SHARE

I'm a mother, a wife, a lifelong Southerner, a registered Republican and a Tennessean. I spend my time attending PTA meetings, rescuing hound dogs and trying to teach my two young sons to be responsible citizens and decent human beings.

On Saturdays, I'd rather head to the shooting range than a Pride Parade — yet here I am, appealing to you, my fellow Tennesseans, to help defeat a bill being considered by our state legislators that targets transgender children and young people.

The bill's not only cruel and unnecessary, it's also a colossal waste of our state's resources and an affront to basic human decency.

House Bill 2414, like its companion bill in the Senate, seeks to prevent transgender students from using the public school restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity. This hurts transgender children and young people in Tennessee — from those in kindergarten to students attending our public universities.

Around the world, transgender children and adults face discrimination and harassment. In some places, including right here in America, they are being killed simply because of who they are. According to the Human Rights Campaign, there were at least 21 transgender people killed violently last year.

If passed, this bill would not only endanger transgender students and expose them to more ridicule and harassment, it would also tell these Tennessee children and young people that they are not recognized, respected or supported for who they are in their own schools and communities. That's an awful price to pay for legislation no school district in this state asked for or needs.

I don't know what it's like to be transgender or to be the parent of a transgender child — no one can who has not walked in their shoes. What I do know with great certainty, however, is that we have the ability to work together as a community of caring and gracious citizens, creating a world where transgender children and adults are respected and affirmed.

I don't know who my sons will become as they get older, but as a parent, I want to make sure they know that they have my unconditional love and acceptance. And that, my fellow Tennesseans, is something that every child deserves. Period.

I also want to make sure that my sons treat people with respect and empathy, no matter what their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Children and youth face enough uncertainty in the regular course of growing up and coming into themselves. Here in Tennessee, we have children who are going hungry. We have children who are being bullied in school and whose basic needs aren't being met. As parents and caregivers, we should be passing laws addressing those needs, not passing needless and discriminatory measures that amount to legislated bullying, waste taxpayer money and distract us from the real issues our state faces.

To my fellow Tennesseans and to the lawmakers who represent us: I sincerely ask that you oppose this bill and work to steer the Legislature's focus to more positive and uplifting legislation that will truly improve Tennessee's future, ensure the well-being of all our children and reflect the real and honest values of the Volunteer State.

Lindsay Shaw lives in Norris.