Republicans, Trump Supporters, and the State of America

Represents me well - Scottish and Trans

This country feels like it’s descending into chaos, driven by right-wing extremism and their relentless vendetta against minorities. Anti-trans rhetoric is ramping up. Anti-immigration policies are escalating. And red states, emboldened by these movements, are pushing through hateful agendas disguised as “legislation.”

Take Tennessee, for example. Two proposed bills—House Bill 10 and House Bill 11—illustrate just how far some politicians are willing to go to target vulnerable communities.

House Bill 10: Removing Immigrants and the Cost of Hatred

House Bill 10 proposes removing undocumented immigrants from Tennessee altogether. If ICE doesn’t or won’t deport them, the bill suggests transferring them to sanctuary cities outside the state—up to 700 miles away.

Let’s set aside, for a moment, the sheer cruelty of uprooting people’s lives and ask the practical questions:

• Where is the funding for this coming from?

• How will it impact the local economy, which often relies on immigrant labour, documented or not?

• Why is this even a legislative priority? Aren’t there more pressing issues these overpaid lawmakers should be addressing?

Policies like these are nothing more than political theater, designed to stir up fear while ignoring the real economic and human cost. If Tennessee legislators truly cared about their constituents, they’d focus on fixing infrastructure, improving education, or expanding access to healthcare—issues that benefit everyone.

House Bill 11: Separate IDs for Non-Citizens

House Bill 11 proposes issuing a separate color and design for driver’s licenses and IDs for non-citizens. On the surface, proponents may argue this is about clarity or preventing fraud. But let’s be real—this is a blatant attempt to mark and stigmatize immigrants, opening the door to discrimination and harassment.

Think about the consequences of this kind of legislation. How long before this kind of identification system is expanded to target other groups? What’s next—some kind of mark or label for trans people and queer communities? It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds when you consider how often laws like these are a slippery slope. History is full of examples of governments using such policies to single out vulnerable populations.

The Attack on Trans Rights

Of all the groups under attack right now, trans people—and especially trans youth—are being hit the hardest. Across the country, lawmakers are rolling out anti-trans policies under the guise of “protecting children.” But let’s be honest: these laws do nothing to protect children. They are about controlling them.

In Tennessee and beyond, legislators are fighting to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth, restrict access to hormone treatments, and even remove gender markers from IDs. These actions directly harm trans kids by denying them the care they need and erasing their identities.

And the justification? A narrow, dogmatic belief system imposed on everyone, regardless of individual needs. Just because one parent might not support their trans child doesn’t give the government the right to make that decision for all families. True protection means offering resources, support, and access to healthcare—not stripping it away.

This is personal for me. I am a trans woman and an immigrant. And while I may be Caucasian, as soon as I open my mouth, people hear my accent and immediately identify me as Scottish. It’s like flipping a switch. I’ve seen it happen time and time again—the wheels turning in their heads, preparing to spew whatever vitriol they think is acceptable.

I’ve experienced discrimination from both ends. As an immigrant, people either treat me like a novelty or assume I don’t belong. Even when people aren’t being outright cruel, the questions they ask are thoughtless at best. “Say something in Scottish,” they’ll say, as if I’m some kind of performing seal. Or worse, “Why did you choose to be trans?” Seriously? What kind of dumbass question is that? Nobody chooses to face discrimination, harassment, or even violence just to live as their authentic self.

And yet, here we are. I have to justify my existence—twice over—just to live in a country where policies like these are being passed to make my life harder.

Trump, the GOP, and Accountability

So, who’s responsible for all of this? Trump and his supporters, yes—but also the broader Republican Party that enables him. Many of these policies and proposals are a direct result of Trump’s rhetoric and the wave of extremism he unleashed.

Some Trump supporters claim they voted for him because of “the economy.” Let’s unpack that. Trump, the man who has filed bankruptcy multiple times, is hardly an economic savior. And even if he had been, at what cost? Does economic improvement (which he didn’t deliver, by the way) justify the systematic dismantling of human rights?

Others cite immigration as their reason for supporting him. But where are the realistic proposals? How do his policies address the actual needs of communities? They don’t. They’re nothing more than hate-filled soundbites designed to rile up his base while leaving the rest of us to deal with the fallout.

If you’re a Trump supporter, you might claim you don’t support anti-trans policies or anti-immigration bills. But silence is complicity. Every trans person denied care, every immigrant displaced, every life lost because of these hate-filled agendas—these are on the hands of those who voted for him and continue to stand by him. You may not think it’s your issue, but if you’ve chosen to support the people and policies responsible, then you share responsibility.

A Call to Action

This isn’t just about trans rights or immigrant rights. This is about human rights. The issues in Tennessee and across the country aren’t isolated—they’re part of a larger pattern of authoritarianism and extremism that affects everyone.

If you care about equality, justice, or even just basic human decency, now is the time to speak up. Call your representatives. Vote in every election—local, state, and national. Challenge the rhetoric of hate when you hear it, even in casual conversations. And if you supported Trump in the past but don’t align with the cruelty of his policies, say something. It’s never too late to stand on the right side of history.

Because make no mistake: the policies being enacted today will have consequences for generations to come. And if we don’t fight back, we risk losing far more than we realize.

And if you do nothing, stay silent or think it is not your problem, then you are responsble for the losses to come, regardless of their lack of impact on your life. Saying nothing makes you accountable.