1. Under what circumstances should a transgender person be limited to using facilities designated for their sex assigned at birth (e.g. a trans woman required to use a men’s restroom or locker room)?

There should not be any limitations under any circumstances.

2. Do you support protecting medical providers’ right to prescribe gender affirming care to transgender patients under 18 years old?

Yes. I have had several trans students in my classes over the years. Some of them preferred more of a social transition at that stage of their lives, but others availed themselves of puberty blockers or gender affirming hormones. You don’t have to be 18 to know what you need in order to be your best authentic self. Delaying gender affirming medical care puts young people at significantly higher risk of self-harm, emotional stress and mental anguish. It also makes medical transition later in life so much more expensive, dangerous and complex. Children’s bodies change irreversibly with the onset of puberty no matter what their gender identity is. Young trans people should not be forced to experience the trauma of growing into an adult body that doesn’t align with who they are.

Medical providers who make affirmative care available to minors should not live in fear of government overreach, court mandated HIPPA breaches, or legal jeopardy (personally or professionally).

3. What limits, if any, should be placed on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in county government?

I have always fought fiercely for DEI initiatives. It is not a talking point for me. As an Afro-Latina woman, I have experienced tremendous bigotry and discrimination in my life. I would not dream of turning my back on another oppressed population, particularly at a time when the far right is attacking the rights of queer people legislatively as well as judicially. The constant onslaught of dangerous and harmful rhetoric directed at the LGBTQ+ community is all the more reason to strengthen and grow DEI initiatives, not limit them.

4. What restrictions should be placed on children’s content (books, videos, etc.) that refers to LGBTQ+ identities?

There is nothing wrong or abnormal about LGBTQ+ identities or relationships and omitting them from children’s content signals otherwise. The lack of acknowledgement and representation is part of the reason why so many people in our society continue to misunderstand and mistreat queer people. They should be represented in children’s content the same way cis/hetero identities and relationships are represented for various ages.

5. What proof, if any, should a person transitioning from one gender to another need to in order to change government issued documents? Are there any circumstances when this should be forbidden?

There are no circumstances where someone should not be permitted to change their gender on government issued documents.

6. Do you approve of non-binary gender markers such as “X” instead of “M” or “F” on government documents? Why or why not?

Yes, because nonbinary people exist.

7. Should a transgender child who wants to participate in athletics but is uncomfortable in a program for their sex assigned at birth be allowed to participate in a program for the gender they transitioned to? (e.g. a transgender girl who is uncomfortable playing on a boys’ team but who wants to take part in sports).

Trans girls are girls. Trans boys are boys. The assertion that athletes fake being trans to gain competitive advantage is preposterous. Competitive athletics are inherently unfair as no two competitors are evenly matched. There is also an inherent risk of injury for anyone who participates in athletic competition. There is no evidence to support the claim that including trans athletes exacerbates either concern.

8. When transgender people are incarcerated or detained, how should officials decide what gender they should be held with?

Placement decisions should be based on the detainee’s gender identity unless that individual requests otherwise.

9. What restrictions, if any, would be appropriate on entertainment, such as drag shows, with content that involves crossdressing or other gender-nonconforming behavior?

Entertainment, shows, and attractions are either for a general audience or a targeted audience. Entertainment targeted towards an adult audience should be labeled as such, but there is no reason to single out content just because it features drag or gender nonconformity. Drag shows can be suitable for a general audience, and they often are.

10. When should therapies, such as conversion therapy, that seek to alter patients’ LGBTQ+ identity or change the behavior associated with such an identity, be allowed? When should they be restricted? Does it matter if the patient is a minor?

Never. Ever. I firmly believe that subjecting a minor to such “therapies” is a form of child abuse.