITES AND WHAT WE KNOW
THAT REQUIREMENT AND REALITY
DON'T ALWAYS LINE UP.
>> SO YOU'VE SPOKEN TO THIS A
LITTLE BIT, BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE COMMON ISSUES FOR PEOPLE
WITH LOW OR NO VISION WHEN THEY
CONFRONT A WEBSITE, SAY, IN
TERMS OF BEING, IF YOU ARE LOW
VISION, NOT BEING ABLE TO EVEN
WORK WITH IT?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT WEBSITES THAT
ARE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WITH
LOW VISION?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, MANY PEOPLE WITH
LOW VISION USE SOME SORT OF
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY OR ACCESS
TECHNOLOGY.
SO MAYBE THEY MAGNIFY THEIR
SCREEN PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY OR
USE A SCREEN READER TECHNOLOGY.
I USE A COMBINATION OF BOTH AND
SO DO OTHER USERS.
SO WHEN YOU INTERACT WITH A WEB
NIGHT USING THOSE TECHNOLOGIES,
SOMETIMES THE WEBSITE IS
FRAGILE, SO WHEN YOU GO TO DO
THE MAGNIFICATION THINGS MOVE,
SO YOU HAVE TO REORIENT YOURSELF
TO THE PAGE.
IF YOU'RE USING A SCREEN READER,
THE KEY STROKES YOU HAVE TO USE
IN ORDER TO NAVIGATE DOWN THE
PAGE, AND THOSE KEY STROKES AND
THE PAGE ITSELF SHOULD TELL YOU
WHERE YOU ARE ON THE PAGE AND
WHAT ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE ON THE
PAGE, WHETHER SOMETHING IS
CLICKABLE OR HAS A LINK OR IS
SELECTABLE.
A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE
EXPERIENCE IS THAT THAT CONTENT
ISN'T AVAILABLE.
SO CONCRETELY WHEN YOU'RE GOING
TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AND YOU
WANT TO CHOOSE YOUR DAY AND
TIME, YOUR SCREEN READER MAY
TELL YOU THAT THERE'S AN
APPOINTMENT ON FRIDAY, MARCH 5,
AND AT 3:00, 4:00 AND 5:00 AND
YOU HEAR THAT CONTENT BUT IT'S
NOT CODED TO TELL YOU CAN SELECT
IT.
SO CAN I SELECT THIS?
IS THIS JUST READING, GIVING ME
A LIST?
SO YOU'RE UNCLEAR WHAT ACTION
YOU CAN TAKE.
SO YOU HAVE TO START HITTING
KEYS AND HOPING FOR THE BEST.
ONE PERSON TOLD ME THAT WHEN HE
SCHEDULED HIS VACCINE
APPOINTMENT, HE THOUGHT HE'D
CHOSEN THE RIGHT DAY BUT HE
WASN'T GETTING THE AUDIO
FEEDBACK HE NEEDED SO HE WAS
GREATLY RELIEVED WHEN HE GOT HIS
CONFIRMATION THAT HE'D SIGNED UP
FOR THE TIME HE'D SIGNED UP FOR.
>> AS THOUGH THERE AREN'T ENOUGH
HURDLES.
REALLY INTENSE FOR PEOPLE IN
THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.
JUST YESTERDAY THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SET UP A
PHONE NUMBER FOR PEOPLE TO CALL
FOR VACCINE HELP.
WE WANT TO GIVE HA HERE.
>> YES.
>> THAT NUMBER IS 844-684-1064.
I CALLED IT.
IT'S UP.
IT'S ACTIVATED.
IT WORKS.
AND WE WILL REPEAT THAT PHONE
NUMBER IN A MOMENT.
BUT HOW NEEDED IS AN ACTUAL
PHONE NUMBER FOR FOLKS TO CALL?
>> OH, IT'S SO CRITICAL.
I'LL JUST GIVE AN EXAMPLE.
