John MuesVerified account

Tolerance Education. Manifesting the “International” nature of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, for each transgender death globally in the past year, a name and location were displayed and then a bell was rung. The bell rang, countlessly. The venue was quiet.

No region of the world was exempt. Here is the first half of my statement from that day: “As a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Montana, I often tell Democrats in solid red, or Republican, counties, that I always enjoys hanging out with a good group of Democrats, but I

particularly enjoy hanging out with Democrats in red counties, because of their differentiated courage and principled perseverance. In an age of piqued political division, it can be easier to just go along with the community flow. But in having the privilege to attend the

Transgender Day of Remembrance Memorial Service with you, I am struck by how quaint those remarks of mine may have been. While discrimination or violence can indeed visit one who is outside of the political norm, what those of the transgender community routinely

experience – manifested by this memorial service – is of another level. I hope those of the transgender community in Montana, my home state, not only feel safe, but are safe. And not because of a constrained, truncated, or hedged life. That they are safe while enjoying a

full life. That they are promoted at work when they perform well. That they are equally and profitably paid for the work they do. That they are hired when their qualifications are competitive. That they are loved at home when they are children. That, when they need help,

they are as entitled to assistance as anyone. That they are allowed to serve their country in uniform, as thousands of them have and are. That they can make mistakes, like anyone, without incurring disproportionate accountability. That when they excel, they are fully and