SNL’s first nonbinary cast member stands up for trans rights on Weekend Update

Molly Kearney, Saturday Night Live‘s first out nonbinary cast member, sent a powerful message to trans youth during last night’s episode.

Using a mix of humor and sincerity, Kearney devoted an almost four-minute block of the show’s famed “Weekend Update” sketch to discussing the hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills – many of which target trans youth – that have been introduced in state legislatures this year.

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The segment opened with the lights dimming and music playing while Kearney dramatically dropped down from the ceiling in a harness.

Kearney then says it was their dream to make that entrance but that the harness was hurting their “groin area.”

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Promotions (occasional)

“I’ve been hung up on my genitals for far too long, and I’m starting to feel like a frickin’ Republican lawmaker,” they said.

Kearney then went on to discuss the more than 14 states that have passed anti-trans laws directed at kids.

“For some reason, there is something about the word trans that makes people forget the word kids. If you don’t care about trans kids’ lives, it means you don’t care about frickin’ kids’ lives.”

The audience cheered and applauded in response.

“People need to wake up. We are making trans kids grow up too fast. We should be keeping them safe. We need to lift them up.”

Mocking people’s confusion over they/them pronouns, Kearney then began lifting into the air and yelled to the crew, “Not me ‘them’! I mean the kids! Che! They got my pronouns right!”

They then turned serious again and spoke directly to trans youth: “What’s happening kids is wrong, and you don’t need to be scared. Our job is to protect you, and your job is to focus on being a kid. It’s kind of like me flying in the SNL sky. There’s a bunch of dudes asking you about your crotch and controlling when and where you’re allowed to pee, but if you just hang on, you’ll look up and realize, you’re flying, kid!”

They concluded by shouting, “Trans rights!”