Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Many of you have reached out to me, scared, confused, and feeling hopeless after the recent attacks on LGBTQ+ individuals, including news earlier this month that Seattle Children’s stopped providing some gender-affirming care due to Donald Trump’s executive orders.
First, let me tell you that Washington House Democrats are not backing down from protecting the individual gender expression or identity of Washingtonians. Donald Trump can sign executive orders, he can intimidate and threaten, but we will not back down. We have passed countless laws to protect:
- the right to gender-affirming care
- access to schools, health care, and public facilities
- individual private health care data, and
- your right to change your name, as well as lower the cost and ensuring name changes can be sealed to protect against harm.
While great protections, we have more work to do. Yesterday, I voted to move forward my proposal to increase access to hormone therapy by requiring prescriptions for hormones to be available for a 12-month refill (HB 1971). Under this bill, a patient can work with their doctor to get the hormones they need consistently and reliably, no matter what the federal government tries to do via executive orders. I will update you again as the bill moves forward.
Second, Washington’s Law Against Discrimination cannot just be superseded by the president. To that end, Attorney General Nick Brown filed a lawsuit on Friday over the president’s order that threatens funding for hospitals like Children’s over providing gender-affirming care. I join our leadership in standing behind this lawsuit and their statement: This unlawful, disgusting executive order violates common decency and the rights of Washingtonians across the state. It’s wrong, it should be immediately struck down, and it goes against who we are and what we value.
What Donald Trump is doing is awful. I am so sorry to those of you impacted. But we will fight him, we will keep protecting your right to exist, and we will not back down.
Talking Housing, Rent Stabilization, and State Budgeting on Capitol Ideas
I sat down on Capitol Ideas, the Washington House Democratic Caucus’ podcast, to talk about rent stabilization, the challenges in housing, and why we have a budget shortfall this year – spoiler alert: It’s not due to wild spending, but because Democrats invested in public schools and a strong social safety net while our regressive tax code continues to hold Washington back. Hear what I have to say, and share your thoughts, by searching for “Capitol Ideas” wherever you get your podcasts.
