Trans kids are dying because we’ve convinced them they don’t belong | Opinion

Trans death

This week, my college kid’s housemate committed suicide. He was a trans young man, full of promise and potential. Now he’s gone.

LGBTQ youth, especially trans youth, have a high suicide rate. Forty-five percent have considered suicide, and 20 percent of trans youth have attempted it. My daughter’s classmate succeeded.

Why is the rate so high?

Sixty percent of LGBTQ youth report that their home is not affirming. Forty percent say their community doesn’t accept LGBTQ people. Sixty percent report being unable to get mental health care. Many LGBTQ youth feel like they don’t belong at home, they aren’t welcome in the community, and no one will help them.

We spend a lot of time working to make LGBTQ people feel like they don’t belong. A lot of our church teaching, rhetoric, and language specifically pushes this point. “Intrinsically disordered,” “abomination,” and “hell-bound” we call them. We say we are basing our rhetoric on what Jesus teaches, but our rhetoric is getting in the way of the love Jesus actually taught us.

LGBTQ issues are life issues. Kids are dying because so many of us in the church, the government, and the community are working to convince these kids that they don’t belong, aren’t welcome, and aren’t loved. As Christians, we must do better. We are failing to love as Christ loved.

Another LGBTQ youth suicide is not surprising. It’s troubling and heartbreaking; but it’s not surprising.

Deacon Steve Hester, Historic St. Paul Catholic Church, Lexington, KY

Telecom deregulation

I recently discovered that in August of last year, the FCC granted approval for deregulation allowing telecom companies in Kentucky to terminate their copper wire landline phone service and substitute it with internet-based phone service.

This ruling significantly impacts the most vulnerable segments of Kentucky’s society, and if the federal government fails to safeguard their interests, it becomes the duty of the state government to intervene. According to the FCC order, landline service requires costly infrastructure maintenance, hindering our transition to the next era of communication technology.

Try explaining this to my parents or the 580,000 elderly individuals in Kentucky who still rely on landline service. They struggle to operate their cell phone, and the internet connection at their residence is frequently unstable. It’s hard to picture their primary means of communication to be something as unreliable as an internet connection.

The FCC’s decision prioritizes the profit of telecom giants over the necessities of rural communities, seniors, and individuals residing in areas with inadequate internet connectivity. The Kentucky state legislature bears the responsibility of intervening and advocating on behalf of those who are most likely to be neglected in this unguided march toward “progress.”

Liam Prescott, Lexington

Disturbing video

It always takes me aback a little when the television news commentators say something like, “We warn you, some of this video may be disturbing.”

It’s not disturbing to see people fleeing in terror from a shooting at a mall, a school, a church or a grocery store. It’s not disturbing to see bloodied bodies covered in sheets at such an event. We’re accustomed to seeing that on a virtually daily basis.

What is disturbing is knowing we live in a land of law and order and our leaders are unconcerned or impotent when it comes to stopping this madness. My “thoughts and prayers” are with these weaklings. And they don’t want to hear my thoughts.

Ralph Derickson, Lexington, Kentucky

Sanity plea

I emailed the following text to Russian President Vladimir Putin - “Mr. Putin, I can’t help but put this bluntly. If a polling were taken I am quite sure half of the six billion (More or less) people on Earth wishes you were dead. You have effectively made the economies of most countries, including your own, incredibly difficult for people to merely subside. I don’t know if you have imperialist ambitions, honestly I cannot imagine your motivations. Our planet was already troubled and now we read almost daily of Russian atrocities committed in the Ukraine. This cannot be the legacy you want. Imagine the literal world praise you’d receive as a hero if you simply found a way to make peace. I rather doubt my words will make the slightest difference but I honestly wanted to speak a word of sanity. I hope to any God there might be that you do.”

I feel sure it will fall on deaf ears but our planet needs sanity.

Sandy Gibbs, Morehead

Medical decisions

Not all pregnancies end in a live birth, especially when a fetal anomaly is part of the pregnancy. Unfortunately, the Kentucky Trigger Ban Law does not allow for abortions in cases of medically futile pregnancies. Sadly, the Republican supermajority in the Kentucky legislature deems it necessary for women to give birth to stillborn babies or those that will pass soon after birth when a fatal fetal anomaly exists with no regard for the mothers’ wishes or well-being.

