Sarah Longwell

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.

Transphobia, anti-trans sentiment is inherently rooted in misogyny and sexism because it's rooted in the notion that one perception at birth, the sex you are assigned should dictate who you are, how you act, what you do. And it is all about control. We are already seeing the very predictable consequences of this particularly inflamed moment in trans rights.

Transphobia, anti-trans sentiment is inherently rooted in misogyny and sexism because it's rooted in the notion that one perception at birth, the sex you are assigned should dictate who you are, how you act, what you do. And it is all about control. We are already seeing the very predictable consequences of this particularly inflamed moment in trans rights.

We saw in an example just a couple of days ago where a cisgender woman was fired from her job because a customer thought she was trans. She used the bathroom. The customer complained. And the employer, instead of responding the way they should have responded, they fired the cisgender woman because the customer was uncomfortable. Right.

We saw in an example just a couple of days ago where a cisgender woman was fired from her job because a customer thought she was trans. She used the bathroom. The customer complained. And the employer, instead of responding the way they should have responded, they fired the cisgender woman because the customer was uncomfortable. Right.

We saw it in the Capitol a couple of months ago when Lauren Boebert accosted a member of the Democratic caucus in the women's restroom telling her that she didn't belong there. She went and got Nancy Mace. They ran into the restroom. And then apparently a couple seconds later, sheepishly walked out because they thought this woman was me. I mean, like there is one trans person in Congress.

We saw it in the Capitol a couple of months ago when Lauren Boebert accosted a member of the Democratic caucus in the women's restroom telling her that she didn't belong there. She went and got Nancy Mace. They ran into the restroom. And then apparently a couple seconds later, sheepishly walked out because they thought this woman was me. I mean, like there is one trans person in Congress.