The Gray Area with Sean Illing

The war on trans people

Jun 9, 2022

Chase Strangio, Deputy Director for Transgender Justice at the ACLU, dives deep into the escalating assault on transgender rights in America. He discusses recent anti-trans legislation in states like Florida and Texas, highlighting how it criminalizes essential healthcare. Legal battles and societal biases are explored, emphasizing the need for grassroots advocacy. Strangio also examines the complexities of trans joy and calls for allyship to combat misinformation. His insights underscore the urgent need for collective action to protect and support the trans community.

55:12

Episode guests

Chase Strangio

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Anti-Trans Legislation: A Rising Tide

18min

Navigating Legal Challenges and Community Advocacy for Trans Rights

4min

Navigating Trans Rights and Societal Biases

13min

The Threat of Trans Joy: Legislative Battles and Social Perceptions

6min

Legislative Threats to Trans Rights

9min

Vox’s Emily St. James talks with Chase Strangio of the ACLU about the assault on the rights of trans Americans taking place in many states across the country. They explain why laws that recently passed through state houses in Florida, Texas, and Alabama imperil trans people — or, in some cases, even criminalize their very existence. Chase and Emily discuss the ongoing legal battles to challenge these laws, the political and social obstacles facing the trans community, and how all Americans can help protect trans people through challenging some fundamental assumptions in our culture.

Host: Emily St. James (@emilyvdw), Senior Correspondent, Vox

Guest: Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio), Deputy Director for Transgender Justice, ACLU

References:

"The time to panic about anti-trans legislation is now" by Emily St. James (Vox; March 24)
"Florida's law limiting LGBTQ discussion in schools, explained" by Amber Phillips (Washington Post; April 22)
"Alabama law criminalizing care for transgender youth faces federal test" by Kimberly Chandler (AP; May 5)
"Explaining the Latest Texas Anti-Transgender Directive" by Alene Bouranova (BU Today; March 3)
Obergefell v. Hodges (U.S. Supreme Court; 2015)
Bostock v. Clayton County (U.S. Supreme Court; 2020)
"The Courts Won't Free Us — Only We Can" by Chase Strangio (Them; June 1)
"Rising Model Hunter Schafer Is Fighting for the Future of Trans Individuals On and Off the Runway" by Katherine Cusumano (W Magazine; March 21, 2018)
"HB 500 — Barring Transgender Girls in Sports" (ACLU Idaho; 2020)

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This episode was made by:

Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Editor: Amy Drozdowska
Engineer: Patrick Boyd
Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall

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