I don’t think this fixes Idaho, or solves the problems of trans and queer people. Our email as well as other contact information can be found on the Boise State Engage. But in order to keep it safe and secure for all members, I ask that people reach out to the Transgender Alliance directly, as well as follow the prompts that are sent. I made sure that everyone would feel included and comfortable with the supplies available.įor anyone who is interested in accessing these resources, I want to make it as simple as possible. I also purchased medical supplies such as (but not limited to) OD kits, scar repair products, sharps containers and a whole lot of TransTape. The hygiene products span from deodorant to shaving cream, as well as perfumes and makeup. I purchased over 400 items and prepared a system where people could safely and securely obtain these resources. Not only was I able to set up enough products for the 40 members of my club to use, but I also extended this opportunity to other queer-led clubs at Boise State like Pride Alliance and QSTEM. After having my grant approved, I was able to use over $3,000 towards these resources. It contains everything from medical supplies to hygiene products. I saw how places like California treated its queer population, and I wanted to get as close as I could to mimicking that.Īfter talking with other student leaders and thinking about what would be plausible in a semester, I decided to create a supply locker that members of my club could access. At the very least, I wanted to give them some relief. It was my goal to make sure that people didn’t feel discouraged when thinking about the prospect of being trans in Idaho. I was surprised to see that not only was there very little available but that the resources provided had been almost completely exhausted.īecause of this realization, I decided after my first semester here that I wanted to become the president of the Transgender Alliance Club. However, I was excited to see the opportunities that Boise State held, and how it could help me navigate the complex minefield of medical and social problems as a trans person. I saw just how lacking Idaho is when it comes to resources for trans people. So many other places were much more accepting and inclusive. After being away for two years, I came back and was surprised at the state Idaho was in. When I left Boise in 2019, I was not out, and I had not even thought about transitioning. Cut to 2022, people are not even able to get their basic needs met. Over time the places available for queer people have been dwindling in both Moscow and Boise. But, even then, there was little help for transgender individuals. There used to be a number of resources in both places, ranging from social to medical in the early 2000s. Historically, Moscow and Boise have been the two most inclusive places for queer folks to live in Idaho. Luckily, the ruling made by Judge Candy Dale in 2018 stated that this infringed on the constitutional rights of trans people, and that it is their right to change their name in accordance with their wishes.Īfter living in Idaho for so long, I expected it to become more progressive and accepting as time went on. Then, in 2020 Idaho attempted to overturn that decision. Photo courtesy of Elias Valverde II, The Dallas Morning News It took the state two years to come to this decision after gay marriage was legalized. It was just in 2018 that it became legal in Idaho for trans people to change their name and sex on their birth certificate. These sorts of laws and hostile actions aren’t new. If Florida is able to get this far with a bill that restrictive, a bill that is simply a targeted censorship, then surely Idaho will not be far behind. Not only will this put young queer children at risk, but trans kids are now even more vulnerable. Ron DeSantis, the bill prohibits the discussion of “sexual orientation or gender identity” in school from kindergarten to third grade. This comes after Florida passed HB 1557 or the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Although it failed in the Idaho Senate, the fact that this bill got as far as it did represents the opinion of the public towards trans people in Idaho.
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Recently, House Bill (HB) 675 prohibiting gender reassignment surgery for minors passed the Idaho House of Representatives. Currently, there is an epidemic of anti-transgender rhetoric that has been sweeping the state, as well as the country. I have lived here my whole life, and I still don’t think I would confidently introduce it to someone as my home. We text each other sometimes - a late “goodnight” or the obligatory morning greeting. Idaho has always been a distant lover to me. This article was written by Merlin Macdonald, president of the Boise State Trans Alliance Club.