Governor Evers Joins National LGBTQ+ Advocacy Group

Saturday, October 21st, 2023 -- 11:00 AM

(Natalie Eilbert, Green Bay Press-Gazette) In a first-of-its-kind proclamation, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers joined a national LGBTQ+ advocacy campaign and made a statewide pledge to protect LGBTQ+ youth.

According to Natalie Eilbert with the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Wisconsin is now one of 12 states across the United States and the District of Columbia to join the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, commonly referred to as GLSEN, in its "Rise Up for LGBTQ+ Youth" campaign.

The campaign pledges to do the following:

• Advocate for safe learning environments to ensure young people, teachers and school staff aren't exposed to hate violence such as racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and other forms of oppression;
• Advocate for LGBTQ+ affirming literature, resources, and curricula in schools;
• And Stand up against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric.

Evers' proclamation comes on the heels of the state Senate voting on three bills that would ban transgender girls and women from competing on high school and college women's sports teams and bar health care providers from providing gender-affirming medical care for minors.

Assembly Republicans passed legislation Oct. 12. Evers has repeatedly vowed to veto any anti-LGBTQ+ bills that come to his desk. The mental health outcomes of LGBTQ+ youth are some of the most concerning across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And nearly half of all of Wisconsin's LGBTQ+ youth, and more than half of Wisconsin's trans and gender nonbinary youth, have considered suicide, according to state analysis by the Trevor Project.

These reports emphasized that poor mental health outcomes aren't the result of their gender identity, but the mistreatment, harassment and stigmatization that follows them in society as a result of their gender identity.

Additionally, the American Psychological Association report on psychological harm noted upticks in suicide attempts, anxiety and depression in LGBTQ+ youth, especially trans youth, who are constantly besieged by legislation, rhetoric and debates on their right to exist.

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