Pedro Pascal, Gabrielle Union, Jamie Lee Curtis, and LeBron James are just some of the celebrities speaking out about trans rights in the wake of legal attacks against transgender people across the country. On March 2, Tennessee became the first state to pass a ban on public drag shows, and at the same time Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill that banned gender-affirming healthcare for youth in the state. Tennessee is the first state to pass an anti-drag bill, though according to a Feb. 5 report from NPR, at least eight others are trying to pass similar laws. Many have worried that the law, which bans "male or female impersonators," is designed to punish all trans people in the state.
Unfortunately, other anti-trans laws are continuing to make their way through other state governments, including a bill in Oklahoma that would ban insurance coverage for gender-affirming care, according to The Oklahoman. And in that context, at Conservative Political Action Conference over the weekend, Daily Wire host Michael Knowles called for "transgenderism" to be "eradicated," as reported by Rolling Stone.
In this climate, many LGBTQ+ celebs and their allies are using their platforms to highlight the importance of protecting trans people. Ahead, these are celebrities who are speaking out against attacks on trans rights and to support trans people across the country.
LeBron James
Image Source: Getty / Ron Jenkins
LeBron James retweeted a viral video of Jon Stewart interviewing Oklahoma State Sen. Nathan Dahm about restrictions on drag shows. "Are you infringing on that [drag] performer's free speech?" Stewart asked in the clip.
"They can continue to exercise their free speech," Dahm replied. "Just not in front of a child. . . . Because the government does have a responsibility… in certain instances, to protect children."
"What's the leading cause of death amongst children in this country?" Stewart asked. "I'm going to give you a hint: It's not drag show readings to children."
James wrote alongside it, "AT ITS HIGHEST ORDER!!" with an emoji saluting Stewart. Laverne Cox shared the same video on her Instagram as well.
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Pedro Pascal
Image Source: Getty / VALERIE MACON / AFP
On March 5, Pascal posted photos of LGBTQ+ flags, including the trans pride flag. He wrote in the caption, "The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind. #LGBTQIA."
His "The Last of Us" costar Bella Ramsey, who is genderfluid, commented on the photo with a row of hearts and trans and pride flags. Pascal's "Game of Thrones" costar Sophie Turner also commented with hearts.
On his Instagram Story, the actor shared the viral clip of Jon Stewart questioning the banning of drag shows, and on March 6 he also posted an infographic about legal attacks against trans people.
Pascal has long been vocal about supporting LGBTQ+ rights. His younger sister Lux Pascal is trans.
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Jamie Lee Curtis
Image Source: Getty / CHRIS DELMAS / AFP
Jamie Lee Curtis wrote on Instagram on March 5, "I STAND WITH THE TRANS COMMUNITY. THE MISSINFORMATION CAMPAIGN MUST BE STOPPED!" She continued, "It is absolutely F*CKED witnessing the ongoing normalization of eliminationist transphobia. The right's war on queer people, most specifically trans people, is both bizarre and abhorrent. There is no debate to argue here. Trans people have been here forever and aren't going anywhere. There is no ideology here. It's simple. Trans rights are human rights. Anything stating the contrary is wrong." Curtis also shared a screenshot of Pascal's post saying "Trans rights" on Twitter in 2020. Curtis's daughter Ruby Guest is trans.
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Ben Platt
Image Source: Getty / Jesse Grant
On March 5, Ben Platt shared a graphic of the trans flag on his Instagram Story and wrote, "queer bros & sisters for trans rights!!! Jews for trans rights!!!!!! straight dudes for trans rights!!!!!! cis women for trans rights!!!!! librarians for trans rights!!!!! baristas for trans rights!!!! ALL HUMANS FOR TRANS (human) RIGHTS!!!!!"
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Gabrielle Union
Image Source: Getty / Amanda Edwards
Gabrielle Union and her husband Dwyane Wade have been very vocal about LGBTQ+ rights, in part because of their daughter Zaya, who is trans. Union spoke to Variety on March 4 at the Independent Spirit Awards.
"There is an army that rebukes you, that does not agree with you and that will not lie down while this fascist rule is instituted," she said about the law in Tennessee. "And that's just one state. There are several states who were doing the same thing, and they will be met with resistance. People are not going to take this lying down. They're just not. So if you thought this was going to be a cakewalk, you're in for a rude awakening."
