Emma M.

Hanna Stolzer, Social Editor , ACLU

On January 5, Governor DeWine introduced draft rules that, if implemented, would have resulted in thousands of transgender people in Ohio going without the health care they need, and forcing many to move out of their home state — including my friend, Emma. Due to an outpouring of dissent from the trans community, those proposed rules will not go into effect.

For years, politicians across the nation have been pushing legislation that would block critical gender-affirming medical care for transgender people, taking life-saving health care decisions out of the hands of trans people, their doctors, and their families, and putting it in the hands of politicians. Much of this legislation has focused on spreading inaccuracies and stoking fear specifically about care for trans youth. But the Ohio government tried to take it even further. DeWine’s proposed rules were the most extreme regulations on medical treatment for transgender adults anywhere in the United States, and would have prevented children and adults alike from receiving medically-necessary care. These changes were not based in any medical science, and were proposed against the recommendations of every major medical organization in the nation, despite the outcries from the trans community.

Emma and I are both born and raised Ohioans. We have frequently shared our fear and disappointment in the actions of Ohio’s political leaders and how out of touch they are with the wants and needs of Ohio communities. We were both part of the thousands of people who submitted comments in opposition to the opposed rules, and we both know that this is a victory worth celebrating — but also that these planned attacks against the trans community in Ohio are not in the past. I sat down with Emma to talk through what these proposed bans would have meant for her and her trans community, and how we can continue working to defend trans rights in Ohio and across the nation.

A photo of Emma M.

Emma M.

Hanna: How would the proposed changes to transgender health care access in Ohio have impacted you? How would they have impacted your friends and other trans people in the state?

Emma: I’ve lived my whole life in Ohio. It’s my home, somewhere I can be myself and be supported by my friends and family. Since the proposed changes were announced, I’ve seen the future I envisioned for myself here change drastically. If trans health care access was restricted for adults, many of us would be forced to move. Friends had told me all the places they’re considering moving to, and others were planning on leaving the country entirely. I know plenty of others, myself included, who want to stay and fight it. It’s hard though. To make it through the day, you have to have some sort of plan about what to do when things get bad. If I am ever forced to [leave], I know I’ll be able to move somewhere and be okay, but not everyone can move; it’s expensive, and it’s daunting to have to find a job somewhere else away from our friends and families.

Hanna: How do the limits on health care for trans youth tie into the proposed restrictions for the care you receive?

Emma: If you’re a trans kid in Ohio, you’re being told that you can’t be who you want to be until you’re an adult. You reach adulthood, and then the state still is typing to put laws in place to limit your access to health care. It’s just cruel because it makes it that much harder to be hopeful as a trans kid. Suicide rates among trans youth are already frighteningly high, and we know how to lower them. This is why we spread mantras like Protect Trans Kids, they’re in an increasingly difficult situation and need support. The proposed changes made me more concerned for trans youth in particular, because I think it would be really difficult to remain hopeful in the face of these extra barriers. You’d have to make it to adulthood, save money not just for the myriad of expenses that are typical for transition, but also to move out of state. To all trans kids, I want you to know that things will get better. It’s up to the rest of us to fight back and make sure we’re providing a future to look forward to for the trans youth of Ohio.

Hanna: What can people do to help, whether they’re in Ohio or wanting to support from afar when these kind of attacks on trans care are introduced by politicians?

Emma: People can do a couple things to show support. First, check in on your trans friends and family. It’s pretty hard on our mental health when laws like this are proposed or passed, even if they’re eventually defeated, and it’s helpful to know that our loved ones are here for us. It is incredibly stressful thinking about how these changes would impact our access to health care. Outside of that, we need help pushing back on the laws themselves. Show up to protests, submit your feedback online, or call your representatives to let them know how you feel about anti-trans legislation. Right now, trans people are looking to our friends to speak up and speak out. We can’t fight this battle alone. If you can, there are many great organizations worth donating to as well, like the ACLU, the ACLU of Ohio, or the TransOhio Emergency Fund, to both push back on harmful legislation and provide trans people with much needed assistance.

The Way Forward for Trans Justice

Hanna: What would it mean for you and your community if DeWine’s proposed changes to trans health care had taken effect?

Emma: It would have been devastating, because we’ve fought for this to be our home. It would have been a very clear announcement that we aren’t welcome here, and that legislators will keep trying to push us out. Not everyone can afford to move to the safety of another state. It’s already a struggle for some trans adults to access medical care, largely because of long wait times. I think these proposed changes would have worsened that issue and placed an unfair burden on trans people that would have negatively affected our physical and mental health. I didn’t believe these changes were an accurate representation of what the people of Ohio wanted, and I’m grateful that with enough awareness, people provided the support we needed to shut down these proposals. It was an immeasurable relief that the proposals were changed, thanks to a massive influx of comments from the community. I think there’s more to be done, it’s easy to fall into a false sense of security now that some provisions have been walked back, but the reality is trans youth is still actively affected and trans adults remain a political target. We need to keep this energy, this outpouring of support, to prevent future attempts by the state against trans rights.

Hanna: How has access to gender-affirming care affected your quality of life?

