RFS feel-good update (4/24): Let her speak

Hi all -

Once again, another example of how even one strong fighter in a red state can make a difference, whether by stopping legislation like in Nebraska or by calling attention to the GOP’s bullshit, like what’s currently happening in Montana…

RFS alum Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the first openly trans legislator in the state, is currently banned from speaking on the House floor — likely for the remainder of the session — after the GOP didn’t like what she said about their ban restricting gender-affirming care for trans kids.

She’s not backing down:

Apologizing isn’t something Zephyr plans to do, she said Thursday. 

“I have lost friends to suicide this year,” she said. “I field the calls from multiple families who dealt with suicide attempts, with trans youth who have fled the state, people who have been attacked on the side of the road, because of legislation like this. I spoke with clarity and precision about the harm these bills do. And they say they want an apology, but what they really want is silence as they take away the rights of trans and queer Montanans.” 

This is part of a larger trend of the GOP silencing leaders they don’t like — we’ve seen it in TN, OK, and elsewhere. RFS alum are fighting back, and we’re standing with them.

---

Here’s what other RFS community members are up to…

• PA Sen. Katie Muth is introducing legislation to hold the gas and oil industry accountable for toxic waste. Huge.

• In CO, Rep. Briana Titone chairs the country’s largest state legislative LGBTQ+ caucus — which includes other RFS alum, including Rep. David Ortiz.

• VA Del. Irene Shin shares more in Teen Vogue about her experience in the state legislature as a young Korean American woman:
  
  “Even now, people are so conditioned to expect white men to be the only wielders of power, it is a surprise to them that I, too, am in those halls of power. On my first day in the General Assembly, a lobbyist and I were making small talk in the elevator. When I reached my floor, the lobbyist asked, “Whose office do you work for?” I was so caught off guard, unsure how to respond. So I said the first thing that came to mind: “I work for the people of the 86th District.” 
  

• NC Sen. Mutjaba Mohamed is leading on bipartisan legislation to regulate how social media companies can handle children’s accounts.

• Sen. Mallory McMorrow sponsored legislation newly signed into Michigan law that would allow police to seize guns owned by those deemed a threat to themselves or others.

• CO Sen. Julie Gonzales led on new legislation that would protect those seeking or providing sex-affirming and/or abortion care from being subject to criminal prosecutions in other states. NM just signed similar legislation specifically for those seeking abortion care, led by RFS alum in that state.

• NE Sens. Megan Hunt, John Fredrickson, and Jen Day are continuing their fight against the state’s proposed abortion ban.

• Former ME State Senator Chloe Maxmin continues making the case for investing in rural organizing — when she ran, she knocked on over 20k doors and found what’s possible when we just show up.

In less good news: Republican-controlled school boards and state legislatures have already clocked a record number of book bans — 1,477 instances — during the first half of the 2022-2023 academic year. The forbidden books are largely by and about people of color and LGBTQ people. We’re seeing this happen in real-time, as the TX state house just passed (and RFS alum are speaking out against) a bill that will create an arbitrary rating system to target books about sexual assault, LGBTQ characters, and characters of color.

---

A reminder of why Clerk Work matters: There are over 200 current elected officials specifically in AZ, GA, MI, NC, PA, and WI — including 110 state legislators and 94 local elected officials who touch the elections process — who have anti-democratic tendencies. We’re working to elect folks in all those states (plus everywhere else) who are ready to put democracy first. Phew.

---

Huge news: Our first big speaker for Party for Something in D.C. on June 21 is Rep. Maxwell Frost, the first member of Gen-Z elected to Congress and the youngest member currently serving. Get your tickets now!

---

Finally, a quick note: Our team spent last week in our first in-person all-staff retreat in 3 years — 50 (!!) folks came together to strategize and make plans for what’s to come. It was so powerful, energizing, and inspiring — this team (you included!) is going to change the word.

Thank you for making all this possible. We are so lucky to do this work and so grateful for your support.

- Amanda