By Shelley Hubal

“I simply want to serve and to try to make this world a better place.” This was just part of Delaware Representative Sarah McBride’s dignified response that was posted on X after being misgendered on March 11 at a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe by Texas Representative Keith Self. Representative McBride is the first openly trans person in the U.S. Congress. In case you missed the exchange, you can watch it on any online news platform or on social media.
Representative Self’s act was intentionally cruel. It was also bigoted and is sure to further stoke the hate that will undoubtedly put the lives of trans people at risk at the hands of others and from suicide. According to The Trevor Project, whose mission is to end suicide among LGBTQ+ young people, “More than 1.8 million LGBTQ plus young people (ages 13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S. – and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds.” There are plenty more horrifying statistics that you can read for yourself at www.thetrevorproject.org.
Why is it so hard to be kind? Shouldn’t we treat all people with respect and dignity? What difference does it make how someone chooses to live their life? Representative McBride is a smart, hard-working woman who was elected to represent the people of Delaware and is singularly focused on doing just that. We are facing a multitude of challenges in this country and around the world, so why not focus on solutions? 
As the mother of a non-binary person, the anger and violence these legislators are stoking, for no reason, quite honestly keeps me up at night. Like all other parents around the globe, I want my now adult child to live in peace without fearing for their life because of who they are. I also know they should have the same opportunities to work and contribute to society. Why would our government want to impede that? It is ignorant, hateful and violent.
To be completely honest, having a non-binary child has not always been easy. At times, the learning curve has been sharp, and the relationship strained. I have been humbled by what I thought I knew and what I have come to know now. However, a few things have always been clear: my job is to love and to be respectful. This means opening my eyes and my heart to the person and people in front of me and saying, “I see you. I support you. I support your choices, and I have your back no matter what.” Shouldn’t this also be the role of our elected officials?