SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang on Monday in response to vitriolic anti-transgender rhetoric expressed by Daily Wire host Michael Knowles at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) over the weekend:
“The far-right has sought to do harm against transgender people for many years, largely through legislative and electoral efforts. Now, they’ve graduated to outright threats of violence —and they’re not being subtle in the least. Michael Knowles’ call to ‘eradicate transgenderism’ smacks of genocide and mass acts of violence. We’ve seen a 200% increase in anti-LGBTQ+ protests over the past year, and remarks like these are adding fuel to an already raging fire. Transgender people’s existence is not up for debate, and Equality California will continue fighting to ensure that all trans people are treated with dignity and respect. “To the trans community: We see you, we hear you —and we will continue to fight for you.”
“The far-right has sought to do harm against transgender people for many years, largely through legislative and electoral efforts. Now, they’ve graduated to outright threats of violence —and they’re not being subtle in the least. Michael Knowles’ call to ‘eradicate transgenderism’ smacks of genocide and mass acts of violence. We’ve seen a 200% increase in anti-LGBTQ+ protests over the past year, and remarks like these are adding fuel to an already raging fire. Transgender people’s existence is not up for debate, and Equality California will continue fighting to ensure that all trans people are treated with dignity and respect.
“To the trans community: We see you, we hear you —and we will continue to fight for you.”
ICYM: More than 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced across the country this year, the majority of which seek to discriminate against transgender people.
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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org
