MINNEAPOLIS – While some are celebrating President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, it is raising concerns among Minnesota’s transgender community.
“I think for us and my community, it was just an immediate sense of fear,” said Andi Otto, executive director of Twin Cities Pride.
It’s the fear of uncertainty, Otto said, as Trump is about to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States.
The Trump campaign has spent more than $19 million on two anti-transgender TV ads that have aired 55,000 times since Oct. 1, AdImpact data shows.
“I think the biggest problem for me comes from the misinformation in it,” Otto said of the ads. “The disinformation just means that we have to keep fighting against it.”
Following the news that Trump won, Twin Cities Pride has been working to raise awareness of local LGBTQIA-plus organizations.
“We’ve already had a lot of calls this morning. We’ve put out a number of mental health crisis lines on our social media,” Otto said.
The election news has led to increased demand for yard signs advocating for the protection of trans youth, he said.
Last year, a law designated Minnesota as a “trans-flight” state, which would prevent out-of-state laws from interfering with the practice of gender-affirming health care.
“This is not the first time we have faced a struggle and a challenge and we always come out of it,” said Otto.
Otto said Trump’s election will not stop Twin Cities Pride from speaking the truth and standing up for what is right.
“We have no plans to go anywhere, but to become bigger and stronger,” Otto said.
A few free, anonymous resources include The Trevor Project for LGBTQIA+ people under 25.
The Trans Lifeline is a weekday hotline where you can speak to a trans or non-binary operator.
And 988 is a 24/7 hotline for all people.
