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On Monday, April 12, 10-year-old Kai Shappley spoke before the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee, imploring them to reconsider the passage of a recent bill that would brand her mother a child abuser for respecting Kai's gender expression.
Shappley, a transgender fourth-grader, told the gathered legislators:
"I do not like spending my free time asking adults to make good choices."
"Texas legislators have been attacking me since Pre-K."
"I am in fourth grade now."
Watch the amazing @KaiShappley a huge fan of @DollyParton, 4th grader and a transgender girl, school the Texas Sen… https://t.co/mtPtMzcSSu— Meghan Stabler (@Meghan Stabler) 1618277096.0
With all the antiTrans kid legislation across the nation today it’s a good time to share our doc again. It’s only 1… https://t.co/cR2cCyWDL5— Kai Shappley HER/SHE 🍫 (@Kai Shappley HER/SHE 🍫) 1615465177.0
@MeghanStabler @KaiShappley @DollyParton @SenBryanHughes The fact that in the United States a FOURTH GRADER has to… https://t.co/8GQnVtvH36— Megan🏳️⚧️ (@Megan🏳️⚧️) 1618331934.0
@MeghanStabler @KaiShappley @DollyParton @SenBryanHughes You legistative types should listen to her. Because if you… https://t.co/q3g6MCMYsL— Ashley Curtis, MBA🏳️🌈 (@Ashley Curtis, MBA🏳️🌈) 1618326492.0
Republican state Senator Charles Perry recently told the committee:
"God created us all in his own image. We went outside that creation by our own accord and suffer with some of the consequences of being outside his will since the garden."
"This is another one of those issues that we find ourselves entangled in that unfortunately, the damage is to our most precious, precious being our children, not our personal lineage, but all of God's children and the children in this state."
Shappley rebuked Perry's argument by saying:
"God made me."
"God loves me for who I am, and God does not make mistakes."
@MeghanStabler @KaiShappley @DollyParton @SenBryanHughes She's brilliant, beautiful, articulate & understands far m… https://t.co/P25jISAdnD— Susan LaDuke (@Susan LaDuke) 1618360179.0
@MeghanStabler @KaiShappley @DollyParton @SenBryanHughes She is incredible! But yes it’s a shame she’s been forced… https://t.co/gS48TL3fKC— 💋Annabelle The Rose 🌹🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✨ (@💋Annabelle The Rose 🌹🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✨) 1618363170.0
Shappley ended her speech by saying:
"I want to say thank you to those of you who are sticking up for kids like me."
"By the time I'm in college, you will be celebrated in the history books."
@MeghanStabler @KaiShappley @DollyParton @SenBryanHughes I love this girl so much. It's a shame how the @GOP is we… https://t.co/CsdWHRN3U6— Alexis Zinovenko (@Alexis Zinovenko) 1618342283.0
@MeghanStabler @chasestrangio @KaiShappley @DollyParton @SenBryanHughes I was shocked by what an eloquent speaker s… https://t.co/igGM3g7aHR— Bill From Canada (@Bill From Canada) 1618339948.0
@MeghanStabler @KaiShappley @DollyParton @SenBryanHughes Things need to change immediately. There is ABSOLUTELY NO… https://t.co/PE9NbxGOLs— Emily Godiva Rose (@Emily Godiva Rose) 1618364070.0
Kai's mother, Kimberly Shappley, spoke to Good Housekeeping in 2017 about her experience as a Christian raising a three-year-old child who "was verbalizing that she was a girl at least six times a day."
"I used to lead a small ministry teaching Bible study, and I didn't support or condone those living the LGBTQ lifestyle."
"...There's never been a moment of doubt or regret after making the choice to let Kai transition. I've learned too much about identity and faith in loving my beautiful daughter exactly the way she is."
I faced the struggle of being judged as a mother and bad parent in courts during custody battles, because I advocat… https://t.co/oBDCNwRL0h— Phoenix🤰🏼✡🖤 (she/her) (@Phoenix🤰🏼✡🖤 (she/her)) 1618371457.0
Social media heaped praise on Kai for her brave, passionate speech.
This. Watch till the VERY end. Go @KaiShappley! https://t.co/GTENCqkyOu— Mombian (@Mombian) 1618368151.0
When I say that my heroes are trans kids I mean it. https://t.co/1nm6JKorbq— Kyle Lukoff (@Kyle Lukoff) 1618363354.0
It's uncertain whether Shappley's testimony will have any impact on the Texas state Senate, but she has won the hearts of many onlookers online.
Her words should surely inspire many young girls in the future.