Two lifelong Republicans leave the GOP in support of trans grandchild

Two Ohio grandparents, Mike and Melissa H., were both lifelong Republican voters, but they recently left the GOP because its anti-transgender politics threaten the well-being of their trans grandchild.

“I just felt a real departure from the Republican Party. I got some mailings from both the national Republican Party and the Ohio Republican Party, and I cut it up. I sent it back to them. I said, ‘I voted Republican most of my life, but until you change your policy and legislation on LGBTQ community, I’m not interested in supporting you,'” Mike said in a recent ad from the Human Rights Campaign.

Republicans have passed bans on gender-affirming care for trans youth in 25 states. These bans contradict the stances of major American medical and psychological associations, all of which consider such care to be effective, safe, and essential for trans youth.

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Republicans have also sought to roll back protections for trans students in schools, particularly policies that allow trans youth to use names, pronouns, school facilities, and sports teams that align with their gender identity. Some Republicans have also made it harder for trans people to change their gender on birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and other documents, making them more vulnerable to discrimination and violence.

“I started to see how things were affecting my daughter’s family and grandson, who is transgender,” Mike said. His wife agreed.

“It’s been very, very disappointing. It was a no-brainer. I’m voting Democrat, and it doesn’t take intelligence, it just takes compassion, whether you’re a grandparent, whether you’re a parent, an aunt or an uncle,” she said. “Everybody should be treated equal. It doesn’t matter color, race, gender. It’s just a travesty when you get the government involved with trying to legislate how we should feel.”

The couple noted that only an estimated 0.7% of the U.S. population is made up of trans youth, and Mike believes the U.S. government should be more focused on resolving other larger social issues like homelessness or inflation.

“I think it’s a waste to make it an issue,” Melissa said. “I wish there was more education. That’s how we’re going to change the mindset of society…. If you love your fellow human beings, You want the person who they are and accept them.”