You Ask Me How I'm Doing
Here's an answer.
Last week, the remains of 24 year-old Sam Nordquist were found in a field in upstate New York in Yates County. Mr. Nordquist had been missing since late December.
On Friday, five people were arrested and charged for his murder, which had been preceded by weeks of “repeated violence and torture,” according to the New York State Police’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The Bureau’s Capt. Kelly Swift said: “In my 20-year law enforcement career, this is one of the most horrific crimes I have ever investigated.”
Mr. Nordquist was a transgender man.
As of this morning, investigating authorities said they had found no evidence that this was a hate crime and that “some or all” of the five accused are LGBTQ themselves, which, forgive me for saying so, however pertinent, feels woefully vague and in need of further context.
We shall wait for the context.
On Inauguration Day, Trump signed an executive order declaring that the federal government would only recognize two sexes: male and female. It’s beyond cruel, but moreover, it’s also completely detached from the universal scientific consensus on human sex and ignores the six million Americans who were born intersex.
Quick fact: there are as many intersex people in the United States as red-headed people.
On January 27th, he signed an executive order banning transgender people from serving openly in our military, citing claims that have been widely debunked by senior military leadership, national security analysts, and medical professionals.
That same day, a transgender veteran committed suicide in the park garage of the VA Medical Center in Syracuse. Their body was draped in the trans flag.
On January 28th, Trump signed an executive order banning federal funding or support for gender-affirming care for youth. Every major medical organization in the United States has made it clear that trans health care for youth is critical and aligned with best medical practices.
On February 5th, he signed an executive order banning trans girls and women from competing in girls’ and women’s sports, from college athletics all the way down to little kids tripping over themselves on a soccer field and waiting impatiently for orange slices.
On February 7th, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) announced it would be removing all references to trans and gender-expansive children from its website in a bid to save their federal funding in compliance with Trump’s executive order.
Last night, independent journalist Mady Castigan reported that non-profits the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center had also removed all references to trans people on their websites, likely to save federal funding.
Earlier reporting identified thousands of webpages across government sites pertaining to transgender people and the LGBTQ community generally which had been removed.
Last week, the National Park Service removed references to trans people on its website for the Stonewall National Monument, which commemorates the famous uprising at Stonewall Inn in New York City, largely credited with accelerating the modern LGBTQ Rights Movement and largely led by transgender activists.
In recent weeks, children’s hospitals in Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver, Seattle, and Richmond have suspended most or all gender-affirming health care for youth, in addition to the scores of related programs at hospitals and clinics across the country, in a bid to save their federal funding.
Since Inauguration Day, there’s been a drastic increase in the call volume for The Trevor Project, a crisis hotline for LGBTQ youth.
Republican members of the U.S. House have made a competitive sport of intentionally misgendering Congresswoman Sarah McBride, the first openly-trans person to be elected at the federal level, who is doing her level best to focus on the needs of her constituents and not be drawn into playground nonsense.
While all this is happening, I have seen numerous friends and colleagues in politics and media look the other way or seemingly and quietly deem this relentless onslaught against trans people unworthy of their concern.
Others have reached out to ask me how I’m doing, and I appreciate that. I’m thankful for the empathy.
I’m not doing great.
LGBTQ+ Helplines:
The Trevor Project: Call 866-488-7386, Text "START" to 678678
Desi LGBTQ+ Helpline for South Asians: 908-367-3374
The Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
The National Runaway Safeline: 800-RUNAWAY (800-786-2929)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233), Text "START" to 88788
Blackline for BIPOC Folks: 800-604-5841
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
Crisis Text Line: Text "REACH" to 741741
I see you. I care about you. I'm deeply grateful for your voice. I stand with you. I will also speak up, take action and fight for the rights of the trans people in my community. Thank you for you. <3
Charlotte, I cannot begin to know what you are feeling but please know you are in the first line of defense for Trans people everywhere. Your humanity is a force for good and so important to the Trans & LGBTQ communities. In all this pain and suffering please try to find your joy and focus on it. We'll all be here supporting you for however long it takes to turn this debacle around. Peace ❤️💔❤️