Democratic lawmakers and advocates gathered at the Wisconsin State Capitol Monday to introduce three bills to improve privacy and limit discrimination against transgender and nonbinary people on Transgender Day of Visibility.
The introduction of the Visibility, Equality and Privacy Package comes in the wake of legislative action by Republicans that would restrict the rights of transgender Wisconsinites.
The first bill, introduced by Chair of the LGBTQ+ Caucus Chair Sen. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, will extend Wisconsin’s nondiscrimination laws to include transgender and nonbinary people by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity or gender expression.
“While today is a celebration, it is also a call to action to those of us in positions of power to uplift, stand alongside, and to protect transgender and nonbinary Wisconsinites across the state,” Spreitzer said.
The second bill in the package would add trans and nonbinary people to the list of those who can request a confidential name change under state law. Allowing for confidential name changes, individuals will no longer be required to publish for three weeks in their local paper notice of their name change request, and where and when their petition for a name change will be heard.
The final bill would proclaim March 31, 2025 Wisconsin’s Transgender Day of Visibility. It aims to recognize the achievements of the transgender individuals and organizations in the state.
While Sen. Melissa Ratcliff, D-Cottage Grove, anticipated a lack of support from Republican colleagues, she said she welcomes any steps to breach the aisle.
“I certainly wish that they would take a look at it and hear our voices here today and see the love and support of so many community members, not just here, but across our state and nation,” Ratcliff said.
Ratcliff further emphasized the importance of elevating the perspectives of the trans and nonbinary community.
“So many times over the past years, you and members of your family, allies and friends come to this building to defend your right to exist. Not today,” Ratcliff said.
Rep. Ryan Clancy, D-Milwaukee, told the story of his relationship with his trans son, criticizing legislation targeting transgender residents.
“I had to visit him in Minnesota,” he said. “It wasn't an accident because here in Wisconsin, we make it really difficult to thrive as a trans person. We have a lot of barriers to joy, and that is frustrating for me as a person. It's frustrating for me as a parent.”
Despite recent executive action against transgender residents, the members of the conferences expressed optimism and unity, citing the resilience of the community.
Martha Marvel, president of the Bay Area Council on Gender Diversity, drew attention to the First International Day of Trans Visibility Celebration held in her hometown of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
“We thought if we got 50, 75 people, it would be good at one of the supper clubs in downtown Green Bay,” she said. “We had the wonderful problem of selling out over 200 people who came together and celebrated.”
District 15 Ald. Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, the first openly trans person to serve on Madison's Common Council, set a religious tone when speaking on the experience of the trans community.
“In my tradition, God don't make no trash,” Martinez-Rutherford said. “We were created for this purpose and we were created to reflect not only the divinity, but also the joy and the diversity in the human experience.”
A total of 14 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced during the 2024 legislative session, all of which failed to pass the Legislature or were vetoed by Gov. Tony Evers. Evers has promised to veto legislation targeting trans Wisconsinites.
Despite this, Marvel said advocates remain committed and undeterred.
“We are like a current coming down a mountainside. We're going to get some rocks and twigs and things in the way, but it's not going to stop us,” Marvel said. “We're going to continue to be our authentic selves, blossom, and with the support of legislation like today that we're talking about, we're going to continue to move forward regardless.”
