Women's sports icon models trans allyship likes a pro.
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
We hope you’re eating watermelon, submerging yourself in water, and doing whatever else you love to do in the middle of summer.
Don’t worry: we may be talking about current events, but we’ll keep the positive vibes going here. Welcome back to BWC’s monthly newsletter.
Take Action:
3 media orgs fighting for global liberation — and needing your support—
Slow Factory: “designing and building infrastructure for cultural freedoms for Indigenous & Global South-led communities”
Democracy Now!: “a daily, global, independent news hour…[where] you’ll hear a diversity of voices speaking for themselves, providing a unique and sometimes provocative perspective”
The Intercept: “Fearless, adversarial journalism that holds the powerful accountable”
We’re working on:
Immigrant rights are being protected in Montana.
Part of our work with ACLU Montana.
“The Federal Government agreed to a settlement that will protect our clients - two international graduate students - in our student visa case, Roe v. Noem. The case is now dismissed.”
Another win in Montana: the state is paying “more than $1.3 million in attorneys’ fees and costs after [ACLU Montana’s] successful challenge to SB 99, Montana’s unconstitutional ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth.”
We attended a big queer conference with our cool queer organizing friends.
The Equality Federation Leadership Conference brought together “LGBTQ+ leaders, advocates, and funders from across the country.”
We hosted a daylong communications training for state-based LGBTQ civil rights advocates from around the country. We also talked about our work on the Trans Organizing and Narrative Shift Project (TONS) Project with Equality Federation Institute.
We loved listening to the other amazing organizers discuss their work and insights.
Our co-founder shared insights from her years of organizing for trans rights.
Our very own Rebecca Kling gave a talk with sex education organization EducateUS at an event titled “New Organizing and Narrative Strategies for Trans Rights.”
“She [brought] receipts from years of innovative and in-depth research into what actually works for trans organizing and narrative shifts.”
Rebecca shared insights from BWC’s work on the aforementioned TONS project, which aims to positively shift public narratives about trans people through deep, honest, and nuanced conversations.
Movement in the Media
This WNBA coach stands up for trans people on and off the court.
Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeves skillfully advocates for trans rights in sports.
Lynx played Indiana Fever on Sunday, August 2nd. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham spewed an anti-trans conservative dog whistle in a ESPN profile last month, saying she wants “to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men.”
At the game, Reeves wore a shirt that read, “Trans Kids Belong.” Before the competition started, Reeves and Cunningham had a conversation on the court. Reeves didn’t reveal details about their chat, but discussed it with press after the game.
“Both of us understand that we have platforms and we both talked about wanting to, more than anything, educate,” Reeves said. “There are some things that we have in common, and maybe some things you differ on, just like any issues. I think it’s how you handle things. It was nice to be in person, for sure.”
Reeves showed how to engage in a change dialogue. She talked to someone with different opinions patiently and compassionately in an effort to hopefully, eventually, change that person’s mind about trans people. No conversation will change someone’s view instantly. But, with time and heart, those conversations can be educational and productive.
That’s all for July. Thanks so much for reading.
If you have any feedback / questions / news tips / cat photos / etc. to share with us, please reach out at info [at] betterworldcollaborative [dot] com.
-the Better World Collab team
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