LGBTQIA Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Kit O'Connell: Approximately 8,000 Words

Austin Chronicle: Trans Youth & Allies Rally Against ‘Abuse’ Guidelines

A group of activists stand near the Governor's Mansion in Texas with a sign showing the transgender flag, with the words "We will not die yet" at the center.

From a rally for trans youth at the Texas Governor's Mansion, March 2022. (Photo: Kit O'Connell)

March 12, 2022

Austin Chronicle: Trans Youth & Allies Rally Against ‘Abuse’ Guidelines

Posted in Austin, Austin Chronicle, Journalism, and LGBTQIA

A crucial upcoming hearing, perhaps as early as March 11, could put the brakes on Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive for the state to investigate – as presumed child abuse – any gender affirming medical care provided to transgender youth. In the meantime, trans Austinites and allies are banding together to defend their human rights.

Transgender UT student Ash Terry organized a roughly 350-person protest March 1. After Abbott’s draconian directive inspired an outpouring of support, she said she’s actually feeling more hopeful for the future of trans kids in Texas than ever. “I was surprised at the number of cis[gender] allies out there,” she said. “I was just really staggered that there were so many, and a lot of people from out of town. This whole experience has given me a lot of hope.”

On Punching Nazis & Forbidden Knowledge In 2017 (#GonzoNotes)

In 1933, Nazis burned 10,000s of journals, books and documents from the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft, an institution devoted to studying gender & sexuality and an early proponent of transgender rights. (Wikimedia Commons / National Archives & Records Administration, Public domain)

October 18, 2017

Kit

On Punching Nazis & Forbidden Knowledge In 2017 (#GonzoNotes)

Posted in Gonzo Notes, Journalism, and LGBTQIA

Almost a month ago, in broad daylight in a busy urban neighborhood in Houston, nazis tried to shut down a book fair.

If you follow me online, you’ve heard about this incident: a group of about two dozen nazis targeted the Houston Anarchist Bookfair while I taught a class on antifascism (called “Punching Nazis”) inside. The volunteer security team prevented them from entering the building, and they left after throwing a temper tantrum for their livestream viewers. The book fair, and my class, continued after a brief but terrifying interruption.

Master gaslighters, as always, the nazis began their livestream by declaring themselves to be “peaceful,” then stood outside a community center armed with tactical gloves demanding that I — they called for me by name — come out and fight them. The bookfair’s organizers pointed out the likely results if we’d been drawn into a fight:

June 24, 2017

Kit

Religious Liberty, Bathroom Bigotry (Traitor Radio Podcast)

Posted in Audio, Journalism, LGBTQIA, and Traitor Radio

Increased visibility has become a double-edged sword for transgender, intersex and non-binary Americans, who are increasingly targeted by religious conservatives and Republican lawmakers. You’ve probably heard of “bathroom bills” like HB 2 in North Carolina, which force people to use public restrooms according to the gender they were assigned at birth. But in addition to playing bathroom police, politicians are also championing “religious liberty” legislation — bills that are, in actuality, just about letting people discriminate against trans, intersex, non-binary and other queer folk if they claim Jesus told them to.

We’re at a pivotal political moment, and allies must support trans, intersex, non-binary and queer activists in their fight for freedom. On this episode of Traitor Radio, we talk about how.