Rep. Stansbury Denounces Transphobic GOP Legislation on the House Floor

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) spoke on the House floor to oppose H.R.734, legislation that targets young transgender student athletes.

During her remarks, Rep. Stansbury highlighted the dangerous rise of transphobic legislation across the nation, calling on Republicans to end their bigoted attacks on trans children. She contrasted the recent bill that New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law that protects gender-affirming care. 

“Our colleagues are trying to claim that they're out here defending the rights of women, as they're waging a campaign to take away our reproductive freedoms, to ban books and now to bully our kids. It's disgusting,” said Rep. Stansbury.

“I'm proud to be a New Mexican, and I'm proud to be from a state that is defending the rights of our children of our LGBTQ+ community and our reproductive rights,” Rep. Stansbury continued. “Because in New Mexico, we stand with trans kids and we stand in the fiercest opposition to this bill.”

Rep. Stansbury is a member of the Congressional Equality Caucus and is an original cosponsor of the Trans Bill of Rights, which would codify the rights of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people under the law and ensure their access to quality and dignified medical care, shelter, safety, and economic security.

Rep. Stansbury’s full remarks as delivered are below: 

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stand with our trans kids and their freedom to be who they are.

To all of our trans and LGBTQ kids who are watching today, let me just say that we see you, that we love you and that you belong.

Now, let's be clear about what this bill actually is. It's about legislating hate, in the name of advancing a political agenda.

Now, our colleagues are trying to claim that they're out here defending the rights of women, as they're waging a campaign to take away our reproductive freedoms, to ban books and now to bully our kids. It's disgusting.

I'm proud to be a New Mexican, and I'm proud to be from a state that is defending the rights of our children of our LGBTQ+ community and our reproductive rights—because in New Mexico, we stand with trans kids and we stand in the fiercest opposition to this bill.