>> For "Here& Now" I'm Aditi Debnath.
>> June is Pride Month, a celebration of the culture of
the LGBTQ community meant to raise awareness and acceptance
despite broader acceptance of LGBTQ lifestyles in society.
There is a wave of conservative backlash targeting transgender
people, specifically Reiko Ramos is the anti-violence director
for Diverse and Resilient, the state's largest organization
well-being, and safety of LGBTQ residents in Wisconsin. Thanks
for joining us today. >> Hi. Thank you for having me.
>> Well, what do you see as the main threats to the safety and
well-being of the LGBTQ community?
>> I think for the LGBTQ community, there are. So it's
constant. And, we are facing legislative, threats, both
across the country and in our own state, and much of what my
program focuses on is also the interpersonal violence that
happens and the hate based violence that happens against
our community, so the violence that we experience is happening
on many levels. >> We've seen the legislation
targeting transgender people, things and other things like
drag shows, book bans, what is the overall effect on the mental
health and then the physical health of people in the
community, it certainly has a mental health, impact and
particularly on trans youth, we know that affirming someone's
gender, using the correct pronouns and creating safe
spaces where people belong, has a positive impact on, LGBT Q's
mental health and well-being, and, and we also have the
evidence that shows that the effects of, stigma and
discrimination on LGBTQ people has lasting effects on our
well-being as well. >> Is there a direct connection
between passing laws or even introducing laws, and that that
mental aspect and then the physical violence of people then
feeling emboldened to take physical action against others?
>> Yes, I think there is a direct connection, people feel
safer, and have a greater sense of belonging when we have those
protections in place for LGBTQ people, and I can also tell you
that something we've seen on our side of the work is that, when
there is something big in the news, or some something
legislative of whether that's positive or negative coming
down, but will impact the LGBTQ community that, we often see
escalated. Instances of violence within our community, and our,
our warm line activity and goes up, because folks are safety
planning, around their individual safety and their day
to day lives. >> We saw with abortion rights
that a lot of people felt something like Roe v Wade, for
example, was settled law. And then the Supreme Court changed
that. Court decisions that legalized gay marriage and other
rights are much more recent. Is there a fear that those could be
rolled back and things might radically change on the ground?
>> That fear is, definitely a sentiment that I've heard in my
community, and that's one of the reasons why it's important that
we continue to keep advocating for safety and protection for
LGBTQ folks, there's a great deal of we're living in a time
of a lot of fear and uncertainty, especially we, you
know, in the context of we're in a presidential election year,
there's a lot that can change, in a relatively short amount of
time. minute left. Give me your sense
of what should people be taking away from something like Pride
Month and having the governor fly the flag above the state
capitol? What does that mean? Symbolically Bewley.
>> So one, I want people to really celebrate and enjoy Pride
Month, our our pride and joy is radical and so important when
especially when people are trying to erase us, and then
also remember that pride is one month out of the year, but
let's, let's celebrate, year round and support LGBTQ people