Words by Tess Becker
Across the US, we’re seeing a massive wave of anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-trans legislation. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), there are nearly 500 active anti-LGBTQ+ bills with states such as Texas and Florida leading the charge.
So it's good news to hear that the US Supreme Court, in an immigration case, used a transgender migrant's chosen name and pronouns.
The court avoided deadnaming the woman entirely and spoke of migrants with more humanizing language than has been used in previous cases.
“The Court reads the statutory word “alien” to mean a non-citizen (in a footnote),” former US attorney Joyce Alene wrote on Twitter. “Non-citizen, not illegal alien or similar dehumanising term. 7 justices signed on to Jackson’s decision in full & the concurrences don’t mention it. This is huge progress on both fronts.”
The case’s ruling was a legal victory for Estrella Santos-Zacaria, a migrant from Guatemala who reached the US fleeing persecution on the basis of her gender and sexual orientation and is seeking to stay in the country. It is also a victory in the current political climate, especially in a conservative majority court.
Charity check-in
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Path Home. This organization helps families facing homelessness in Portland, Oregon. Find out more and support them here.
Hope South Florida. They help people affected by homelessness across the tri-county South Florida. Find out more.
National Coalition for the Homeless. They aid homeless people around the country through their many branches. Support them here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health and Wellbeing.
