The US Government is currently trying to pass an incredibly dangerous national law for trans youth called HR 2616.

This bill would ban all Federally funded schools from teaching about gender identity or sexual orientation, prevent teachers from using the correct pronouns and names for trans students, remove books with any trans representation in them, and even go as far as to prevent teachers from acknowledging trans identity AT ALL.

Any school that does not follow this will lose all federal funding. This bill would also require teachers to forcibly out trans students to their families, which would be fatal to any trans student with a transphobic Family or just hateful family in general. Trans people are already a group that already has some of the highest rates of being victim to suicide, domestic violence, and sexual assault.

This bill actively makes teachers put those innocent children at such a big risk. This bill has rapidly passed the house this week with support from all 209 republicans, as well as 8 democrats. But, it's still being voted on in the senate, which means there is still time to help stop this.

To help stop this, you can visit 5calls.org (look up 2616 in the search bar), one of the most top issues filed Oppose Attacks on LGBTQ+ Students. Once you put in your general location, it will pull-up contact information for your senator, and give you a script for calling them.

If you are a minor and/or do not feel comfortable doing this, PLEASE repost this on here, or any other platform you are on/can find! This needs to be heard and fought against.

Thank you for reading this, my lovely people!

what is it in a name that holds so much meaning?

how can a title, a word, a collection of sounds turn into barbs of bramble clawing at all that is you?

how can simple syllables melt like honey, holding you gently and keeping you safe

What is a name?

A word.

A sound.

Something you respond to.

Something to call you.

But if that's all that's in a name, why does this false title hurt so much?

If a name is a sound, how can it be sweet birdsong and nails on a chalkboard?

Call me something.

Call me everything.

Call me nothing.

Refer to me.

Never acknowledge my existence.

Call me the wrong name. Rake those burning claws over my heart again until it doesn't hurt anymore.

It's not like I'll say a word.

My silence, my unwillingness to acknowledge, says all you need to hear.

The name must not be the problem, if i can't be bothered to share the right one.

Maybe it's me.

Because what is a name?

A name shouldn't be the problem.

The name doesn't matter, it shouldnt.

So, maybe.

The problem is just me.

I can talk all I want about my name, I can say everything I want to about names, and you can't understand.

And I'll be polite and agree, and pretend it doesn't hurt like hell.

I'll pretend like it didn't take so much to talk to you about it for it to just get shut down.

I can't change my name because you picked it. Because it's an homage to someone we both care about. Because, because, because.

Does that make you a bad person? That you feel hurt by this? By me wanting a name that's actually me?

People might say you're a bad person, but I see where you're coming from, I hear every word you say, and I understand.

Do you understand me, though?

I think it took a lot longer than it should've to tell my friends that my name wasn't mine, that I was changing it to find myself, to not feel burnt and hurt all the time.

And even with all the time in the world, I told what, ten people?

Half of which probably forgot.

Half of which use nicknames because I'm too indecisive (thank you so much, genuinely it's infinitely better than the alternatives)

I talked to my own mother before I talked to my gay, neurodivergent, D&D friends. I don't even know if half of them realized I'm nonbinary.

Why is it so scary? It can only go so badly?

Do I even care if they'd talk behind my back now?

Do I give a damn if they'd leave over this?

Maybe it's just the scariest alternative, the most likely. I tell them, and get ignored. Maybe they humor it a few times, and then they forget more and more and more.

i hate names, I think. They always seem to just cause problems for me.

I think I should just give up on it.

I'll pick up that bouquet of shriveled lilies and keep walking even when I feel more like a shadow than a person.

you're watching me sink with a smile on your face because i won't let go of it, even if i want to

i'll drown out here if it makes you happier. If it aligns with your views.

what is it in a name that holds so much meaning?

how can a title, a word, a collection of sounds turn into barbs of bramble clawing at all that is you?

how can simple syllables melt like honey, holding you gently and keeping you safe

What is a name?

A word.

A sound.

Something you respond to.

Something to call you.

But if that's all that's in a name, why does this false title hurt so much?

If a name is a sound, how can it be sweet birdsong and nails on a chalkboard?

Call me something.

Call me everything.

Call me nothing.

Refer to me.

Never acknowledge my existence.

Call me the wrong name. Rake those burning claws over my heart again until it doesn't hurt anymore.

It's not like I'll say a word.

My silence, my unwillingness to acknowledge, says all you need to hear.

The name must not be the problem, if i can't be bothered to share the right one.

Maybe it's me.

Because what is a name?

A name shouldn't be the problem.

The name doesn't matter, it shouldnt.

So, maybe.

The problem is just me.

I can talk all I want about my name, I can say everything I want to about names, and you can't understand.

And I'll be polite and agree, and pretend it doesn't hurt like hell.

I'll pretend like it didn't take so much to talk to you about it for it to just get shut down.

I can't change my name because you picked it. Because it's an homage to someone we both care about. Because, because, because.

Does that make you a bad person? That you feel hurt by this? By me wanting a name that's actually me?

People might say you're a bad person, but I see where you're coming from, I hear every word you say, and I understand.

Do you understand me, though?

I think it took a lot longer than it should've to tell my friends that my name wasn't mine, that I was changing it to find myself, to not feel burnt and hurt all the time.

And even with all the time in the world, I told what, ten people?

Half of which probably forgot.

Half of which use nicknames because I'm too indecisive (thank you so much, genuinely it's infinitely better than the alternatives)

I talked to my own mother before I talked to my gay, neurodivergent, D&D friends. I don't even know if half of them realized I'm nonbinary.

Why is it so scary? It can only go so badly?

Do I even care if they'd talk behind my back now?

Do I give a damn if they'd leave over this?

Maybe it's just the scariest alternative, the most likely. I tell them, and get ignored. Maybe they humor it a few times, and then they forget more and more and more.

i hate names, I think. They always seem to just cause problems for me.

I think I should just give up on it.

I'll pick up that bouquet of shriveled lilies and keep walking even when I feel more like a shadow than a person.