WE HAVE -- OUR ORGANIZATION HAS
A WEBSITE AND A SMALL RETAIL
STORE AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE
PHONE.
AND STILL THE MAJORITY OF OUR
ORDERS AND REQUESTS COME IN VIA
PHONE.
EVEN THOUGH OUR WEBSITE IS BUILT
FOR ACCESSIBILITY.
JUST BECAUSE THERE'S COMFORT IN
HEARING A HUMAN VOICE.
AND FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR
POPULATION, ISOLATION AND
LONELINESS ARE PROFOUND.
YOU CAN'T GET OUT.
YOU CAN'T DRIVE YOURSELF
SOMEPLACE.
SO BEING ABLE TO TALK TO A HUMAN
BEING WHO HEARS YOU, WHO CAN
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, WHO CAN
BE A COMFORT, THAT EMOTIONALLY
IN A SCARY TIME IS HUGE.
AND THEN FOR ANYBODY WHO CAN'T
NAVIGATE THE WEBSITE, IT IS
VITAL.
OTHERWISE HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT
ASSURING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
GET THE VACCINE?
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR YOUR WORK AND THANKS
FOR ENLIGHTENING US ABOUT THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AGAIN, FOR VACCINE HELP, THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES HAS JUST MADE A PHONE
NUMBER AVAILABLE TO CALL.
IT'S 844-684-1064.
WELL, THERE MAYBE LIGHT AT THE
END OF THE COVID TUNNEL WITH
GROWING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE BEING
VACCINATED, BUT OVER THE COURSE
OF THE PANDEMIC THE MENTAL
HEALTH OF PEOPLE HAS
DETERIORATED DUE TO LOSS OF
FAMILY, FRIENDS, JOB LOSS,
ISOLATION AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL
ABUSE AND YOUNGER PEOPLE IN THE
18 TO 24 AGE GROUP HAVE BEEN
ESPECIALLY HIT AS HAVE
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
FOR EXAMPLE, COMPARED TO WHITE
RESIDENTS, BLACK RESIDENTS HAVE
TWO TIMES THE HOSPITALIZATIONS
RELATED TO COVID.
OUR NEXT GUEST IS THE DIRECTOR
OF OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAMS
AT THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION, KEN
GINLACK.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO, THE SHARE OF ADULTS
REPORTING SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY
AND DEPRESSION HAS JUMPED FROM
11% BEFORE THE PANDEMIC TO 41%
NOW ACCORDING TO THE KAISER
FAMILY FOUNDATION.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN
YOUR PRACTICE?
>> YES.
THERE HAS BEEN A HIGH NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS COMING IN SINCE THE
PANDEMIC AND, YOU KNOW, THE
SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AS WELL
AS ANXIETY HAS THE HIGHEST
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN.
ALSO, YOU KNOW, ALONG WITH THE
STRESS OF THE PANDEMIC, THE
PEOPLE, THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
HAVE BEEN HIT THE HARDEST AS FAR
AS WHAT WE'RE SEEING AS THE
NUMBERS COMING IN.
>> YEAH.
>> FOR SERVICES.
>> SO WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST
DRIVERS OF THIS ANXIETY AND
DEPRESSION?
>> WELL, JOB LOSS, YOU KNOW,
WORRIES, STRESS OVER PAYING THE
BILLS, INTERRUPTING THE ROUTINE,
THE DAILY ROUTINE, THE HIGH
NUMBER OF -- THE ISOLATION AS
WELL, WHICH WOULD CAUSE
DEPRESSION, AND NOT HAVING THAT
CONNECTION WITH FAMILY.
>> SO YOUNG ADULTS SHOW
SYMPTOMS, ACCORDING AGAIN TO
KAISER, AT 56%.
WHY IS IT AFFECTING THAT AGE
GROUP MORE SO?
