To each and every one of you, on behalf of the trans community, I want to thank you for answering the call to speak up against the injustice that is being done to our trans siblings in Texas.

At the time of sending this message we have gathered over 25, 000 signatures in less than 48 hours.

This is a clear demonstration that trans people are not alone and that trans people and our allies have had enough of bigoted, megalomaniac, uneducated leaders making decisions that affect the lives of those in their hour of need in a most dire way, and that we are sick and tired of having our lives and our well being fit the bill for their political gain.

To all the transgender recipients of this message, my apologies though the following may be triggering. If you do not want to read it then ignore everything in italics.

As a transgender female I know how lonely this path is and I know how incredibly difficult being trans is. I would not wish being transgender on my worst enemy.

Having to suffer dysphoria, misgendering, dead-naming, the fear of being harassed, discriminated against, assaulted and killed just for being alive.

Having to sit for months or years on a waiting list just to get a letter so we can sit on another waiting list for months or years, just to meet with someone who denies us treatment because they feel that our reason for being trans is not good enough or placing us in conversion therapy so that we can be fixed.

Realizing how programmed the world is and that what genitals we have define the pronouns we are expected to respond to or which bathroom we can use because that's what we were assigned at birth and that's how the world works.

Being terrified of being disowned by our parents or blocked by our friends just because of who we  are.

Having famous comedians mock us and authors we used to love invalidate us.

And then on top of all of that, having the leaders who were put in power to protect our freedoms abuse our rights and change the rules whenever the feel like they need to get a leg up in their career.

This is something no human should have to endure. It is not difficult to see why so many of us feel so helpless and alone.

Thanks to your support this campaign is gaining traction. Thanks to the dedicated campaign managers at change.org this campaign has been shared with people who previously seemed out of reach.

What started as a response to a news article driven by the need to do something more than just talk about the issue on social media is now becoming a campaign that people in power are not going to be able to ignore.

This campaign is about us standing together and sending a message to the world that transgender people will not be harassed or discriminated against any more.

It is about us showing the bullies that we do not suffer from indifference and we do not suffer from apathy.

We are people of action and we will not stop fighting against the injustice until we are treated as equals with equal human rights to health, happiness and liberty.

When trans people, who feel that the odds are against them or that they are all alone, look at the results of this campaign they will know that their voice counts and that there are people who care about them.

I cannot put into words how powerful this is for us and the difference this makes to our lives.

While we have gained great ground in the past 48 hours we still need to do more if we want to have a real impact.

Our short-term goal: Get 100, 000 signatures within the next five days.

We need as many trans people and allies to know about this petition, for them to sign it and share it with others.

1. We need to jump onto social media and share this campaign with friends and followers, if it is safe to do so.
2. We need to share this campaign with people  on whatsapp, if it is safe to do so.
3. We need to share this campaign with people via e-mail, if it is safe to do so.

There is a share button on the home page of the petition. Choose which platform you want to share on and then either use the message provided or type your own.

I understand that for some of us it would not be safe to share anything about this campaign. If this is you then do not expose yourself. Please only share if it is safe to do so. Your safety must come first. This is why we rely so heavily on our allies for their help and support.

I want to share some of the comments people have posted when signing the petition. I thank you all for your incredible words and your incredible support.

Let's continue building the momentum of this campaign and make sure that there is no doubt that the trans community is supported far and wide, that we are not alone and that we are not helpless.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

To my transgender brothers, sisters and siblings remember - WE ARE VALID AND WE ARE NOT ALONE!!!

Eternally grateful.
Jessica Ryan
She/ They

"I’m a trans minor in Texas and this scares me so much.. I don’t know what to do anymore, my friends are also terrified and one of them killed themselves the other day because they heard about this and couldn’t take it anymore. I’m scared and don’t want to live here anymore."

"As a trans guy that is already in enough of an unaccepting household and having friends whose lives would be in danger, this is a heartbreaking and disgusting thing. it needs to stop."

"I've said it before and I'll say it again: had I not received gender affirmation including but not limited to therapy, hormones, surgery, and community support, I would not be here. My heart is breaking for the trans kids we will lose if something doesn't change. I love trans folks, y'all. I love my trans elders, my trans peers who love and support me unconditionally, and I utterly adore trans kids. They are the future. They give me so much hope and inspiration, and they deserve the world. Cis folks, put your money where your mouth is. Put yourselves on the line to support us."

"As a transgender person who grew up an time period where you couldn't admit to being transgender I know how horrific the consequences are having to hide who you really are. No child should have to do that."

"I have a trans friend and she deserves to enjoy the same rights that I do."

"Greg Abbott needs to be stopped. What he’s doing to ‘control’ what we do with our bodies is absolutely horrifying. Get yourself registered if you need to, and GO VOTE IN THE ELECTIONS THIS YEAR TO MAKE A CHANGE."

"Leave this issue to the experts. Trans youth can’t get gender affirming drugs without counseling. It’s not the parents abusing the children. It’s the experts giving them life saving healthcare. Abbott is the one guilty of child abuse in this situation."