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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