>> IN YOUNG ADULTS, PARTICULARLY
ADOLESCENTS, THEY USUALLY ARE
GETTING SERVICES THROUGH SCHOOL
OR, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO HAVE
ACCESS TO SOCIAL WORKERS AND
THAT TYPE OF THING AT SCHOOL.
AND ALSO, WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO
COMMUNICATE AND TALK WITH THEIR
FRIENDS, SO THE SOCIALIZATION,
THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY DUE TO
THE PANDEMIC.
AND SO AS UNIVERSITIES CLOSE AS
WELL, THAT AGE GROUP IS
SUFFERING FROM THE LACK OF
SOCIALIZATION AS WELL.
>> IN FACT, THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE
AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE SITS AT 26%
COMPARED TO ALL ADULTS AT 11%.
HOW FRIGHTENING ARE THOSE
NUMBERS TO YOU?
>> OH, THEY'RE VERY FRIGHTENING.
AND, YOU KNOW, IN FACT, IN
MILWAUKEE THERE WERE 131
SUICIDES IN 2020.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A HIGH
NUMBER.
ACTUALLY, IT WAS 131 VERSUS, YOU
KNOW, -- I'M SORRY.
IT WAS 216 SUICIDES VERSUS 131
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.
>> TRAGIC, REALLY TANGIBLE
EVIDENCE OF THE
ANXIETY/DEPRESSION.
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AS WE'VE
SAID, HAVE BEEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY
THE PANDEMIC AND LIKEWISE
ACCORDING TO DATA HAVE BEEN MORE
LIKELY THAN WHITE ADULTS TO
SUFFER MENTAL HEALTH EFFECTS.
IS THERE ENOUGH SUPPORT AND
ACCESS TO TREATMENT AVAILABLE?
>> WELL, THERE HAS BEEN A LACK
OF THERAPISTS PRIOR TO THE
PANDEMIC AND ESPECIALLY
THERAPISTS OF COLOR, RIGHT?
AND SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S STILL A
BIG CHALLENGE AS FAR AS HAVING
WAITING LISTS AND ACTUALLY
HAVING ACCESS TO THOSE SERVICES.
WHEN YOU THROW THE PANDEMIC IN,
YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALSO, YOU
KNOW, LACK OF TRANSPORTATION TO
GET TO PROVIDERS, UNINSURED.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN DOING
EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE
SERVICES ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY.
SOMETHING YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE
OF, WE ACTUALLY HAVE STARTED TO
OPEN CLINICS WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY TO LESSEN SOME OF
THOSE BARRIERS OF TRYING -- YOU
KNOW, FOR PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO
SERVICES.
>> WELL, THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
OTHER THAN THAT KIND OF ACCESS,
TO YOUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES,
WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE DO TO TRY TO
HELP THEMSELVES OR THEIR LOVED
ONES IF THEY SEEF SEE THESE KINDS OF
THINGS LIKE ANXIETY OR
DEPRESSION?
>> REACH OUT.
YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST THING I
CAN SAY IS REACH OUT.
AND, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT TO THAT
FAMILY MEMBER.
JUST GIVE THEM A CALL.
JUST TO SAY HELLO.
DO WELLNESS CHECKS.
YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE
OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU
KNOW.
ALSO, THOSE THAT SUFFERING
ALONE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ACTUAL
VIRTUAL GROUPS THAT THEY CAN
ACTUALLY ATTEND.
AND JUST TALK TO SOMEONE.
ALSO CALLING THE CRISIS HOTLINE.
SO THERE'S VARIOUS THINGS THAT
THEY CAN TRY TO DO TO CONTINUE
TO COMMUNICATE AND RELEASE SOME
OF THAT PRESSURE OF BEING ALONE.
>> YEAH.
WE SHOULD ALL KEEP OUR EYES
OPEN.
KEN GINLACK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DEBATE CONTINUED TODAY IN
WASHINGTON OVER THE COVID-19
STIMULUS PACKAGE.
