Identity's Executive Director: Allard's Transphobic Rhetoric, "Worrisome and Dangerous"
Last Friday, on the Dan Fagan show, Eagle River Assembly Person Jamie Allard made concerning comments about Anchorage's transgender community as a whole.
“I truly believe those who are transgender are mentally ill,” Allard said, sharing with listeners that if one were to “mutilate your body and cut off your body parts because you want to be something you’re not, it will never change your DNA, you need mental health.”
You can listen to Allard's own words about the transgender community here.
Responses to Allard's comments on social media have ranged from disgust to outrage.
Laura Carpenter, Executive Director of Identity Inc.—an Anchorage-based non-profit organization whose mission is to advance Alaska’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community through advocacy, education, and connectivity—when asked for comment about Allard's transphobic statements, responded by email telling me:
"This type of transphobic rhetoric is extremely worrisome and dangerous."
Laura Carpenter, Executive Director, Identity Inc.
Carpenter says transgender people in Anchorage and Eagle River face discrimination, harassment, and violence. She says that research shows that transgender and non-binary youth who experienced discrimination based on their gender identity had more than double the odds of attempting suicide in the past year compared to those who did not.
Last week, Alaska faith leaders gathered to show support for LGBTQ+ Alaskans and the Equality Act, stating how their faith leads them to protect the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination.
Currently, 29 states do not have laws that explicitly protect LGBTQ people from discrimination.
Proponents say that without the Equality Act, LGBTQ Americans remain vulnerable to being evicted from their homes, kicked out of a business that’s open to the public, denied health care, or denied government services in a majority of states simply because of who they are.
The Equality Act would provide clear, consistent non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across critical areas, including housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service. The Equality Act also extends protections to millions of women—who aren’t covered by some existing federal anti-discrimination laws—to ensure they don’t have to live in fear of harassment or discrimination. In addition, the Act would modernize public accommodation law to provide increased protections to people of color and people of all faiths.
If you or anyone you know has experienced discrimination or harassment, please reach out to Identity for resources and support.
Crisis Lines
- The Trevor Project 866-488-7386
- SAGE Elder Hotline 888-234-SAGE (7243)
- Trans Lifeline 877-565-8860
- National Suicide Prevention 800-273-TALK (8255)
- Crisis Text Line text TALK TO 741741
Discrimination
- In Anchorage - Anchorage Equal Rights Commission
- The entire state of Alaska - Alaska State Commission on Human Rights
