(Screenshot taken from YouTube by Alexander Emmanual Sandalis, from Wikimedia Commons. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.)
Abigail Shrier, who’s made activism against gender transitioning for transgender youth a personal crusade, has been tapped by Republicans to be a witness for the upcoming hearing on the Equality Act.
Shrier’s name appeared March 16 on the names in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s website for the hearing March 17. She has built a solid presence in conservative media as the author of “Irreversible Damage” and an expert on the harm she sees about medical practices allowing youth to transition.
Based on her past work, Shrier may discuss the Equality Act, which would expand the prohibition on discrimination against LGBTQ people under federal civil rights law, in terms of doctors having to provide transition-related care and parental consent for minors to undergo gender transition. Shrier didn’t immediately respond to the Washington Blade’s request for comment on her upcoming testimony.
Meanwhile, the American Psychological Association (APA) last week adopted a new resolution opposing gender identity change efforts, also known widely as the discredited practice of conversion therapy, for transgender youth. The APA also updated its resolution opposing efforts to change sexual orientation, originally adopted in 1997.
Shrier will take part in the second panel for the hearing, which consists of expert witnesses on the Equality Act. Joining Shrier as a Republican witness is Mary Rice Hasson, a fellow in Catholic Studies at the Ethics & Public Policy Center.
On the Democratic side, expert witnesses consist of Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign; Edith Guffey, a Kansas-based conference minister for the United Church of Christ; and Stella Keating, a transgender student from Tacoma, Washington.
David said in a statement the upcoming hearing will be “a historic opportunity to advance equality for all,” recognizing it will mark the first time the U.S. Senate has heard testimony on the Equality Act.
“The Equality Act is a unifying issue for our nation enjoying support from more than two-thirds of Americans and an unprecedented number of businesses who believe that not only is achieving equality the right thing to do but that it is also good business,” David added.
The first panel will consist of testimony from lawmakers on the Equality Act including Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the lead sponsors of the bill in their respective chambers of Congress.
Other Democrats who will testify are Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the only out lesbian in the Senate, and Rep. Marie Newman (D-Ill.), who has a transgender son. Republicans who will testify are Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).
The hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to begin March 17 at 10 a.m.
