An Open Letter to Iowa State Senator Tony Bisignano - Thank you for defending trans rights
thepoetmiranda (Wendy's editor) sends a letter
About the Letter
Over at thepoetmiranda.com, I share poetry. Here at Thistle and Moss, I take care of editing and write an article here or there about politics, trans issues, or religious trauma. This piece has it all, and I’ve crossposted it on my site.
Some of my poems do directly address the fact that I’m a trans woman and that trans rights are under attack in the U.S. While the GOP has attacked us federally and in every state legislature, Dems have mostly remained silent (except for the handful of trans politicians in state legislatures—those with literal skin in the game).
While I was browsing TikTok, I came across a powerful speech by Iowa State Senator Tony Bisignano. Though a bill erasing civil rights protections for trans Iowans passed yesterday, February 27, 2025, I appreciated the Senator’s speech in defense of our rights and decided to write him a thank you letter.
We need more people to stand up for us with this kind of passion. Here’s his speech, followed by my letter. Btw, you should also watch Rep. Aime Wichtendahl’s incredible speech in the Iowa House. She’s a trans woman—one of those with skin in the game.
Senator Bisignano’s Speech (2/27/2025)
The Letter
💜Miranda📚 (she/her🏳️⚧️)
28th February 2025
Senator Tony Bisignano
Iowa State Legislature
1007 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50319
Dear Senator Bisignano:
I’m not a constituent, but I do hope your staff shares this letter with you. In addition to sending this to you, I am posting it as an open letter at www.thistleandmoss.com and www.thepoetmiranda.com.
I’m a trangender woman originally from, but no longer living in, another rural, agricultural state: Oklahoma. Last year, My wife and I sold our home and moved our children and dog to a state that is statistically better for trans people. Transgender Iowans, with their own state leaders attacking them, face the same impossible choice–stay or go.
Thank you for your speech in defense of trans rights on February 27, 2025 in the Iowa Senate. Though the bill erasing civil protections for trans Iowans passed and heads to the Governor’s desk, thank you.
Except for the handful of transgender politicians nationwide–including Iowa’s own Representative Aime Wichtendahl (who gave an incredible speech herself in the House)–so few others have stood in support of our rights as the GOP has attacked them in every state house and federally.
I came across your speech on TikTok and then looped it and cried. You pointing out the shameful hypocrisy of evangelical “Christian” politicians, their cruelty, and their hatred without mincing words was refreshing. It also broke my heart; people I would’ve prayed with a few years ago now call me an ideology, a freak, a demon. This passage hit me hardest:
Shame on you. Shame on all of you Christians who want to keep talking about your faith when this is what God talked about. I don’t know where you go to church, and I don’t know what you read. But being a good Christian doesn’t take much. Do unto others. Take care of your neighbor. Keep your hand out of other people’s pockets.
That’s pretty much how I learned it growing up in my great grandma’s small town church. I learned that God loves us all, that we are all imago Dei–made in God’s image. I’ve read the gospels dozens of times, story after story of Jesus expanding the idea of who our neighbor is and how to love them as ourselves.
These days, my spiritual life is in the poetry I write. Sadly, the threats I’ve received from evangelical Christians and the attacks from the GOP, Trump, and Musk have followed me there. I would love to write my wife love poems every day while we grow old together, but lately I’ve written a Christmas poem about threats specifically from Christians and another hoping my country doesn’t imprison or kill me for being trans.
So many transgender people have indeed been killed by this country. Our siblings who are black trans women or indigenous trans people have been taken the most.
Thank you for standing for our rights. Thank you for doing it with passion. Thank you for calling out hatred and hypocrisy. God bless you.
Sincerely,
💜Miranda📚 (she/her🏳️⚧️)
“Christmas 2024” by Miranda
“Don’t Remember Me for My Resilience” by Miranda
Thank you for posting the address. I came across a video of this speech and cried as well. I have a trans daughter. She lives across the country from us, as our state isn't good for her either. It's heartening to know that even in the reddest of states, there are good people standing up for what is right. Gonna write the senator now.
I'm in Iowa, my youngest is trans and I've disengaged from social media and given up on my state. I really really needed to hear this today. Thank you for sharing it. Now I'll be taking a minute to cry.