Another California trans student attacked, trans community responds: #JD4PJI

Just a week after the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) backed coalition turned in over 600,000 signatures to repeal protections for trans children in California, a trans student was caught on tape fighting for her life as a group of bullies attacked her. PJI is the ex-gay organization that recently bullied a Colorado trans kid to the brink of suicide. The attack comes days after a California genderqueer student was set on fire for wearing a skirt.

School officials say that the assault was the result of bullying. Police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. The trans student had reported the bullying just days before the incident occurred. Sources claim that the trans student pushed an abusive cisgender student away from her which is when as many as 3 cisgender students attacked.

While it’s unclear when the video of the transgender student being beaten by multiple cisgender students was initially released, what is known is that the school itself released the video to the media at some point. “Later in the day the video was released by one of our assistant principals at the behest of one of our Board members, but that was a mistake,” said Marin Trujillo, spokesperson for the school. He went on to elaborate, “That was not appropriate.”

In the face of this anti-trans violence directed at students, PJI continues to promote a website to “educate” the public on issues relating to protections for transgender students.

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Brad Dacus, President of PJI, said, “[Protections for trans students] is nothing less than irresponsible behavior by State lawmakers. To jeopardize the safety and privacy of young children all for the fear of offending the forceful LGBT lobby is disturbing.” Speaking about PJI’s effort to repeal protections for trans children he continued, “We’re happy that parents and citizens now have the recourse to challenge this law and make sure all students are protected.”

The TransAdvocate documented multiple instances of election fraud, lies and even intimidation. For example, the TransAdvocate documented a PJI-backed signature gatherer falsely claim that trans protections lead to rape and molestation in the Oakland school district.

In reaction to PJI’s significant role in perpetuating systemic oppression and bullying of trans children, the TransAdvocate is holding a protest to be held on Tuesday, November 19th called  “Judgement Day: Protesting PJI’s Hate.”

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Cristan Williams is a trans historian and pioneer in addressing the practical needs of underserved communities. She started the first trans homeless shelter in Texas and co-founded the first federally funded housing-first homeless program, pioneered affordable health care for trans people in the Houston area, won the right for trans people to change their gender on Texas ID prior to surgery, started numerous trans social service programs and founded the Transgender Center as well as the Transgender Archives. She has published short stories, academic chapters and papers, and numerous articles for both print and digital magazines. She received numerous awards for her advocacy and has presented at universities throughout the nation, served on several governmental committees and CBO boards, is the Editor of the TransAdvocate, and is a founding board member of the Transgender Foundation of America and the Bee Busy Wellness Center.