Emma: Unequivocally, I can say gender-affirming care saved my life. It’s difficult for me to explain what it was like before I came out and had access to gender-affirming care. I had been dangerously depressed for a long time and didn’t have hope that things were going to get better. It felt like I was living someone else’s life, where none of the pieces fit. I think from the outside it seemed like I should have been happy. I had a loving family, a great group of friends, and did well in school. The reality was that I was disconnected from it, and tried desperately to hide how hopeless I felt. I was unaware that there were other people like me, and there were resources to help transition. Luckily, I came out and had support from friends and family. I’m truly happy with my life now, and hopeful for my future. Gender-affirming care isn’t just hormones or surgeries, it’s a whole range of things that might not be the same for everyone. For me, the first thing was seeing a therapist who helped me work through my anxieties related to transitioning, then other medical professionals to start hormone replacement therapy. They made sure I was well informed through every step in the process. It lifted that weight off my shoulders, helped me feel at home in my body. Being happy in your body is fundamental, and because of that, I’m able to find joy in things I didn’t before. The reality was that before, hobbies were just a way to distract myself, and now they’re things I choose to pursue for happiness. I’ve picked up softball, reading, music, and even sewing. I attribute the change in my mental health completely to gender-affirming care, it’s helped me to see myself and life in a new light. Gender-affirming care gave me the hope I needed to continue, and I’m thankful everyday for it.

Date

Thursday, February 15, 2024 - 4:15pm

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Gender-affirming care saved Emma's life, and while she and others in her community will continue to have access to health care in their home state, the looming threat of being forced to seek care elsewhere persists for many others.

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Since the beginning of the 2020 redistricting cycle, the ACLU of Florida has worked across North Florida to help small counties update their maps through redistricting, the process of redrawing congressional, state legislative or local districts to account for population growth or loss. Many of North Florida’s smallest counties and cities of which have not been updated since the 1980s. We’re proud of these efforts, which have increased Black voting power in some of the most neglected communities in North Florida. 

But we would be shortsighted not to thank and highlight some of the amazing Black women who have led this project and get minimal credit not just for their efforts in redistricting, but for being leaders in their communities. 

We honor their leadership, commitment, and advocacy for their communities. 


Linda Franklin

Linda Franklin

Ms. Franklin is the former President and current 3rd Vice President of the Jackson County NAACP. The leader heard Jackson County had plans to redraw local maps and swung into action. Ms. Franklin, partnering with the ACLU of Florida, convinced the county and school district to adopt a plan protecting Black representation for years to come. We salute Ms. Franklin for her leadership and are proud to have worked with her.

Carolyn Spooner

Carolyn Spooner

Ms. Spooner is currently the first Black woman to serve on the Bradford County Commission. Born in Starke, Ms. Spooner has been a cornerstone in her community. In 1986, she was a plaintiff in the landmark class-action lawsuit which dismantled Bradford County’s discriminatory electoral system and permitted Black voters to participate equally in local politics for the first time since Reconstruction. But, she did not stop there. Ms. Spooner went on to serve on the Bradford County Historical Board and the Governor’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Commission. She was elected to and served on the Starke City Commission for 13 years and was chosen by her colleagues to be the Mayor for three terms. In 2020, she became the first Black woman elected to the County Commission, which she now chairs. 

Ms. Spooner helped to make Bradford County maps more equitable, and she was instrumental in persuading the board to redistrict, ensuring Black voters have equitable representation on the County Commission and School Board. We thank her for her work.

VeEtta Hagan

VeEtta Hagan

Ms. Hagan currently serves on the Madison County School Board in District 3. She was elected to the School Board in 2014 and again in 2022. She was instrumental in leading the audit of former Madison County football coach Mike Coe, who stole thousands of dollars in district money. Ms. Hagan was crucial in leading the County Commission and School Board to help preserve and strengthen Black voting power, successfully pushing both boards to adopt a plan with two majority-Black seats, as the Voting Rights Act requires. We are grateful for her.

Shirley Scott

Shirley Scott

Ms. Scott was born and raised in Perry, Florida. Growing up in the Jim Crow South, Ms. Scott speaks frequently about the challenges she encountered. From being banned from walking certain streets on Election Day, to being deprived of paved roads or indoor plumbing by an all-white government that ignored her segregated neighborhood, Ms. Scott was undeterred. In her early years, she was a beloved school teacher in Perry. 

Ms. Scott expanded her career in education to community activism. In 1983, she helped organize four civil rights lawsuits in her community. One of those lawsuits was against the county for inadequately funding infrastructure in Black neighborhoods, and three others against Taylor County, the school district, and the City of Perry for maintaining discriminatory election systems that deprived Black voters of equal representation.

All four lawsuits were successful. Ms. Scott went on to serve on the Perry City Council, becoming one of its first Black council members. 

Ms. Scott lives a happy life in retirement now, helping advocate for a new fair Taylor County Commission map this year. We thank her for everything she has done, a true pioneer in her community. 


These are some of the Black leaders who have carried these redistricting efforts to course. We also thank Thomas Demps, Deidra Dunnell, Carolyn Donaldson, Clarice Cooper, and so many more. 

The ACLU of Florida is proud of the work we have done in the state's rural areas and small towns, meeting with and learning about leaders in these communities. However, with the tireless work of these formidable Black women, the movement for voting rights has remained alive and well. 

Joe Dye is a legal program associate and redistricting data analyst for the ACLU of Florida.

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Monday, February 26, 2024 - 12:30pm

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