Three Ohioans, including one transgender teenager, lobbied Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce and three Minnesota lawmakers for transgender equality, with support ACLU AND Supporters of equality for trans people in mid-February.
Father Mike, his 17-year-old daughter Marigold and 63-year-old transgender elder Kaden Ames joined about 30 other people selected by the ACLU to lobby lawmakers in Congress. Together they walked through Washington to meet with organizations. (Mike asked that his and his daughter’s last names not be used in this story.)
As they walked around the city, Mike, a Navy veteran, noticed tattered and torn American flags flying from buildings like the Capitol.
“I’ve been to D.C. a few times and this time, honestly, it was a disgrace,” he said. “It’s just dog and pony shows.”
– Did he blink at all?
They received ACLU lobbying training and a welcome dinner. After forming a group with another selected lobbyist, they lobbied lawmakers the next day.
Mike, Marigold, and Ames received very different receptions from Democratic staffers and Joyce’s staffers.
Ames said the Joyce employee felt “cold.” The man had a tablet and pen with him to take notes, but when he realized what the meeting was about, he put the phone on the tablet and leaned back.
“You couldn’t read anything on it,” Ames said. He recalled later telling the ACLU, “Did he even blink?”
Marigold felt herself hesitate as she tried to make her comments to Joyce’s employee.
“I felt like we were getting nowhere,” she said. “I didn’t feel like my voice was heard.”
Mike, Marigold’s father, was talking to someone else in the office. The person told him that the employee he was talking to was a novel employee.
“They just grabbed a new guy and put him in a room with us,” Mike said. “I had more engaging conversations with the trees.”
All three said Democrats were taking notes and seemed familiar with the issues. When Marigold mentioned cuts related to Trump’s 988 mental health hotline, their faces changed.
Marigold talked about how her friends had used 988 in the past. She said that after the LGBTQ+ option was withdrawn, they stopped calling the hotline altogether.
“They were actually a little surprised,” she said. “At the end they said, ‘Yes, I almost forgot about it. I’m glad you reminded us.'”
To go
Ames was afraid to travel to Washington. It was his first solo trip, but the ACLU connected him with Mike and Marigold.
Reflecting on his time in DC, Ames felt like he could do something like that again.
“I felt heard, I felt seen. People recognized me. Everyone except Representative David Joyce shook my hand. One lady asked if she could hug me,” he said. “It was a really good experience.”
Marigold said she isn’t looking too far into the future and trusts staff will provide feedback to her and have more influence on the legislature’s decision-making process.
“I didn’t go into the show with any expectations because I have no idea what to expect these days,” she said. “When I talk to them, I don’t think so much about the people they represent.”
Marigold is used to going to authorities to defend herself as a transgender woman and “has become accustomed to feeling like she is part of something bigger than me.”
“I know I can [do this] now,” she said. “I have opened the gateway to perhaps future representation and my ability and potential to fight for my rights, my cause and my identity as a human being.”
He said Mike has been in a tough situation since federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security took over Minneapolis on an immigration enforcement mission. He wasn’t sure if he would come back with Marigold.
Despite his worries, Mike said he saw his daughter grow during the trip and the two formed a bond.
“There are very few moments where I have been more proud and confident of her,” Mike said. “I needed to see my child be herself.”
“I just wanted to let my daughter do her thing because she’s the important person in the equation. In many ways she was trying to take the lead. It was beautiful – absolutely terrifying, but beautiful.” 🔥
START ACTION
- To learn more about volunteer opportunities with the ACLU of Ohio, click here.
- The Buckeye Flame Ohio’s 2025-2026 LGBTQ+ Legislation Guide can be found here.
- To register to vote or check your eligibility to vote in Ohio, click here.
- To find the contact information for your Ohio State Representative, click here.
- To find contact information for an Ohio State Senator, click here.
- If you are a newborn LGBTQ+ person in crisis, please contact Trevor’s project: 866-4-U-Trevor.
- If you are a transgender adult in need of immediate support, please contact National Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
