This piece originally appeared onACLU.org.
Across the country, states are gearing up to pushbillsthat are explicitly aimed at rejecting the humanity oftransgender people.
Of course, discrimination against trans people is nothing new.
Getty Images/The Washington Post
But the 2016 election results threaten to worsen the situation.
When public officials use their power to bully and demonize people, everyone notices.
And they follow that example.
Unfortunately, it feels like were instead waking up to a different vision for America.
In explaining why he felt emboldened to introduce another discriminatory, anti-transgender bathroom bill, Texas Lt. Gov.
Dan Patrickexplainedthat, Starting in 2017, we will have a friend in the White House.
When Gavin first came out to me as transgender, I didnt fully understand what that meant.
But I knew I was going to be there for my child no matter what.
Everyone deserves to live their life as their most authentic self.
Policies that affirm the rights of transgender people to be treated like everyone else can literally save lives.
My child deserves to be treated with the same dignity and respect as any other kid.
Gavins a fighter, and he has a strong sense of what is right.
So he stood up to his school board and demanded that he be respected as a boy at school.
This fight will make its way to the Supreme Court in March.
Im so incredibly proud of my son for fighting on behalf of transgender kids all across the country.
Nobody knows for sure what these next four years will bring.
But weve made strides.
The way in which people around the country rallied aroundoppositionto North Carolinas discriminatory anti-trans law, H.B.
2, has helped awaken people to the challenges that trans people face in trying to live their lives.
But progress can be fragile.
Like many people, Im anxious about what the future holds.
Only President Trump can answer for how hell grapple with that responsibility.
One things for sure: He cant have friends like Lt. Gov.
