Just Like You — Grace Now

GRACE Releases third PSA in “Just Like You” Campaign in response to political attack on transgender community. Conservative Army Veteran calls for acceptance and understanding

GRACE parent Eric Childs: “To me, serving my country was defense of freedom, fighting for democracy, defending our country in its entirety after we'd been attacked. Freedom means liberty. It means the ability to live your life as you see fit. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And I wanted that for my children one day.”

WASHINGTON, DC, October 22, 2024 – Gender Research Advisory Council + Education (GRACE), a transgender-led national nonprofit organization promoting equality, dignity, and respect for transgender individuals, is releasing a new public service announcement (PSA) in its “Just Like You” campaign entitled “Freedom, Love and Liberty” which features former Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran and dad of a transgender child Eric Childs. After filming this PSA, Mr. Childs passed away in a tragic accident only days after the governor of his state signed anti-transgender laws into place. He courageously served in the US Army’s 10th Division and was a strong advocate in South Carolina for the transgender community.

This powerful and poignant PSA is being released on the heels of an organized, national anti-trans advertising campaign. GRACE hopes it will bring an overlooked, important perspective to the conversation: trans people and their families.

The PSA focuses on the rights of all Americans for freedom, liberty, and self-determination as anti-transgender rhetoric is being put forth by some politicians around the United States. In the PSA, Mr. Childs unequivocally states, “To me, serving my country was defense of freedom, fighting for democracy, defending our country in its entirety after we'd been attacked. Freedom means liberty. It means the ability to live your life as you see fit. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And I wanted that for my children one day.”

GRACE founder and President Alaina Kupec, a veteran and former US Naval Intelligence Officer, feels that the PSA’s message was critical to counter the false narratives currently pervading the country about transgender people: “The politicization of the transgender community has always been one of distraction from more relevant issues. We have politicians who talk about freedom and liberty for everyone while publicly doing all they can to marginalize and erase transgender citizens. The deliberate untruths they put forth are in direct contrast to our founding fathers’ vision and American values these politicians say they stand for.”

Statement from Jessicka Spearman Childs, Eric’s widow, and mother of a transgender son:

“Eric believed in the importance of freedom for trans kids — the right to live authentically and without fear. He saw this not as a political issue, but as a human one, recognizing that every child deserves the chance to thrive and feel whole. His legacy isn’t just one of military service; it’s one of compassion, empathy, and fighting for the right of every individual to live as their true self.”

GRACE is releasing this PSA to media and social media platforms in the hopes of countering some of the anti-transgender messaging that has recently entered many news cycles and been advertised on entertainment platforms. The project’s lead filmmaker, Kenny Wassus added, “Eric’s story doesn’t end with his passing - his memory will forever challenge the idea that conservative values and transgender rights are incompatible. Eric’s unwavering support for his child and the transgender community will always be a reminder that standing up for your family is one of the most patriotic things you can do.”

About GRACE

GRACE (Gender Research Advisory Council + Education) was founded on the conviction that transgender issues are inherently human issues and should be supported by champions of all political leanings.

GRACE is a new trans-led organization that humanizes transgender experiences to combat the negative laws and rhetoric aimed at the trans community. GRACE is focusing its efforts on center and center-right audiences who are often not prioritized but whose support is needed to change the current national narrative. Visit www.grace-now.org.

To reach GRACE please contact media@grace-now.org

GRACE Releases Video: A South Carolina Law is Forcing a Christian Family to Relocate

“I Learned from the Church to Love Everybody” - A Christian father from South Carolina describes how his faith calls for support of his transgender child

WASHINGTON, DC, June 24, 2024 – The Gender Research Advisory Council and Education (GRACE), a new transgender-led national nonprofit organization that promotes equality, dignity, and respect for transgender individuals through research-based advocacy and amplifying transgender voices, released today a short video featuring Rich Lovegrove, a church goer and former deacon, who is a father to a transgender teenager. Lovegrove’s interview tells his story as a Christian father who loves and supports his transgender daughter because of the teachings of his faith. “I learned from the Church to love everybody... As a dad of a trans kid, I am very proud that we raised a child that was brave enough to come out to her parents, not knowing how we would react,” says Lovegrove. The video also shows clips and photos of Lovegrove, his wife and his family in their daily life, as well as his faith journey. Video can be viewed HERE.

