Sarah Longwell

And again, I think it allows me to reinforce that they're the ones that are obsessed with trans people. We're just trying to live our lives. And I do think that we have to reorient the narrative around trans people to sort of a libertarian perspective of we're just trying to live our lives. Why are you consistently coming after us when we're just trying to live our lives?

And again, I think it allows me to reinforce that they're the ones that are obsessed with trans people. We're just trying to live our lives. And I do think that we have to reorient the narrative around trans people to sort of a libertarian perspective of we're just trying to live our lives. Why are you consistently coming after us when we're just trying to live our lives?

When we're doctors and teachers and law enforcement and soldiers and we're just trying to live the best life we can to live our lives in a way that's authentic to ourselves and be contributing productive members of society and you keep coming after us. And I think that I can kind of model that in that way while not giving up the fact that my trans constituents need a defender.

When we're doctors and teachers and law enforcement and soldiers and we're just trying to live the best life we can to live our lives in a way that's authentic to ourselves and be contributing productive members of society and you keep coming after us. And I think that I can kind of model that in that way while not giving up the fact that my trans constituents need a defender.

Now, I also can't be the only defender of trans people, and my colleagues have been amazing, right? Like my colleagues, both privately and publicly, have been amazing.

Now, I also can't be the only defender of trans people, and my colleagues have been amazing, right? Like my colleagues, both privately and publicly, have been amazing.

And I think some people need to recognize that when I, just to be frank, when I talk for an hour, I mean, in this interview, I'm obviously like, we're talking, I'm saying the word trans a lot more, but like if I was out there giving a speech for an hour, And I spend 59 minutes talking about the economy and spend one minute talking about trans people.

And I think some people need to recognize that when I, just to be frank, when I talk for an hour, I mean, in this interview, I'm obviously like, we're talking, I'm saying the word trans a lot more, but like if I was out there giving a speech for an hour, And I spend 59 minutes talking about the economy and spend one minute talking about trans people.

People will go, there she goes again, only talking about trans issues. And that's just – that is the reality, right? That is the double standard. And that is the unique double standard that I face as a trans person. And so –

People will go, there she goes again, only talking about trans issues. And that's just – that is the reality, right? That is the double standard. And that is the unique double standard that I face as a trans person. And so –

Part of my challenge is figuring out how to stay true, how to speak out for trans people on trans rights in ways that are true to my values and true to my principles, and also don't give the right wing this capacity to consistently reframe me as someone who is focused on one set of issues at the expense of all issues. And again, I'm not always gonna get it right,

Part of my challenge is figuring out how to stay true, how to speak out for trans people on trans rights in ways that are true to my values and true to my principles, and also don't give the right wing this capacity to consistently reframe me as someone who is focused on one set of issues at the expense of all issues. And again, I'm not always gonna get it right,

I have to give myself some grace on this. I would hope some folks would give me that grace too, because I have tried to look for examples of people who have had similar experiences.

I have to give myself some grace on this. I would hope some folks would give me that grace too, because I have tried to look for examples of people who have had similar experiences.

And I have yet to find an example of someone coming into Congress as a first when the identity that makes them a first is at the center of political discourse and the district that they represent isn't significantly or predominantly made up of that identity.

And I have yet to find an example of someone coming into Congress as a first when the identity that makes them a first is at the center of political discourse and the district that they represent isn't significantly or predominantly made up of that identity.

God bless trans icon Bill Keating. Right, for sure.

God bless trans icon Bill Keating. Right, for sure.

I don't think that's limited to Republicans in Congress. I mean, I think that the folks who are really leading from the far right wing, from the manosphere, this anti-trans attack are also the same folks who are leading a larger effort to roll back progress on gender equality writ large. 50 to 60 years in the past. I mean, there is no question that these are all linked.

I don't think that's limited to Republicans in Congress. I mean, I think that the folks who are really leading from the far right wing, from the manosphere, this anti-trans attack are also the same folks who are leading a larger effort to roll back progress on gender equality writ large. 50 to 60 years in the past. I mean, there is no question that these are all linked.