THIS, AFTER THE READING ALOUD OF
THE ENTIRE 628-PAGE BILL THAT
CONCLUDED AROUND 2:00 THIS
MORNING.
THE READ-ALOUD WAS FORCED TO
HAPPEN BY WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN
SENATOR RON JOHNSON.
QUOTE, I'M GOING TO MAKE THE
SENATE CLERK READ THE DEMOCRATS'
$1.9 TRILLION BILL ON WEDNESDAY.
THEN I'M GOING TO OFFER MANY
AMENDMENTS.
PROTECTING THE WOMEN IN SPORTS
ACT IS BEING INTRODUCED IN
WISCONSIN.
STATEHOUSES ACROSS THE NATION
ARE LOOKING TO PASS SIMILAR
LEGISLATION.
THE AIM?
TO PREVENT TRANSGENDER ATHLETES
FROM PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS
BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS UNFAIR
COMPETITION.
THE PROPOSAL'S AUTHOR, BARBARA
DITTRICH OF OCONOMOWOC WAS
SCHEDULED TO JOIN US TO TONIGHT.
IT WOULD ADD WISCONSIN TO A
GROWING LIST OF STATES THAT ARE
PURSUING SUCH LAWS AS AN EFFORT
TO PUSH BACK ON RECENT GAINS IN
PROTECTIONS FOR TRANSGENDER
INDIVIDUALS, ACCORDING TO A
JOINT STATEMENT FROM TWO
WISCONSIN LBGT Q ADVOCACY
GROUPS.
MEGIN MCDONELL IS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF FAIR WISCONSIN, A
GROUP WORKING FOR THE CAUSE OF
LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND
TRANSGENDER EQUALITY.
SHE'S IN MADISON.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID HE WILL
VETO IN LEGISLATION IF PASSED.
BUT AS REPRESENTATIVE DITTRICH
WORKS TO GATHER COSPONSORS,
GOVERNOR EVERS SENT A MESSAGE TO
TRANSGENDER STUDENTS SAYING THEY
ARE WELCOME, WANTED AND THEY
BELONG.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU THINK THIS
KIND OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION
SENDS?
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONE
THING THAT THIS LEGISLATION DOES
DO IS SEND AN INCREDIBLY
NEGATIVE MESSAGE TO TRANSGENDER
YOUTH IN WISCONSIN THAT THEY'RE
NOT VALUED, THEY'RE NOT WELCOME
AND THEY DON'T BELONG.
AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, VERY MUCH
APPLAUD THE GOVERNOR FOR TAKING
A VOCAL POSITION LIKE THAT TO
SEND THAT MESSAGE OF WELCOME AND
SUPPORT TO OUR YOUTH.
SO THAT'S VERY APPRECIATED.
>> THE PARTICULARS OF THE
LEGISLATION INCLUDE BANNING
TRANSGENDER ATHLETES FROM
PARTICIPATING IN GIRLS AND
WOMEN'S SUPPORTS FROM
KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COLLEGE.
THE CDC DATA SAYS UNDER 2% OF
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IDENTIFY AS
TRANSGENDER AND THE WIAA SAYS
THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS.
WHAT IS THEN GOING ON WITH THIS
PROPOSAL?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T
REALLY SPECULATE AS TO THEIR
MOTIVATION.
I KNOW THAT REPRESENTATIVE DYT
TRYCH
MENTIONED THINGS.
THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE I DON'T
HAVE THE NUMBERS RIGHT IN FRONT
OF ME, BUT SOMETHING LIKE 45
ATHLETE BANS IN ABOUT 20
DIFFERENT STATES RIGHT NOW AND
THERE'S OVER 100 ANTILBGT Q
BILLS IN GENERAL.
