We are a Christian family. My wife is a Presbyterian pastor (ans is my father) and our kids were raised in the church from birth.

My youngest teen came out a year ago as trans and it has transformed her life for the better. She spent middle school and early high school depressed, with almost no friends and didn’t seem to enjoy much… she just “existed” in her own words.

She has blossomed so much since coming out. She is the sweetest, kindest soul that has a great friend group and a boyfriend. She’s learning to drive and excited about all of the usual teen girl stuff… makeup, clothes and nights out with her friends. I believe she would be completely happy if she didn’t have to deal with this dark cloud of hate spewing from the current administration and groups like the family foundation.

She has no interest in sports but each anti-trans regulation, bill and ad feel like a personal attack to her. The gap between what these groups claim and the reality of who trans women are is incomprehensibly big. Don’t take their word for it; before you decide an entire group of people is a “threat” you owe it to the state to get to know them personally. You’ll find they are just trying to find their way in a challenging world like everyone else.  Nobody should be punished just for existing.

Unfortunately the hateful rhetoric from the presidential administration is so toxic that I feel I have to submit this anonymously to protect my kid.