Laverne Cox (Screenshot via YouTube)
Celebrities are reacting to reports that the Trump administration has proposed a government memo that would roll back protections for transgender individuals by defining gender by a person’s genitalia at birth.
Actress Laverne Cox responded to the reports of the transgender community’s civil rights being revoked with an impassioned series of tweets.
“We must not give up the fight. But in the face of this affront on my existence and the existence of my community I choose love not fear. We exist and always have,” Cox tweeted. “In indigenous cultures all over the world gender existed beyond the binary and folks who we would call trans today held sacred places in those cultures. Western colonialism drove those trans folks to the margins but we have always been here. Marginalizing trans folks is another.”
She continued: “We need the citizens of Massachusetts to 3#VoteYesOn Nov. 6 to send a strong message that you value the lives of your trans friends, family and rote. neighbors.”
In indigenous cultures all over the world gender existed beyond the binary and folks who we would call trans today held sacred places in those cultures. Western colonialism drove those trans folks to the margins but we have always been here. Marginalizing trans folks is another
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) October 21, 2018
Example of the brutality of colonialism. This latest administration effort to legislate trans folks out of existence is yet another example of why the fight for gender equity must be intersectional and necessarily must include trans folks. Trans folks need everyone to stand with
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) October 21, 2018
us in this fight, to let our government know this is not who we are. We need the citizens of Massachusetts to #VoteYesOn3 Nov. 6 to send a strong message that you value the lives of your trans friends, family and neighbors. Trans people have been under attack by this
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) October 21, 2018
Cox wasn’t the only celebrity to share their outrage with their followers. Janet Mock, Cher, Chaz Bono, Kim Petras and more also tweeted their issues with the memo.
They can try all they want, but they cannot erase us.
— Janet Mock (@janetmock) October 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/cher/status/1053997660498145280
I can’t begin to express the rage I feel toward an administration that is trying to redefine me out of existence. Just another gift for his small minded base, terrified of the diversity that has always made America exceptional! #Vote https://t.co/OrAPEnaK9r
— Chaz Bono (@ChazBono) October 21, 2018
I feel sick to my stomach and depressed, scared, angry, exhausted https://t.co/DO9T9qYsOp
— Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) October 21, 2018
Please vote … Trump is so ugly … this is awful pic.twitter.com/rmglpxJHWR
— kim petras (@kimpetras) October 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/IndyaMoore/status/1054052767663357952
https://twitter.com/Peppermint247/status/1054019331015749633
