anyone under the age of 18. It reflects a national trend that
has pushed transgender issues into the political spotlight.
Despite less than 1% of the population identifying as trans
“Here& Now” student journalist Jane McCauley heard from the
perspective of someone who is trans about the repercussions of
this climate on the trans community.
>> It's difficult to know that there that those conversations
are happening, and it's difficult to feel so powerless.
It's difficult to have people talking about your identity like
it's something to be feared or hated or boxed away, hidden.
>> 24 year old be identifies as queer and trans.
>> My identity is something beautiful and to be celebrated.
That stark difference is difficult to live with.
>> B uses both he and they pronouns and has chosen to
conceal their identity and name on account of their safety,
their daily life is shifting under the new presidential
administration. male and female.
>> Within a week of being in office, President Trump issued
executive orders banning trans people from women's sports. The
military, and defunding youth. Gender affirming care.
>> When your government doesn't want you to exist, it is scary
and it is a heavy burden. I exist exactly as I am, and
Donald Trump doesn't get a say in that.
>> Questioning trans rights at all levels has been an issue.
Republicans have been running on for the last few years. It
helped propel Trump to the white House.
he's not defining for America, for government policy, that, you
know, there are two genders, you know, men and women. He's moving
to protect women from having to compete against male athletes,
from having biological males invade their their locker rooms
and other private spaces, their bathrooms. So, you know, I
certainly appreciate that. That's something that I think is
also very popular. That's what the American people support.
>> The general public is told a lot about trans people, and very
little of it is told by trans people.
>> Abigail Swetz is executive director of Fair Wisconsin, an
LGBTQ plus advocacy group based in Madison.
>> And that is striking to me because of the fact that that
creates a not only like an absence of knowledge, but an
absolute misunderstanding of the reality of the lived experience
of trans people. >> Fair Wisconsin is looking
toward policy protections for trans rights at all levels.
>> The local avenue. The school board Avenue, the State Avenue.
Those are open, and we will go down that road.
>> It's difficult to know that there that those conversations
are happening and it's difficult to feel so powerless.
>> It also, again, just confirms that this is not about any
particular issue that folks have with trans people. It's just
about removing trans people from from society.
>> Therapists like Colten Schoenike are ready to provide
support and resources. Coltan is transgender and nonbinary and
uses they them pronouns. Their practice is based in the small
city of Menominee, where access to LGBTQ providers is already
limited. the big city to access that.
We've been thinking about, you know, people having increased
demand, increased need, also trying to be thoughtful about
people, you know, not dropping off if they start to feel
hopeless. hotlines have spiked. One
hotline seeing a 700% jump after Election day be remembers
needing that community support. >> Being able to see trans
adults not only surviving, but thriving in adulthood and loving
their lives and the people that they became, gave me hope for my
own future. >> I also do not think you need
to know every detail of someone's identity to respect
them as people. >> If you're not getting hit by
the stones thrown at us, you're not standing close enough.
>> I am scared beyond belief for the future of trans rights in
this country, for the future of trans people in this country. I
am also stubbornly hopeful that trans people and our allies will
come together and will resist every attempt to strip us of our
rights and our humanity. >> Reporting from Menominee and