protecting trans youth

The Minnesota state senate has introduced a law to protect trans kids needing asylum to escape prosecution for seeking gender-affirming medical care. Our bill SF4525 would protect them and their family from warrants and extradition. It has not yet passed. It is merely proposed at this time.  I don't know how this legislation works in relation to Article 4 of the U.S. Constitution.

If you're a trans kid, or if you're a parent of one, please consider moving now to a safe state. Leave Texas.
If you're a gay kid, or if you're a parent of one, please consider moving now to a safe state. Leave Florida.
I know from Twitter and news that many of you are doing it, but I'm encouraging more to escape before crisis arrives.

I expect conditions to get worse before they get better. Conservative voters and governments are banning books, threatening journalists, restricting voting, threatening teachers, threatening businesses, and putting bounties on women. I've been warning about the latent fascism for a long time. It is no longer latent. If you are young or vulnerable, please get out now.

Adults, here's a message for you. If you live in one of these conservative states, consider staying, organizing, and voting to change your state government to protect all of the vulnerable people there. It's a hard thing, I know. Or make plans to leave. Just make a deliberate choice. Don't sleepwalk through these times. Everyone, please do the following:

1. Find local organizations that shelter and protect vulnerable youth and families.
2. Assume they will see an increase of people seeking help. Send them resources.
3. Use your social media to broadcast those resources.

Here are the results of my Twin Cities search:

• The Trevor Project, crisis line available anywhere for life-saving counseling
• Face2Face, can provide help with basic needs, showering, even housing (donate)
• The Bridge For Youth, can provide support for youth in crisis or homeless (donate)
• YouthLink, a single location in Minneapolis where you can get help for many concerns (donate)
• Avenues For Youth, where you can find a bed to sleep (donate)

There are many more local resources. Check here, here, and here. I've sent those 5 organizations what money I can afford right now (sorry, wish it was a lot more) to help ensure they can continue to receive the refugees needing help. These are tough times, and I don't see it getting easier in the near future.