Bigotry is sweeping the nation

Commentary

By Naydine De La Fuente Staff Writer

In 2023, according to Trans Legislation Tracker, there have been approximately 492 bills introduced by legislation that aim to block trans people from receiving basic health care, education, legal recognition and the right to exist publically.

Since the beginning of the new year, anti-trans legislation continues to be introduced across the country, doubling the number of bills being passed from the previous year.

Within the past few months, there have been several damaging and inhumane bills that have been introduced and authorized, each dealing with different trans-related themes.

First, there were issues pertaining to bathroom-related bans, which were created to deny access to public restrooms by gender identity. Next, many bills that have been examined deal with healthcare bans. These laws speak out against medical and scientific consensus that gender-affirming care saves lives. This would allow for providers and parents to be criminally charged. There have also been many drag bans introduced within various legislations. This prohibits public drag performances and restricts access to gender non-conforming in- dividuals. Furthermore, various schooling-related bills have also been permitted, which allow educational institutes to misgender or use students’ dead names and publically out trans individuals to their parents and peers. Lastly, sex designation bills were introduced, which will make it harder for trans folks to have identification that matches their gender identity.

Although various bills have been introduced, there are some in particular that has caused a rise in media attention. According to the Texas Tribune, in the State of Texas, one of it provides a very disheartening disadvantage for trans kids of future generations.

Another bill that has been heavily debated in Texas is SB 12, which prohibits sexually oriented performances on public properties, and Senate Bill 1601, which relates to prohibiting municipal libraries that host such events from receiving state funding. These laws are targeting the art of drag and drag shows in general, and they purposefully use broad language to attack the LGBTQ+ community and gender-nonconforming individuals.

Kara Lee/The Paisano

the most recent laws that have been given initial approval is SB 14. This bill will ban transition-related surgeries as well as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those who are not currently recieving these resources. This is not only dehumanizing and devastating within the trans community, but

Overall, there is an insurmountable amount of laws that have been introduced recently that focus on attacking and restricting the rights of trans individuals. Because of this, it is important to be aware of the inhumane laws being enacted and bring awareness to the unfair and discriminatory views trying to be enforced within the country.

To learn more about the bills being passed and introduced, visit the Trans Legislation Tracker website. If you or someone you know needs aid in these difficult times, contact Trans Lifeline at (877) 5658860, LGBTQ+ National Hotline at (888)843-4564.

Over-stimulated and over-medicated

Commentary

By Nate Henneke Staff Writer

Distractions are unavoidable. Yet to be successful in our age of over-stimulation, it is necessary to tune them out to be able to focus on the task at hand; a task easier said than done. Social media sites such as TikTok and YouTube have younger generations by their throat with their endless supply of 30-second videos. Hours can easily fly by while mindlessly consuming media you will not remember 15 seconds later.

With children as young as five years old having unrestricted access to the internet, it is no surprise that the number of children aged three through seventeen being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has steadily increased since 2003. Growing up with constant stimulation is not healthy for the developing mind of children, and the solution should not be prescribing amphetamines to children as a way to increase focus.

Internet usage is not necessarily unhealthy for children, as it can open them up to new ideas and allow them better access to an education. But it can become unhealthy when an adolescent spends many of their formative years in front of a screen.