I DO THINK THAT A LOT OF THE
GAINS WE'VE MADE AS A COMMUNITY
AND AS A MOVEMENT EVIDENCED BY
THINGS LIKE THE PROGRESS THE
EQUALITY ACT IS MAKING, THE
VOCAL AND VISIBLE SUPPORT THAT
PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE ON DAY ONE
THROUGH SOME OF HIS EXECUTIVE
ORDERS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE --
AT LEAST SOME OF THE FACTORS
THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS FLOOD OF
ANTI-LBGT Q AND TRANSGENDER
ACTION THAT'S WE'RE SEEING
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
>> AND SPECIFIC TO THE ONE HERE
IN WISCONSIN, THE OTHER THING
THAT IT WOULD DO IS CREATE THREE
TYPES OF TEAMS: BOYS, GIRLS AND
CO-ED, ALLOWING TRANSGENDER
ATHLETES TO GO INTO THAT CO-ED
SQUAD.
IS THAT DISCRIMINATION IN YOUR
MIND IN ITSELF?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, IT DOES -- YOU KNOW,
HERE'S THE THING.
TRANSGENDER KIDS WANT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY SPORTS FOR
THE SAME REASON AS OTHER KIDS
DO, TO BE PART OF A TEAM WHERE
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG.
AND THIS DOES ESSENTIALLY
DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THOSE KIDS.
IT MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE A
GIRLS TEAM AND A BOYS TEAM AND
THEN A TEAM FOR TRANSGENDER
KIDS.
AND WE JUST WANT TO HELP PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THAT TRANSGIRLS ARE
GIRLS.
TRANSBOYS ARE BOYS.
AND WHEN WE DO THINGS TO LIMIT
PARTICIPATION OF TRANSGIRLS IN
PARTICULAR IN GIRLS' SPORTS, WE
ARE HURTING ALL GIRLS IN SPORTS
AND ATHLETICS.
>> SINCE 2013 THE WIAA HAS
REQUIRED THAT MALE STUDENTS
TRANSITIONING TO FEMALE MUST
HAVE ONE CALENDAR YEAR OF
DOCUMENTED TESTOSTERONE
SUPPRESSION TREATMENT TO BE
ELIGIBLE TO PLAY ON A FEMALE
TEAM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT
REQUIREMENT?
>> WELL, SO THAT REQUIREMENT,
YOU KNOW, RIGHT, HAS BEEN IN
PLACE FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND IT
REALLY DOES MAKE IT -- ALREADY
THAT POLICY MAKES IT PRETTY
DIFFICULT FOR TRANSGIRLS IN
PARTICULAR TO BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN GIRLS ATHLETICS
AND SPORTS.
SO IT HAS THAT EFFECT OF
EXCLUDING.
AND NOT ALL KIDS HAVE THE --
HAVE ACCESS TO VARIOUS MEDICAL
INTERVENTIONS THAT THAT POLICY
REQUIRES.
BUT EVEN WHEN THEY DO HAVE
ACCESS TO THAT, WHETHER OR NOT
THEY CHOOSE THOSE INTERVENTIONS,
THEY ARE TAKING PLACE UNDER THE
CARE OF A PHYSICIAN.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING ABOUT
THESE BILLS, IS THAT THE WIAA
POLICY ALREADY MAKES IT PRETTY
DIFFICULT FOR TRANSKIDS TO FULLY
PARTICIPATE IN ORGANIZED SPORTS
IN THEIR SCHOOLS.
SO REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY
ALL THIS BILL REALLY
ACCOMPLISHES IS SENDING THAT
NEGATIVE MESSAGE OF EXCLUSION TO
OUR YOUTH.
>> TITLE IX PROTECTS FROM FROM
DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEX IN
SPORTS.
REPRESENTATIVE SAYS THAT IT
PROTECTS ALL BIOLOGICAL FEMALES
FROM BEING REQUIRED TO COMPETE
AGAINST MALES.
IS THAT WHAT TITLE IX SAYS?
>> TITLE IX'S BEEN A CORNERSTONE
OF ADVANCING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.
