We, the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, feel compelled to respond to the recent editorial addressing the resolution passed by the Dallas County Commissioners in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
We praise the Dallas County Commissioners in their resolve to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights and defend the healthcare and right to self determination of all residents in Dallas County. Gender affirming healthcare is lifesaving. LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. According to the Trevor Project’s 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People, roughly half of transgender and nonbinary youth seriously considered suicide in the past year. This is a health crisis.
Additionally, we take issue with the notion that this resolution divides the Dallas County LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ+ movement has always thrived on unity and mutual support. From the very beginning, transgender activists stood alongside gay men and lesbians during the Stonewall uprising, which sparked the modern gay rights movement. Their courage and resilience laid the groundwork for our collective fight against oppression.
Throughout the AIDS crisis, it was the full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community, including transgender individuals, who stood shoulder to shoulder with gay men, providing care and advocacy when many were abandoned by society. This solidarity has only strengthened over the decades as we collectively championed marriage equality. Time and again, our community has demonstrated that our strength lies in our togetherness.
While we acknowledge differing opinions within our community regarding certain issues, we must remember that our history is rooted in unity and mutual respect. As we continue to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, we stand firm against any division that seeks to undermine our collective progress. We stand firmly with the transgender community in their struggle for life-saving medical care, equal rights and against false
rhetoric.
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