"Protecting Women and Children" Is a Shield for Transphobia

This week, we’re bringing you a conversation about the recent surge of anti-trans bills that have been levied in state legislatures. 2020 saw 79 different anti-trans state bills dealing with everything from education to athletics, and healthcare to bathroom access. In 2021, that count nearly doubled, with 147 proposals aimed at trans people, and especially trans kids. And this year, in 2022, we’re tracking roughly 280 bills that have been filed ahead of or during this legislative session. Now, let’s be clear: Transphobia is not new, and neither is the rhetoric that fuels it. Anti-trans legislation has often been framed as necessary for the safety and protection of “women and girls” - and in particular, white women and girls. This weaponization of white womanhood and femininity has deep roots in this country’s history, and is prompting unprecedented consequences for the trans community. Joining us to share the history behind this crisis and what we can do about it, is Nikita Shepard, who studies and works at Columbia University. Their work explores histories of LGBTQ+ communities, gender and sexuality, and racial and social movements in the United States and beyond.