And in the meantime, as all this misleading and false information is getting thrown about, just try amplifying the voices of real trans people harmed by the rhetoric. It's hard as hell. Here's a girl, for example, who expanded access to sports for girls in her school, through her enthusiasm and good nature. Then, even though she was the only trans girl in the State of Kentucky playing sports at the middle school or high school level, she was forced off the team she created because of a law based on the rhetoric of hate.
But just try — try — getting people to pay attention. It's really really really hard.
When I wrote the following article, the equality agency in Kentucky thanked me for amplifying her voice, and tried to help promote the story, but it just won't take off. People don't want to hear it. They don't want to see the real faces of trans folks harmed by misinformation and angry rhetoric.
Outside of trans and other LGBTQ communities, almost nobody knows - or can be bothered to care - about who Fischer Wells is, or how false transphobic rhetoric is harming her:
