After Testifying Before the Senate, Stella Keating Speaks About Equal Rights For Trans Teens

This week, the U.S. Senate began debating the Equality Act, which would provide sweeping protections for LGBTQIA people and ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. At the Senate hearing, only one transgender person was represented: 16-year old high school sophomore Stella Keating. NBC’s Joshua Johnson spoke to Stella about her testimony and her request that lawmakers treat transgender teens like every other teen.» Subscribe to MSNBC:

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After Testifying Before the Senate, Stella Keating Speaks About Equal Rights For Trans Teens

27 comments

  1. Love Stella. She is bright and kind. So proud of her that she fights for not only herself, but for everyone.

  2. I love the way they briefly and casually ask each other what pronoun they prefer to be called by and without making a huge point about it, simply establish that and carry on with the interview.
    It CAN be that simple ♥️

    1. I’m not a native speaking so correct me if I’m wrong.
      Prefer means that is not binding and if i choose to refuse that this would be fully OK to do?

    2. @Ra Hall Technically correct. But why would you do that if you first make the effort of asking the question??
      If someone has a firm (though outdated) opinion about transgender people, l don’t think it’s appropriate to first send out the impression that you are genuinely interested in the answer to that question and then rudely (and frankly quite childish) say: “Ah, sr*w you, I don’t care if I hurt your feelings and do whatever I want anyway”.
      To be honest: Even though I couldn’t disagree more with anyone objecting to another person’s gender identity, at least the ones that bluntly say that before leading the other person on, are more honest about it and I rather have that than a faker.
      Though of course I MUCH RATHER want to see more people to just focus on their own lives instead of judging the lives of others, regardless of their ‘justification’ they might believe they have.

    3. @Miranda Bakker If I would ask it would be rude not to use it. Never would act so.
      I will never ask in the first place. I would use that what comes first in my head through what i see. Should I make an error and would be informed about it I might eventually use the other pronounce.

    4. @Ra Hall Okay, I understand that. Just the ‘might eventually’ doesn’t sound overly convincing to me though. But I can relate to using what comes to mind first in daily life. I don’t think I would ask every single person I meet in the street or shop about their preferred pronoun too. However, if I notice that the other person looks uncomfortable by that, I probably would ask this question myself and won’t wait for the other to inform me. Then again, if there is an open, friendly conversation, I think that it will work itself out between the two of us and then it doesn’t matter all that much who asks what first.
      As I said in my first comment: it is the casual ‘let’s not make a big deal out of this’ attitude at the beginning of the interview that I really liked and appreciated.

  3. As a parent and grandparent I must say that I adore this brave, articulate, humorous, charming young person. And I cannot imagine–barring clear evidence of sociopathy, raging bigotry and/or racism, and other iterations of clearly anti-social behaviour–withholding love from a child due to their sexuality.

    Brava to Stella.

  4. I agree with her, WHY should we treat them differently? they are just being who they are. I can’t say that I don’t see the problem, but I don’t really see the problem.

  5. I love this story and that other time a young person was highlighted. Youngsters will care more about the news when they see themselves on them.

  6. Nobody cares about there gender besides them self.
    And right in the beginning asking for a pronounce to use is hilarious.
    If both just used the one that came first in mind if you see the other person. your are 99% correct.
    Tread everybody with respect! No more, no less.

  7. WHAT AN AMAZING YOUNG LADY … INTELLIGENT .. POISED .. DETERMINED .. FIGHTER .. BEAUTIFUL & THE LIST GOES ON !!!!!
    GOD BLESS YOU & ALL THE VERY BEST AS YOU EDUCATE THOSE WHO FEAR WHAT THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND !!!!
    BIG HUG 🙂 ZOE , CANADA

  8. The so called trans high schoolers who won the titles in Connecticut weren’t on any type of medication to suppress testosterone, they simply just identified as girls and were allowed to compete, now I’m as liberal as they come but even I admit that’s having an unfair advantage. I admit conservatives love to stir up fear to win votes in elections, but liberals are also part of the problem as well, you are not trans unless you get medical treatment.

  9. A trans child and a vegetarian cat have one thing in common.
    You know they are not the ones calling the shots.

  10. Fear, fear, fear, fear……. It all boils down to fear, based on ignorance, anger and bigotry engendered by others who have an agenda, and often religious, so they say.

    1. Logic applies to those with or without religions. Fear can be the manifestation of concern for what is considered to be insane actions and policies towards mental instability.

  11. I have little use normally for the big corporate news outlets’ content, but this was a great segment! ❤️

  12. Dear Senate, I was born caucasian but I regard myself as African American

    Dear Senate, I was born Hispanic, but I regard myself as Asian American.

    Dear Senate, I was born a male, but I reject any form of sexuality or gender having had said organs removed from my body, and therefore claim myself as Blank.

    Dear Senate, I was born as Tom Smith, but in my heart, I know that I am the reincarnation of a Scottish peasant girl from 1675 and ask that I be recognized as such.

    Dear Senate, I was born human, but I feel a greater connection to nature and therefore respect that I will be viewed as a feline.

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