An Open Letter to My Fellow Texans
From Mo Jenkins, At-Large Officer, Texas Stonewall Democrats
Monday, May 12, 2025
Dear Texans,
As a Black transgender woman who has built a career helping others navigate the lawmaking process, I carry both the weight of these policies and the understanding of how they’re built. I’ve sat through many tough debates in the Texas Capitol. However, the passage of Senate Bill 1257 and House Bill 229 hit differently. These poorly written, misguided bills are deeply personal.
They weren’t just about politics. They were about people like me. That dual reality—living in the crosshairs of legislation while also working within the institution that crafts it—is disorienting, painful, and frankly exhausting.
What’s even more devastating is the language used in these debates: the implication that trans people are dangerous, or a burden. I've heard my identity reduced to a punchline and my humanity treated like a liability. And yet—I still show up. Because that’s what public servants do.
I didn’t get into politics to become a spokesperson for the trans community. I came here to solve problems. I came here because I was once a homeless teenager; who lost my mother at 13 due to a lack of access to adequate healthcare, because public education and financial aid were the only lifelines that kept me from slipping through the cracks. I came into this work ready to take on housing, healthcare, education, and economic justice—because I’ve lived them. These are the matters that are at stake.
Instead of being able to focus on these pertinent issues, I am constantly pulled back to defend my right to simply exist. Before I can speak on policy, I’m forced to justify my humanity.
Let me be clear: trans people are not fringe distractions. We are not abstract concepts or ideological battles to be won. We are your neighbors, your coworkers, your friends. We are teachers, nurses, police officers, artists, small business owners, and yes—legislative staffers. We shape this state in ways both visible and unseen. We write the analysis. We understand the rules. We help pass the bills.
And while many of us are grieving right now—make no mistake—we are not giving up.
To my fellow Democrats: if you want to win, if you want to lead, stop treating trans people like a messaging problem. The issue isn’t that we’re too visible. It’s that too many of you are still too afraid to stand beside us and tell the truth. We are not the reason you lose elections. You lose when you allow your opponents to define the narrative. You lose when you center fear over courage, and comfort over conviction.
If you want to talk about healthcare, then talk about all healthcare. Ask why trans people’s access to affirming care is being stripped away when so many Texans still don’t have access to any care at all. Focus on the values that connect with voters: dignity, safety, autonomy, and freedom.
To my fellow trans Texans: I see you. I love you. I’m hurting too. But I also know our strength. Our resilience is unmatched. We’ve survived a system that wasn’t built for us—and we’ve continued to show up, build, serve, and lead anyway. That alone is powerful.
Despite it all, I still believe in the promise of public service. I still believe in coalition. I still believe in Texas. And I still believe that justice is worth showing up for—especially when it’s hard. So while these bills may have passed, and while this moment is heavy, I am not going anywhere. And I know I’m not alone.
Even when they try to legislate us out of existence—we remain. And I will keep fighting. For trans Texans. For working Texans. For all Texans.
Because I know what it’s like to be counted out. And I’m here to remind people that we still count.
In solidarity and service,
Mo Jenkins
At-Large Officer, Texas Stonewall Democrats
Legislative Staffer | Advocate | Texan