Why We Need to Support the Trans Community

By Amy Klco

Hello. My name is Amy Klco, and I have been a public school teacher for over twenty years, as well as the parent of two LBGT+ children. And today, I want to talk about how, in addition to everything else that is going on, the current Republican administration is attacking our most vulnerable youth. 

 Right now, the Republican party is attacking many groups, including immigrants and the poor (and make no mistake, tariffs and cuts to government programs are a direct attack on the poor.) But one of the most hideous of these attacks is on trans people. 

 What makes these attacks so monstrous? 

 To attack the trans community is to attack a very small, very vulnerable group of people. There is, as far as we know, only about one-half of a percent of people in this country that are transgender. It is a small group that hasstruggled throughout our country’s history. And choosing this group to focus attention on shows exactly what this administration IS and what they are doing: they are bullies who are picking on those that are least able to defend themselves. 

 And not only that, but these policies are specifically targeting those in the trans community that are the most at risk: inmates (all trans woman in federal prisons have been ordered to be moved to men’s prisons) and trans youth, by banning federal funding for gender-affirming care for those under 19. 

 And this is what breaks my heart the most. As I said, I have worked as a teacher for over 20 years. During that time, I’ve been privileged to have many students come out to me, sharing that they are gay or trans. Some of them have had supportive parents to help them. But many of them didn’t even have that support. For many, their confession to me was the first time that they felt safe enough to tell an adult what they were going through. They feared telling their own parents, and, honestly, that often have good reasons for their fears.

 Let’s look at some statistics for 2023:

• LBGT+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness.

• Although they make up only 7% of the youth in the US, 40% of all young homeless people are LBGT+.

• And 46% of those were forced to leave their home because they came out. They were kicked out of their homes for telling their truth!

 In addition:​

41% of LBGT+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including roughly half of all transgender and nonbinary youth. HALF of all trans youth have considered killing themselves!

And let’s be clear: they are not suicidal because they are gay or trans; they are suicidal because to the way our society treats those who are gay or trans.

And this, THIS is the population that our current administration has decided to target?

 We can’t stand by and watch these young people, who already have so much to deal with, be further attacked. 

 And trust me, this is only the beginning!

 There is a poem written by Martin Niemöller in 1946. Perhaps you’ve heard it before, but I’m going to share it now.

 First, they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.

There is a revision to that poem that has been circulating social media: 

 “First, they came for the transgender community,
And I spoke out immediately
Because I’ve read the rest of the 
The fucking poem.”

We need to speak for our trans and LBGT+ youth now, or there may come a time when there is no one left to speak out for us.

As Marsha P. Johnson said, “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us!!!” Or, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” It is time for us to fight for what is right, for the rights of ALL!

The 2024 Media Campaigns

We are proud to have been a part of providing accurate election information in our targeted communities. Print ads were a key component of the campaign. Our messaging centered around the fact that while Nov 5 was the last day to vote, the election process continued.

Ads similar to this one were placed in the Mining Journal, Sault Evening News, Antrim Review, Drummond Island Digest,  St Ignace News, and Northern Express.

Amy Klco’s Story

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Amy Klco

During the recent election cycle, one of the issues talked about was expanding Medicare to cover home care services. This plan would “cover home care for the first time ever for all our nation’s seniors” (afscme.org). This is in part in response to the number of seniors who need extra support to continue living in their homes. According to the Lansing State Journal, “As Michigan’s population continues to age, an updated report from Michigan Health Council (MHC) released recently found that the state will face a shortage of more than 170,000 home health and personal care aides within the next decade.” 

While numbers are important, it is also important to remember that they represent individual people who are struggling daily to provide this care, many of them without any support for their efforts. And this work takes its toll. 

I spoke with a man the other day, let’s call him Bob, 77, about his current situation. His wife was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago and he had done his best, since that point, to take care of her so she can continue to live with him instead of having to put her in a nursing home. 

“How are you doing?” I asked him once we were alone. “It has got to be hard for you.”

“I do my best,” he told me. “But it gets frustrating. She gets so worried when I leave. And her mind focuses on the negative. She can remember that I’m leaving for a while tomorrow, but she can’t remember that I will be coming back.”

“It’s a good thing you are already retired,” I pointed out. 