Even Louisiana has exceptions to their abortion law for medically futile pregnancies, which include: achondrogenesis, anencephaly, arcadia, body stalk anomaly, campomelic dysplasia craniorachischisis, dysencephalia, Meckel-Gruber syndrome, ectopia cordis, exencephaly, gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, holoprosencephaly, hydrops fetalis, perinatal hypophosphatasia, osteogenesis imperfecta (type 2), renal agenesis (bilateral), short rib polydactyly syndrome, sirenomelia, thanatophoric dysplasia, triploidy, trisomy 13, trisomy 16 (full), trisomy 18, trisomy 22, and other profound and irremediable congenital or chromosomal anomalies that are incompatible with sustaining life.

Like Louisiana, the Kentucky state legislature should allow for abortions in cases of medically futile pregnancies. Women’s bodies are not machines, nor are they property of the state. Decisions of this magnitude should be between the pregnant woman, her family, and her medical team only.

Suzanne Griffith, Ashland

Endorsed by Trump

I need some help! Someone please tell me what it means to be a “Trump Republican” or to be endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Does it mean that if you lose the election, even by a wide margin, you will claim voter fraud and a rigged election? Does it mean that you won’t respect the rule of law should as many as 60 courts uphold the election results? Does it mean that you support white supremacist groups? Does it mean that you will be loose with the truth, as was well documented with our former president? Does it mean that you will do everything in your power to remove environmental protections currently in place in Kentucky?

Republican candidates in Kentucky who claim affiliation with Trump need to let the public know what it means to be a Trump Republican. Many of the things Trump stands for make me cringe. I hope they make Republicans cringe too.

William Farnau, Lexington

Women’s voices

Here’s to all the women who had to “Keep their mouths shut,” tolerating male abuse just to keep their jobs supporting themselves and their families.

Anita Hill told the truth, then watched as Clarence Thomas lied to get a job on the U.S. Supreme Court.

E. Jean Carroll gave us our long overdue respect back. She won in court.

The truth about former President Donald Trump is no different than the truth about Justice Thomas: They preyed on women because they could get away with it.

It needs new headlines: “It’s Pay Up Time for Creeps!”

Judy Rembacki, Georgetown

Florida’s fascism

In response to the growing fascism coming out of Florida, we, the people, ask that our state of Kentucky solidify the importance of Holocaust education. Denial of the Shoah (the Holocaust) and other fascist events leads to the ignorance of the people and a repeat of history.

Danni Caudill, Paris

Missing informant

“Oh where, oh where, has my much-hyped, judgment day for President Joe Biden informant gone; oh where, oh where can he be? With his facts cut short, and his tall tales so long, oh where, oh where can he be?”

It appears that U.S. Rep. Jim Comer (R-Ky.) can’t seem to find the person who was going to authenticate his vague and unconfirmed blockbuster claims that directly connected Biden’s relatives to massive influence peddling schemes. Comer’s informant has mystifyingly “evaporated.”

Did the informant get cold feet, did the informant not have tangible substance to fulfill Comer’s dreams, or did Comer just make everything up in hopes that a real live person would come forth with corroborating credible information?

Comer has a habit of tossing unchecked accusations and alternative declarations about more freely than a manure spreader fertilizing a spring pasture. I have a couple suggestions for Comer—(1) stop having lunch with dream-weaver George Santos and (2) concentrate on serving peoples’ needs in your district. They would greatly appreciate more of your focused attention and much less of your television showboating. In taking care of urgent business, your Kentucky home is where your heart and energy should be.

Gene Lockhart, Lexington

Friendliest city

Dear Lexington, I am a full-time digital nomad who has visited all 50 states (most of them multiple times) and lived for a month or more in 18 states. I recently wrapped up a five-week stay in Lexington and want to tell you that you are home to the friendliest people in the whole United States.

Everyone I encountered - in restaurants, grocery stores, parks, car repair shops, wineries, my neighborhood, the gym, the liquor store, social events - has been so welcoming. Everywhere I went, people seemed genuinely pleased to have my business and willing to help or just interested in chatting. You have something very special, and increasingly rare, in that character of your citizens.

If I had to make one suggestion, it would be to replace your backed-up four-way stops with traffic circles in the southwest residential areas. Other than that, please don’t change a thing before I return next year.

Love, a temporary (but infatuated) resident.

Jennifer Swallow, Boulder, Col.

Compiled by Liz Carey