There are words that ring so deep inside you they reverberate on your spine and they create chills throughout your body. That’s what Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s announcement has created in me. A wave of chills. She promised that the Department of Justice would do everything they could to protect my community – to protect me.
I’m looking around and everyone is going about their day as usual and I want to scream, “DID YOU HEAR!?!?! THE DOJ IS WITH US!!!” I had to blog. Not necessarily for anyone but myself.
Here I am on the evening of one the most historically significant announcements of my lifetime and I’m truly speechless. I just keep rewatching AG Lynch and crying. I think about all of my trans brothers and sisters who have suffered and how this might provide some relief – for them and for me. I get quite a few messages from trans people and a word keeps popping up, ‘scared.’ We have been scared. We are scared. But hold on, friends, because times are changing. We have a promise from the Department of Justice to stand with us.
History is on our side – let’s see it to the end.
I’ll leave you with this:
‘Let me also speak directly to the transgender community itself. Some of you have lived freely for decades. Others of you are still wondering how you can possibly live the lives you were born to lead. But no matter how isolated or scared you may feel today, the Department of Justice and the entire Obama Administration wants you to know that we see you; we stand with you; and we will do everything we can to protect you going forward. Please know that history is on your side. This country was founded on a promise of equal rights for all, and we have always managed to move closer to that promise, little by little, one day at a time. It may not be easy – but we’ll get there together.’ – Attorney General Loretta Lynch, May 9th, 2016