Sunny Bryant 
, 8, poses for a photograph inside her family’s home on Monday, , in Houston. Sunny and her parents, who have been outspoken for the rights of transgender children, have been invited as honored guests of U.S. Rep.
Rebekah Bryant hugs her dily’s home on Monday, , in Houston. The mother and daughter trekked to Austin multiple times to testify against proposed state legislation targeting transgender children, their parents and their medical providers.
Sunny Bryant can do tricks on her roller skates, crochet and play violin, and if she could be famous for something, she would like it to be for her jokes.
Sylvia Garcia to virtually attend President Joe Biden’s second State of the Union address
But at least for now, the 8-year-old is better known as an utterly upbeat and outspoken advocate for equality and justice for transgender children like herself. She took multiple trips with her mother to Austin to address lawmakers during the repeatedly extended Texas legislative session.
On Tuesday, the Houston third-grader squealed when she was introduced by name during a session of U.S. House of Representatives and was very happy the topic of trans kids came up when she and her family virtually attended the State of the Union as honored guests of U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia.
Abbott and Paxton both refer to these parents as supporting “genital mutilation,” a notion many experts in LGBT health care have said indicates a gross misunderstanding of what medical procedures are actually offered to children
The Houston Democrat, who represents the area where Sunny and her family live, said such young leaders “inspire us all.” Garcia said she was proud to invite Sunny to attend what is generally considered the president’s most important speech of the year. The congresswoman told the Houston Chronicle, “Even through politically-charged attacks on Texas’ trans youth by Governor Greg Abbott, she remains a bright and strong voice for Houston children.”
You see, Sunny is a transgender girl, and like her Texas transgender community, she is experiencing fear due to politically motivated attacks ordered by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. pic.twitter/ONFKNN7Ufg
Abbott, a Republican incumbent battling conservative priid a series of formal opinions by Attorney General Ken Paxton that he thinks parents who support gender-affirming care for transgender children should be treated as child abusers. Paxton’s non-binding opinion last week followed multiple failed attempts by Republicans state lawmakers to pass measures that would punish parents and health care providers who support gender-affirming care for transgender children.
Although medical associations support such interventions, the governor has said he considers it child abuse to allow transgender children access to medicine that slows the onset of puberty or hormone treatments that help older children develop into bodies that match their identities.
And to play on teams with kids of their true gender. For kids Sunny’s age, transitions are about new clothes and pronouns, not medical interventions.
Adri Perez, a policy and advocacy strategist for the ACLU of Texas, said some of the outspoken transgender children have spent most of their childhood going to Austin to “try and defend their humanity.”
These discussions are especially trying for parents who support their children’s transition and want to protect them from harm, Perez said. “One of the most terrifying things about attacking parents who love and support trans youth is by attacking those parents you’re attacking trans youth.”
“We are disgusted and distraught that our governor and attorney general have chosen to attack Texas children and their loving families,” said Sunny’s mom, Rebekah Bryant. “Many families like ours are in a panic, suddenly feeling unsafe in our homes and scrambling to know our legal rights.”