“Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you”.

In the weeks before the election, it was a line that echoed over and over in advertisements that ran during football games, the World Series, and prime time network television. It was paired with footage of border crossings, claims about trans girls participating in youth sports, and Vice President Harris talking about federal prisoners having access to gender-affirming medical care.

And, according to reporting from the New York Times, these pro-Trump television spots were highly effective: Ultimately, analysis from Kamala Harris’ leading super PAC found the  ad shifted the race 2.7 percentage points in Trump’s favor, among audiences who saw it.

Now that Trump has won the election, local trans community members are worried about what that message means for their future: with another Trump administration on the horizon, will he make good on the promise that he’s not for “they/them”?

Guest:

• Eve Palay, a Bainbridge Island resident, and a representative of Rainbow Crew NW, a resource for the West Sound LGBTQ+ community, and she’s a member of other Trans groups around the West Sound.

Relevant Links:

• Ingersoll Gender Center
• Lavender Rights Project

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.