They Talk of Safety

They talk of freedom,
but force restrictions on
whose voices can be heard,
whose books can be read,
whose love can be legal. 

	They ask how a person can know their gender identity,
	but don’t think about when they knew who they were.

They talk of safety,
but want adults
to look at children’s genitals
to determine which soccer team
they should play on.

	They ask what the definition of a woman is,
	but don’t think about defining a man by his reproductive role.

They talk of protection,
but storm into bathrooms,
their phone recording,
to catch a stranger
shitting in a stall.

	They ask where all the old trans people are,
	but don’t think about where all the old sequoias are.

They talk of innocence,
but never teach their kids
what love looks like,
what abuse looks like,
what the difference is.