CLIPS & QUOTES: ACTRESS, ACTIVIST, GLAAD BOARD MEMBER, PEPPERMINT, LEADS DISCUSSION OF TRANS ISSUES ON CNN

TRANSGENDER ACTRESS, ACTIVIST AND GLAAD BOARD MEMBER PEPPERMINT LEADS CONVERSATION ON CNN’S NEWSNIGHT WITH ABBY PHILLIP SPEAKING ON PIVOTAL SUPREME COURT CASE AND THE STATE OF BEING TRANSGENDER IN AMERICA

“Major decisions that impact our bodies, our lives, our families, our health, are being made without us being considered at all.”

New York, New York – Thursday, December 5, 2024  – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is sharing quotes and links related to an appearance on CNN’s NewsNight with Abby Phillip by Peppermint, a transgender actress, activist and member of GLAAD’s Board of Directors, and Shane Diamond, a transgender advocacy consultant for GLAAD.

The roundtable discussion on CNN was a rare occasion on cable and network news, in which transgender people were included during the discussion of topics and issues impacting the transgender people, issues and community. 

On Wednesday this week, The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tennessee’s healthcare ban that prohibits access to the care for transgender youth; the same care being argued remains available to cisgender youth. This disparate treatment is discriminatory and a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, as argued in the historic hearing by the first out transgender attorney to address the justices, Chase Strangio of the ACLU.

ON HAVING A SAFE AND RESPECTFUL CONVERSATION ABOUT TRANSGENDER ISSUES, PEPPERMINT SAID IN PART: “I do think it’s important to try to have a respectful discourse and understand that there are so many strong feelings. And I think part of the reason why there’s so many strong feelings is we’re talking specifically when we’re talking about trans issues. This is something that relates to gender and sexuality, something that all human beings have an inherent connection to, and also feel like they are the authority on. But every person is different in their own gender, in their own sexuality, in their own expression.

ON INCLUDING TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AT THE TABLE OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THEIR LIVES AND BODIES, PEPPERMINT SAID IN PART: “We are having a lot of conversation that has been highly politicized, and most of the conversations with me, with the exception of this one…have not involved transgender people in any way, shape or form. But major decisions that impact our bodies, our lives, our families, our health, are being made without us being considered at all.”

ON GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR TRANS YOUTH, SHANE DIAMOND SAID IN PART: 

“I don’t think being transgender or seeking medical care is political. I think it has been politicized largely by the right to create this type of conversation, to create these wedges, and we have now pigeon holed transgender people as the crux of what so much is hung upon in political discourse, but trans people make up such a small percentage of the population, and trans youth make up an even smaller percentage, that we are having these huge national televised conversations about…”

ON THE CLAIM THAT MORE YOUTH ARE TRANSGENDER, SHANE DIAMOND SAID IN PART:

“I wouldn’t say that there’s necessarily more young people who are trans. I think we have more language to describe who we are and how we feel. I think we are seeing transgender faces like peppermint and myself on TV and film and movies, and young people and older people are finally seeing themselves represented, and are having the language now to identify how they feel, how they felt. So I don’t think we are seeing more transgender people. I don’t think this is like an influx of trans people. 

Click HERE for GLAAD’s full story including clips from the segment

PHOTOS: Peppermint speaks in front of the Supreme Court, Credit: GLAAD

 

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About Peppermint, transgender actress, activist and GLAAD board member: Peppermint (she/her), a member of GLAAD’s Board of Directors, is a Black transgender woman and vocal advocate for trans people. In 2019, Peppermint became the first Black trans woman to originate a principal role in a Broadway musical (Head Over Heels). She is an actress and performer who has appeared on Traitors, RuPaul’s Drag Race (runner-up on Season 9), Pose, as well as other scripted and reality series. She is also part of ACLU’s Artist Ambassador Project and regularly appears across media outlets speaking about transgender equality. 

Peppermint has spoken at community rallies in NYC following the former President’s ban on trans military service and on the steps of the Supreme Court around Aimee Stephens’ landmark case for employment protections for trans people. She is also the Executive Producer and Host of the annual Black Queer Town Hall, a NYC Pride and GLAAD-supported event which brings together and spotlights Black LGBTQ issues and community members.

 About Shane Diamond, GLAAD Transgender Advocacy Consultant: Shane Diamond (he/him) is a transgender advocacy consultant for GLAAD and award-winning film and video producer, and social impact strategist. Earlier this year GLAAD, Shane and Ground Media released “Here We Are” – a groundbreaking video campaign introducing Americans to transgender people.  71% of Americans claim they’ve never met someone who is transgender. The campaign helped introduce transgender people and opened eyes and hearts. The campaign won an Anthem Award for social impact in the Best Campaign Awareness category. 

“Here We Are” campaign videos and details:

• Nadya and dad Mickey
• Gio and sister Chantille
• Ashton and dad Rick

Shane Diamond is also a visionary storyteller and social impact strategist with over a decade of experience leading transformative campaigns and initiatives across industries. As the Principal of Very Good Consulting, Shane partners with major corporations, nonprofits, and educational institutions to foster inclusive cultures and drive meaningful social change through strategic storytelling. His work has reached clients like Arcadis, Draftkings, ESPN, and Nike, where he advises on building equitable work environments and engaging communities through authentic narratives. Shane’s expertise in using storytelling as a tool for impact has made him a leader in shaping cultural and social movements.