America First Must Mean Human Rights First

 

 

As families across the United States prepare to gather for Christmas — a season defined by compassion, dignity, and authenticity — lawmakers in Washington are advancing legislation that undermines those very values. This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R.3492, the so‑called Protect Children’s Innocence Act. Despite its name, the bill is nothing more than a veiled attempt to strip away rights from transgender youth and their families.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R‑GA), one of the bill’s most vocal supporters, claims to champion children. Yet her record tells a different story. If she truly cared about children, she would have fought against the dismantling of the Department of Education, which left students with disabilities without critical services and support. She would be working to restore cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), lifelines for millions of families. Instead, she has chosen to make life harder for transgender youth, denying them access to the healthcare and supports they need to live authentically.

This is not an isolated moment. Since entering Congress in 2021, Greene has promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, attacked marriage equality, and targeted the LGBTQ community. Her actions reveal a consistent pattern: elevating division and fear over compassion and truth.

History warns us of the dangers of such rhetoric. The Holocaust did not begin with gas chambers; it began with fear‑mongering, with leaders labeling certain groups as “unworthy of life.” When politicians classify transgender Americans as threats rather than human beings deserving of dignity, they echo that perilous path.

Greene often wears a silver cross around her neck but denying life‑saving healthcare is not an act of faith — it is a betrayal of it. By deciding who deserves care and who does not, she places herself in God’s role, violating the First Commandment, very commandment she claims to uphold.

She may call herself “America First,” but true patriotism means putting human rights first. America’s strength lies in its diversity, in its commitment to protecting every child’s right to live authentically and without fear. In a world where being anything but straight can still be criminalized, the United States and its allies must stand firmly against bigotry, homophobia, and transphobia.

This holiday season, as we celebrate love, family, and the freedom to be ourselves, we must remember that protecting children means protecting all children — including transgender youth. Legislators who claim to defend innocence while denying healthcare and dignity are not safeguarding childhood; they are weaponizing it.

True patriotism does not come from exclusion. It comes from standing up for the vulnerable, honoring diversity, and defending every child’s right to thrive. In a world where being different can still be dangerous, the United States must lead with courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to human rights.

Because “America First” should never mean some Americans last.