“Yeah, I couldn’t do this otherwise.” 

He confessed that many of his own plans, including golfing, Rotary, and volunteer activities, have been put on hold for now. “She gets so upset when I’m gone.”

Bob’s sister-in-law tries to visit as often as she can, mostly to give Bob a little time off. “I try to come over once a month, for Bob’s sake,” his sister-in-law explained. Then she told me she drove two hours for that monthly visit. “It’s not too bad, as long as the roads aren’t snowy.” She did not mention the cost of gas for the four-hour round-trip drives for these visits. That is all just part of the unmentioned cost of helping Bob to support his wife. 

“You want to see what true love is?” she said to me. “This is it.”

Harris’s plan to provide home care would have allowed Bob to pay someone to take care of his wife when he was away, whether to reimburse his sister-in-law for the time and cost of coming to visit Bob’s wife each month or to pay for someone else to spend time with her so that Bob can have some time to pursue his own interests and keep his own mind active. As the Alzheimer’s Society webpage writes, “There are thing you can do to reduce your own risk of developing dementia. These include keeping active, eating healthy, and exercising your mind.” In addition, it points out that “Social isolation can greatly increase a person’s risk of dementia.” Bob’s mind seems quite sharp for now, but if he is spending all day, every day in the house caring for his wife, it may be only a matter of time before it could be affected, too. And who will be there to take care of him when it does?

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Amy Klco is a Nationally board Certified teacher, writer, speaker, advocate, and owner of the publishing company, Enchantment Press. She has seven published novels as well as several short stories published in anthologies. She has been in the field of education for over twenty years. She has master’s degrees in education, literacy education, and special education. 

Klco's main goal in life is to "use her voice to help others find and share theirs." She is doing this by turning her attention to capturing the stories about the struggles that people in our state face, as well as how current policies are helping (or not helping) with these struggles. Klco lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in a small maple forest. You can find out more about her and her books at enchantmentpress.com

Mike Williford’s Story

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Hello Everyone,

My name is Mike Williford, and I currently serve as a member of the Saint Ignace City Council. I’ve been a resident of Saint Ignace since 2009. I’ve been a Mackinac County resident since 2003, starting as a year-round resident on Mackinac Island.

I grew up in Detroit, in a community that was firmly situated in the lower middle class. I witnessed my mother’s struggles with voting. As a single mother who was gainfully employed, her days began early as she relied on public transportation to get to work. They ended late, often after she had to prepare dinner for us. When it came time to vote, her already long days stretched even longer. She faced the challenge of balancing her daily responsibilities with the need to wait in long lines for hours just to cast her vote.

For many people, such hurdles can lead to disenfranchisement, a reality I’ve seen firsthand.

The first time I voted was for Bill Clinton at a precinct in Lansing, Michigan. I was young and probably didn’t pay as much attention to the issues as I did to the individual candidate. His appearance on the Arsenio Hall Show made him relatable to me at that time. Looking back, I’m glad I voted for him, as he turned out to do a solid job in office. The line at that precinct took about an hour, but I felt honored to perform my civic duty.

In recent voting cycles, I’ve opted for absentee voting. It offers me much more flexibility with my schedule. Despite the misinformation surrounding this option, research shows that voting absentee is extremely safe. With my multiple jobs, I’m grateful for having more voting options rather than fewer.

These are my biggest reasons that I prefer absentee voting:

·  Convenience: Allows you to vote from home, eliminating the need to travel to a polling place.

·  Flexibility: You can cast your vote at a time that works best for your schedule, especially if you have multiple commitments.

·  Avoid Long Lines: Reduces the stress of waiting in long lines on Election Day.

·  Time for Research: Gives you the opportunity to thoroughly research candidates and issues without the pressure of a time limit.

·  Accessibility: Provides an option for those with disabilities or health concerns who may find it challenging to vote in person.

·  Peace of Mind: Allows you to vote early, ensuring your voice is heard even if unexpected circumstances arise on Election Day.

·  Security: Many jurisdictions have implemented measures to ensure the safety and integrity of absentee voting.

I won’t take up much more of your time, but I want to remind everyone that early in-person voting starts on October 26th. Please make sure to thoroughly research all candidates before casting your vote, whether by absentee ballot or in person.

Thank you for your time!