Trans advocates supporting clinic defense

The TransAdvocate is an unequivocal supporter of body autonomy. While the issue of body autonomy affects people in somewhat different ways, we’ve noticed that the same groups standing in the way of a abortion medical services are generally the same groups who stand against trans medical services.

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Those who wish to hold autonomy over a trans person’s body are generally the same as those who wish to hold autonomy over the bodies of those who might need access to safe medical abortion services. The Pacific Justice Institute, the very organization that hounded a trans kid to the brink of suicide, is also an anti-abortion group. The Salt & Light Council, the very organization that went on the news to falsely claim that trans children were scurrying up and and over bathroom stalls so they could watch cis people use the restroom, is also an anti-abortion group. Alliance Defending Freedom, the same organization that went to Fox News with lies about what happened at Evergreen College, is also an anti-abortion group.

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Trans advocate with police at the clinic entrance.

In recognition of this shared oppression, the TransAdvocate is a supporter of Clinic Defense groups. Anti-trans groups often organize large intimidation gatherings outside abortion clinics in an effort to stop patients from accessing medical care. Clinic Escorts help keep cars and patients from being mobbed as they enter and exit the clinic.

Your Help Needed!

Historically, Clinic Defenders and Escorts wore a green safety vest to be easily identifiable to patents. Recently, the intimidation groups have begun impersonating Clinic Defenders by dressing in green or wearing green safety vests in an effort to confuse, terrorize and make patients avoid actual escorts in green vests. The TransAdvocate is asking for your help in intervening this abusive behavior. Clinic Defenders are in need of a set of brightly colored identification shirts so that these intimidation groups won’t be able to easily impersonate Clinic Defenders and gain access to patients.

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Please help Clinic Defenders easily identify themselves to clinic patients. Please help stop these intimidation groups from misrepresenting themselves in an effort to trick and terrify clinic patients. Also, please spread the word about our GoFundMe page:

http://www.gofundme.com/TA-Clinic-Defenders

 

   
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.