This week, we talked to Vanessa Joy, a trans woman in Ohio who was disqualified from running for office because she didn’t include her former name on her petition. It’s a little-known law that wasn’t included in the candidate guide or on the petition itself, but someone at the Board of Elections knew it could keep Vanessa from running. And it isn’t hard to guess the politics of that mysterious “someone.”
But if Trump wins in November and Project 2025 is put into place, “gotcha” laws will be far from our only concern. Vanessa says she and other trans people are afraid for their very lives. Many families are making contingency plans to flee the country. That might sound like fear-mongering — in fact, it might even sound like the very fear-mongering that we’ve accused Republicans of. But unlike “Pizzagate” or “stolen elections,” Vanessa’s fears are all too real.
Hate crimes spiked the last time Trump was in office. Right now, Republicans are voting against birth control, IVF, and life-saving medical care for pregnant and trans people alike. And Project 2025 is a detailed, written plan to take a wrecking ball to our democracy. (You can learn more about Project 2025 in our explainer page here.)
For Vanessa’s sake, and for all Americans, we wish this was made up. But unfortunately, it’s just the truth of what’s at stake in this election.
It's Not Fear-Mongering, It's Fact