“The Lovegroves are like so many other American families right now - having to uproot their lives, leave jobs, family and friends in order to continue the medically-necessary care for their child. Parents, patients and doctors should be making decisions about medical care, not lawmakers,” said Alaina Kupec, GRACE’s Founder and President. “These lawmakers are playing politics with their constituents’ lives when they are willing to dehumanize the transgender community under the guise of protecting children. Yet they cannot show any examples of inappropriate care taking place in their States.”

GRACE is releasing this video in the wake of South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signing House Bill 4624, which prohibits transgender youth from accessing health care in his state. The bill also requires public school administrators to report students to parents if they identify as a different gender from their assigned sex or using different pronouns. While this anti-transgender bill was passed in the South Carolina Legislature and signed by the Governor, a recent poll from Mason Dixon Polling & Strategy found that 71 percent of South Carolina’s registered voters believe that the government should not intervene in parental health care decisions. This rate is reinforced by a recent national Data for Progress poll, which found that 76 percent of registered voters believe that decisions regarding transgender care for youth should lie with parents or doctors, and not with the government.

“Rich, Leslie, and their daughter Esmee were so kind to invite us inside their home. They are a loving and warm family and it was tough to watch them grapple with having to move out of a state they love so much simply because of the anti-trans legislation,” said filmmaker Spencer Macnaughton, who co-produced the video with filmmaker Kenny Wassus. Macnaughton added, “Rich is a proud and loving dad who was inspired by the notion that ‘God loves everyone’ when he decided to affirm and support his daughter. It's a shame many folks are weaponizing religion in an effort to dismantle the rights of the transgender community.”

The production is the second video in GRACE’s “Just Like You” campaign launched to win the hearts and minds of Americans to support transgender equality in the same way the “Love is Love” campaign played a role in building strong bipartisan majorities to support marriage equality. GRACE was founded on the conviction that transgender issues are inherently human issues and should be supported by Americans of all political leanings.

GRACE Releases Video Highlighting Conservative, Veteran’s Support for Transgender Issues

"I Love my Trans Child..." HEAR Conservative Combat Veteran’s Ask to Protect His Child in Powerful New Video"

WASHINGTON, DC, April 15, 2024 – The Gender Research Advisory Council and Education (GRACE), a new transgender-led national nonprofit organization that promotes equality, dignity, and respect for transgender individuals through research-based advocacy and amplifying transgender voices, released today a one-minute-long video featuring Eric Childs, Operation Iraqi Freedom combat Veteran with conservative values, and father to a transgender teenager.

Childs’ interview tells his story as a Veteran who deeply loves and supports his son, who is transgender. “I live in a small town in South Carolina. I absolutely believe in protecting my rights. And I absolutely love my trans child,” says Childs. Accompanying b-roll shows clips of Childs and his son bonding on a shooting range. To watch the video click here. GRACE plans to produce and release a second video in the coming months.

“As a Veteran of the U.S. Navy, and a trans person myself, I know firsthand how sensitive topics of gender identity are in our country’s current systems,” said Alaina Kupec, GRACE’s Founder and President. “It is my sincere hope that this video makes its way through lesser-reached networks and serves as an example of the power of a father’s love and shows the breadth of unwavering and bipartisan support for transgender issues.”

GRACE is releasing this video as the South Carolina legislature is considering H.B. 4624, a bill that would prohibit transgender youth from accessing gender-affirming care. In stark contrast to the bill’s potential to revoke parental rights to medical decision-making for their children, a recent poll from Mason Dixon Polling & Strategy found that 71 percent of South Carolina’s registered voters believe that the government should not intervene in parental gender-affirming health care decisions. This rate is replicated by a recent national Data for Progress poll, which found that 76% of registered voters believe that decisions regarding transgender care for youth should lie with parents or doctors, and not with the government.

“The impact of this story cannot be understated,” remarked filmmakers Spencer Macnaughton and Kenny Wassus. “Families like Eric’s exist all across the country and debunk the notion that people with conservative values can’t also be in favor of transgender rights.

The production is the first effort in GRACE’s “Just Like You” campaign launched to win the hearts and minds of Americans to support transgender equality in the same way the “Love is Love” campaign played a role in building strong bipartisan majorities to support marriage equality.
GRACE was founded on the conviction that transgender issues are inherently human issues, and should be supported by champions of all political leanings.

About GRACE