Em

We are targets because we are close to DC, because VA's governor and attorney general are MAGA, and because we provide an opportunity to overturn the 4th Circuit decision in Grimm that specifically applies Title IX to trans and nonbinary folks.

Know too, the feds are not going to stop here.

These 5 districts, which cover approximately 1/3 of Virginia's public school students - are trial balloons for what is coming for every single trans inclusive education policy in this country.

Reposting because we're nearing the deadline for these districts to respond.

🏳️‍⚧️ Arlington - tinyurl.com/ArlingtonStu...
🏳️‍⚧️ Alexandria - tinyurl.com/AlexandriaSt...
🏳️‍⚧️ Fairfax County - tinyurl.com/FairfaxStude...
🏳️‍⚧️ Loudoun - tinyurl.com/Loudounstude...
🏳️‍⚧️ Prince William - tinyurl.com/PrinceWillia...

That sense of being incredibly proud of my kid for doing something brave and speaking up for their community and simultaneously being incredibly pissed that adults in power are doing horrible things to inspire that bravery.

AGIA Sign On Letter: APS Must Maintain its Commitment to its Transgender Nondiscrimination Policy and PIP Following an investigation into policies of five northern Virginia schools districts (including APS), the federal Department of Education has demanded that APS rescind nondiscrimination policies that ...

🏳️‍⚧️ Arlington - tinyurl.com/ArlingtonStu...
🏳️‍⚧️ Alexandria - tinyurl.com/AlexandriaSt...
🏳️‍⚧️ Fairfax County - tinyurl.com/FairfaxStude...
🏳️‍⚧️ Loudoun - tinyurl.com/Loudounstude...
🏳️‍⚧️ Prince William - tinyurl.com/PrinceWillia...

And if you don't live locally, please help signal boost!

‼️Transgender students in Northern Virginia are under attack from the Trump Administration!‼️ If you live in one of the 5 districts targeted by the DoEd, sign one of the petitions today to tell your School Board that they must fight back to protect the safety and wellbeing of transgender youth! 1/

When the administration drops a dramatic Executive Order like a press release, look at what else was issued the same day. The Smithsonian order is horrifying and terrible, but so is the much more matter of fact order that tries to strip union representation from thousands of federal employees.

The government is not a business.
We are not government customers.
It is its own thing. A government.
It is supposed to serve the people.
That is why it exists.

Ah yes, research is always fun.

I'm keeping an eye on things and definitely not booking now, for sure.

You don't need to tell me, since I've literally been interrupted while writing very explicit sex scenes by my children. Never have I closed a window so quickly.

Let's talk about Malta, cause that's our current summer thought for a variety of reasons.

And to my Rep who returned my call earlier this month to thank him for signing the House letter to the WH calling for an immediate recension of the youth gender affirming care ban.

I don't know that my conversation made a difference, but I don't know it didn’t. Keep calling into the void! 2/2

Calls today-
To each of my Senators thanking them and to implore them to vote against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

I actually got humans at both offices. Neither had a statement on how they were going to vote, so MAKE YOUR CALLS and tell your dems to do the right thing. 1/2

There are people who don't bury their faces in their cats' fur and huff like it's a coke mirror?

I...did not realize that.

Sudden realization-part of why DOGE actions are so disruptive is that they are nonpartisan. Muskrat isn't a pol. He just wants to break public goods so the private sector (he) can profit. That's why R's are feeling it hard, too. He doesn't care who they vote for if they are in the way.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHSOB

They have literally already said they are coming for same sex marriage and queer adoption. It's not even quiet.

These lowlifes.

Oh. My. God.

I know this is a difficult truth, but there are people who REALLY don't want this to be as bad as it is. And there are people who maybe kind of want it to happen in places they don't talk about at parties.

So you will absolutely be "You're overreacting"-ed all the way to the mass graves.

It's not a lot. But it's more than he had to do. And in a world that is turning even more upside down than I thought possible, it's given me a tiny sliver of hope.

At least someone who can help move the needle is listening.

So keep calling into the void. Sometimes the void calls back.
7/7

I explained how meaningful it is to keep speaking up and moving the needle in terms of awareness and acceptance. AND HE AGREED WITH ME.

He didn't make excuses. He didn't tell me all the other stuff he's doing. HE AGREED TO KEEP STANDING UP AND SPEAKING OUT.

Y'ALL.
6/

We talked about the trans folks we care about. He shared how delightful Sarah McBride is and how horrible Nancy Mace is being and how he is going to keep speaking up.

I reiterated how we know that he can't actually do anything about local issues or sign onto lawsuits himself. 5/

Not a staffer, not a recorded "thanks for calling our office, we appreciate hearing from you" generic message.

My elected representative called me on my cell phone and chatted with me for 4 minutes 34 seconds about NIH funding and protecting the trans community. 4/

My phone rang midday Thurs.

It said it was the US Capitol.

My first thought, in all honesty, was "uuh, what did I do?" Then I wondered if I'd applied for a job and totally forgotten about it.

So I answer. "Hello?"

What do I hear? "Hi, this is [Rep]. Is this [Emandink]?"

HE CALLED ME BACK. 3/

I called my senators (both dems) and left messages, because that's what I always do.

I called my rep (also dem because I live in a bubble) and left a message. His outgoing message asks for a phone number so I figured what the hell, I'll leave it, but say that I don't need a call back.

Y'ALL. 2/

REASONS TO #CALLYOURREPS/ A Thread

You know how people keep saying "call your reps"?

You know how it's a PITA, but people keep saying it works?

You know how 99% of the time you have to leave a message and don't even get the legislative intern?

Wednesday I did the thing and called. 1/

"We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth."

-- John F. Kennedy, "Remarks at Amherst College upon receiving an Honorary Degree (439)," October 26, 1963.