WASHINGTON, DC — In response to the first Trans Awareness Week since Trump took office, Tyler Hack (they/them), the Executive Director of the Christopher Street Project, released the following statement:

“Today marks the start of Trans Awareness Week — the first since Trump’s unprecedented attacks on transgender Americans. Trump is attempting to take us back to a time when people’s very existence can be questioned and left up to political debate. It is no longer just about awareness or visibility — this year, Trans Awareness Week is about our survival. 

“For the last 10 months, Republicans have used their weird fixation on trans people as a scapegoat for their policy failures and as a distraction to implement their authoritarian program, all while making it easier to sexually abuse and exploit minors, legalize workplace harassment and discrimination, criminalize doctors and teachers for doing their jobs, exploit personal healthcare data, and censor scientific research and journalists.

Now is not the time to capitulate to Trump’s hate. In the face of fascism, every person can define what political courage and solidarity look like. Activists, artists, and politicians, including Adam Lambert, Kathryn Hahn, Sara Bareilles, Emily Hampshire, and Zoe Lister-Jones, are joining Christopher Street Project’s TRANS RIGHTS NOW campaign to celebrate Trans Awareness Week and fight back against attacks on the trans community. Together, the Christopher Street Project and our allies are making it clear we will fight for trans people to live a safe, healthy, and dignified life free from bullies and hate.”

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The Christopher Street Project is the nation’s largest political trans rights organization, working to fight back against attacks on trans people, hold leaders accountable, and defend champions for equality.