GO HERE TO WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION!
We wish we could be proud of our country this Pride Month, but instead, we are deeply ashamed — particularly of how our trans community has been attacked by our government. Trans service members have been fired from the military, passports can no longer show trans gender identity — effectively banning travel to many countries for many Americans — and the president viciously rails against the community, which has caused a horrifying spike in hate crimes.
And it’s not only happening at the federal level: for just one example, Kansas passed a law that canceled the licenses of trans people immediately, making it literally illegal for them to even drive to the DMV to update their licenses. This is part of a systemic pattern of oppression, legislating away the rights, freedoms, and even safety of trans people across our nation.
Why is this happening in America?!
We asked Erin Reed — journalist, trans rights advocate, and the person behind the Trans Safety Map — and Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the trans Montana state legislator who has been courageously working on the front lines of the legislative battle, these questions and more.
If we want to get back to being able to say “Happy Pride!” and mean it, we have to understand what’s happening. Please listen to this conversation to the end. It’s important.
And to all our trans friends out there: We know everything kind of sucks right now, but we can promise you this: You’re not alone. We’re going to keep fucking fighting for you.
Stay strong.
— Misha & Emily
* More than 176 anti-trans bills have passed since Trump took office in January 2025. To see a current legislation tracker, visit Trans Legislation. To see Erin Reed’s map, visit Erin In The Morning.
This means so much that you’re having this conversation. As a fellow trans person I haven’t exposed myself to the activism and the change that everyone has been pushing for in this country. I’ve hidden in a hole and avoided the world until I “passed enough.” Thank you for pushing for change with us. It’s been such a scary world right now so I’m very much looking forward to his conversation. It means so much to have you both as Allies especially with magnitude this video can reach. I need to learn more. I want to do more. This is so fucking important. 🫂💚
The world is moving backwards, in Europe too, it’s getting less safe for trans people thanks to rich people like JKR. It’s baffling that one should be so bothered by how someone feels in their own body that they’d want to ruin their lives.