Last week, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services opened its first investigation into the family of a transgender teen who received gender-affirming health care. Under a new directive from
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, parents who provide their kids with puberty-suppressing drugs or other medically accepted treatments could face “criminal penalties.”The state’s attack on trans rights has been emotionally traumatizing for many Texans. But every once in a while, there’s a beacon of hope for a more accepting future. Last year, Kai Shappley, a spunky 11-year-old trans activist and actor (whom you may recognize from Netflix’s The Baby-Sitters Club),
">delivered a poignant testimony to the Senate Committee on State Affairs about the hardships of growing up trans in her home state. It wasn’t Kai’s first time speaking out about trans rights, and, as she tells us below, it certainly won’t be her last. In a powerful public letter to Texas legislators published exclusively on ELLE.com, Kai asks that adults do the right thing—and “treat trans youth just like other kids.”
Hi Texas lawmakers:
My name is Kai Shappley, and my pronouns are her/she like the candy bar. I am 11, and I am in the 5th grade. I live in Austin, Texas.
I was with my mom when she got a text that Texas is trying to classify gender-affirming care as child abuse. She started crying and then she told me. It made me feel upset and disappointed. People are becoming so cruel and heartless. I mean, we’re just kids! Now I might not get the care I need. Changes could happen to my body that would be irreversible. I don’t even want to think about that.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has now told child welfare agencies to open child abuse investigations into parents who provide gender-affirming care to their children. I’m afraid I’ll be taken from my mom. That’s the worst thought of all of it.
This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
I’ve been asking adults to make good choices ever since I spoke out about the bathroom bill six years ago, and I’ll keep asking them to make good choices. Honestly, it’s been upsetting to have to explain myself over and over again to adults for so many years. It’s annoying. I would rather spend my time just being a kid.
If I could sit down with Gov. Abbott, I would ask him to please stop. I would tell him “You’re hurting me.” Is that too much to ask? Just stop. I think adults should treat trans youth just like other kids. Adults are supposed to protect me—not hurt me and my family. It makes me upset, because I’m the child here.
My hope for the future is that this will be over soon. Maybe the equality act gets passed. Maybe people try to learn about people who are different. I want to ask people, whatever their gift or talent is, to try and find a way to use that to help trans kids like me.
Sincerely,
Kai
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
