Letter To The Editor: An Open Letter to Representative Hageman

This letter to the editor was posted in the Gillette News Record on May 6th, 2025. You can read the original letter online HERE.

My friends and I drove an hour to Buffalo in the hope of participating in your Town Hall. Earlier, I agonized over which of the many things I was despairing about our government, which I could ask you.

Should I ask you about the incompetence of Pete Hegseth? Should I ask about your rubber stamping everything Trump does, despite his infringing on our civil rights? I just read that a judge who dared to rule against him has been arrested! I could ask you about climate change, or I could ask you how small communities in Wyoming are expected to continue on in light of federal cuts?

I could’ve asked you where our morals are, when we cut USAID to the poorest of the poor in foreign countries, literally causing children to die every day because they lack food and medical help.

Instead, I decided to speak up for people like my niece who transitioned into a man, married their partner, and now have a beautiful baby boy. Thankfully, she lives in Massachusetts where LGBTQ+ individuals are not persecuted the way they are here.

Did you know that out of the 500,000 athletes that participate in NCAA sports, they estimate 10 are trans. Despite this, you and the government have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to write them out of society. According to the PEW Research Organization, 1.6% of our population identifies as trans or nonbinary. Representative Mace’s proposal preventing the newly elected trans woman from using the women’s bathroom is divisive and a distraction from what you and your colleagues should be working on.

My friends and I left your town hall fuming. We had no opportunity to ask our questions, but we had to listen to you lie about one thing after the other with no opportunity to correct you. By the way, methane is one of the strongest greenhouse gasses.

Christy Gerrits

Gillette