I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT IT'S
IMPORTANT TO DEFEND AND PRESERVE
THE IMPACT OF TITLE IX.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT ENSURING
FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
LBGT Q YOUTH, ESPECIALLY
TRANSGENDER, DOESN'T UNDERMINE
THOSE PROTECTIONS.
LIKE WE SHOULD REMEMBER WHAT
TITLE IX IS ALL ABOUT, MAKING
SURE THAT ALL GIRLS, INCLUDING
GIRLS WHO ARE TRANSGENDER, HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE
IN SPORTS.
AND KIDS LEARN A LOT OF
IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS IN
SUPPORTS: LEADERSHIP,
CONFIDENCE, SELF-RESPECT, WHAT
IT MEANS TO BE PART OF A TEAM.
SO LOCAL SCHOOLS AROUND THE
COUNTRY, THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN
STATES THAT HAVE POSITIVE,
PROACTIVE POLICIES THAT HELP
TRANSKIDS PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS.
MINNESOTA, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR
NEIGHBORING STATE.
AND THOSE POLICIES ARE WORKING.
SO WE CAN CELEBRATE GIRLS'
SPORTS AND PROTECT TRANSYOUTH
FROM DISCRIMINATION AND MAKE
SURE ALL STUDENTS HAVE THE
ABILITY TO ACCESS THESE
OPPORTUNITIES AND THE LIFELONG
BENEFITS THAT ORGANIZED
ATHLETICS CAN PROVIDE TO YOUNG
PEOPLE.
>> WE STARTED BY TALKING ABOUT
MESSAGES.
WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO
TRANSGENDER YOUTH IN THE MIDST
OF ALL OF THIS?
>> WELL, THE GOVERNOR SAID IT
REALLY WELL IN HIS TWEET, THAT
WE ALL -- WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE AND
ECHO THAT.
AND I MEAN I'M JUST HERE TODAY.
I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING OF THE YOUNG
PEOPLE IN GENERAL.
I HAVE TWO TEENAGERS MYSELF.
ONCE IS TRANS TEENAGER IN HIGH
SCHOOL.
BILLS LIKE THESE ARE REALLY
HARMFUL.
THEY DON'T ACHIEVE WHAT THEIR
GOALS ARE SUPPOSEDLY ACHIEVING.
AND, AGAIN, THE ONE THING THAT
IS CLEAR THAT THEY DO DO IS SEND
THOSE NEGATIVE, HARMFUL MESSAGES
TO YOUTH THAT ALREADY HAVE A
REALLY OFTEN DIFFICULT TIME IN
THE SCHOOLS.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOVED,
YOU'RE WELCOME AND WE SEE YOU
AND WE'RE HERE FOR ON YOU AND WE
ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE DOING
A LOT OF ORGANIZING IN THE WEEKS
AND MONTHS TO COME AROUND THESE
BILLS.
ALSO POSITIVE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE
ADVANCING WITH OUR FRIENDS AND
ALLIES IN THE LEGISLATURE AND
WITH OUR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS,
LIKE G-SAFE AND THE WISCONSIN
TRANSHEALTH COALITION, MANY
OTHERS OF OUR COLLEAGUES AROUND
THE STATE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING VERY
HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUTH
AREN'T -- WE CAN HOPEFULLY
MINIMIZE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF
THESE BILLS ON OUR YOUTH AND
MAKE SOME ADVANCES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
THANKS VERY MUCH, MEGIN
MCDONELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> STAY UP-TO-DATE ON STATE
CAPITOL COVERAGE BY GOING TO
pbswisconsin.org AND THEN CLICK
ON THE NEWS TAB.
"HERE AND NOW" COVID-19 COVERAGE
CAN BE FOUND ON THE NEWS PAGE.
AS MORE VACCINE FLOWS INTO THE
STATE NEXT WEEK, INCLUDING THE
NEW JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOT,
WISCONSINITES WILL CONTINUE TO
SEARCH FOR APPOINTMENTS.
THE NEW STATE VACCINATION
HOTLINE PHONE NUMBER IS
844-684-1064.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.