This year, an unprecedented amount of legislation has been introduced across the country to denigrate the rights of members of the LGBTQ+ community and transgender persons. Currently, the ACLU is tracking 452 bills pending in 46 states that negatively impact the rights of LGBTQ+ persons. There are 492 anti-trans bills in 47 states that seek to block trans people from receiving life sustaining healthcare, education, and legal recognition, and criminalize necessary healthcare choices parents must make to help their children.

No one event has prompted this message, but we feel that it is important not to normalize or accept these blatant attacks on the civil rights of certain citizens of our country. We wish to affirm our respect, compassion, and acceptance for all people as we continue to celebrate diversity of backgrounds and identities. We maintain our commitment to making sure our local community is a place where everyone feels safe and welcome, including all of our children, no matter how they identify.

Tomorrow is the GLSEN Day of Silence, a national student-led demonstration where LGBTQ+ students and allies all around the country—and the world—take a vow of silence to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools. We are pleased that students at Hingham High and Hingham Middle Schools have been given the opportunity to participate and applaud and support those students who are planning to do so.

If you are looking to do something to show your support and solidarity, here are a couple of suggestions:

Support the Hingham Pride Project flag campaign: sign up to receive a flag and donate here.

Support the MA Transgender Political Coalition: a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the MTPC is the oldest transgender advocacy organization in the nation, with a twenty year track record of fighting for transgender people in the Commonwealth. On May 23, 2023, they are holding their Annual Professionals for Trans Rights (PTR) event on Tuesday May 23rd at the Crystal Ballroom in Somerville, MA and they are currently accepting sponsors for that event.

Thank you,
The HUC Board