Gabrielle Union is not in support of Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee banning gender-affirming health care for the youth after signing the legislation into law last week.
The actress, who has been extremely supportive of her step-daughter Zaya Wade’s own journey, after coming out as transgender in 2020, seems stunned by the decision but believes that people will eventually fight back against the new law. “There is an army that rebukes you, that does not agree with you and that will not lie down while this fascist rule is instituted,” she told Variety at the 2023 Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica.
“And that’s just one state. There are several states who were doing the same thing, and they will be met with resistance. People are not going to take this lying down,” she continued. “They’re just not. So if you thought this was going to be a cakewalk, you’re in for a rude awakening.”
Aside from banning gender-affirming health care for minors in Tennessee, it has also become the first state to prohibit public drag shows, with Tennessee Republican state Senator Kerry Roberts saying the intent was to prevent children from seeing “obscene” performances.
It’s believed that multiple other states are looking to follow suit, including Arkansas and North Dakota, according to the NPR. The irony of Lee signing the bill into law last week comes just weeks after a photo had surfaced of him from his high school days, seemingly sporting what appears to be women’s clothing. A representative for the governor didn’t dispute the authenticity of the photo, instead insisting that the photo was taken during a “lighthearted school tradition.”
People were stunned by the response, questioning how Lee could support an anti-trans law when he himself has been seen wearing women’s attire. The 63-year-old contended that the controversial photo can to be compared to drag shows, which he says are sexual in nature, and children shouldn’t have to see that out in public.
But popular Tennessee drag artist Hella Skeleton begged to differ, telling the NPR, “For Bill Lee to say, ‘You know, that was lighthearted when I did it,’ that is absolutely absurd when a lot of drag is extremely lighthearted. Apparently, when straight men dress up badly in drag, that’s OK. But when gay and queer and trans people do it, that’s not OK.”
Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union’s powerful full speeches at the #NAACPImageAwards
“Even as we demand equality at the top of our lungs, we consistently fail to extend our advocacy to protect some of our most vulnerable.”
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 26, 2023
The transgender community, in particular, has been left furious over fears that the bill being signed into law would ultimately make it harder for trans people — particularly those under 18 — to fully accept their identity knowing that there’s a constitution in place that forbids them from their general rights.
Union seems convinced that it won’t be long until people will stand up against the oppressive treatment by Tennessee politicians and their ill-treatment of gay and transgender people.