I don’t know why I love starting my morning with garbage, but it stirs me to write so…
NYT (archive) piece on Democrats and their approach to transgender rights moving forward.
The ‘politics’ of it all does not stir me, I think it’s obvious they must try and show some real humanity. They must speak clearly in favor of and make the case for transgender rights.
The part that got me to write was the following:
“Roughly 55 percent of voters said support for transgender rights in government and society has gone too far, according to AP VoteCast. More than 60 percent of adults say transgender women and girls should not be allowed to compete in sports with other women and girls, a Washington Post-KFF poll found. And strong majorities oppose minors’ using medications or hormone treatments, according to the Post-KFF poll.
At the same time, more than 60 percent of Americans support protecting transgender people from discrimination, according to the Pew Research Center. Most also oppose the government banning gender-affirming care for minors, including medication and surgery, Gallup found.”
I will leave the sports issue for a later time, what gets me is the poll numbers from the Post-KFF poll. I started to dig into that, but the righteous anger at that piece from me is a whole post in itself. I don’t give a damn what polls say on the matter of human rights. No amount of context makes horse race “65% of German people polled in 1941 think we need a solution to the Jewish Question” writing on these issues better.
I don’t think such reporting will serve to educate the American public any more on these issues. I don’t know what my point is, I just get wound up and this is the outlet. It’s my blog after all so ha!
I do need to pull one quote from the Post-KFF poll though: (photo caption and article text)
Valarie Johnson of LaBelle, Fla., is clear on her stance when it comes to discussing LGBTQ issues in the classroom. “Why would you introduce that subject to children when it has no life skills?” she said. (Saul Martinez for The Washington Post )
Valarie Johnson, 67, of LaBelle, Fla., said there’s no place in school for these sort of discussions. “Is that going to help these young people get a good job or a good spouse?” she asked. “Why would you introduce that subject to children when it has no life skills?”
I think a real education on gender, what it actually means and how sex and gender and sexuality are not linked would benefit everyone in having good relationships. Furthermore, for any trans youth or youth with any gender or sexuality that is not straight ahead heteronormative, the power of hearing that you, as you exist, are not bad or wrong is tremendous. How will you ever find a good spouse if you think you are essentially bad or wrong? How can one get a good job when you suffer the stress of presenting the ‘right’ kind of person based on what others perceive you ‘should’ be?
It is easy to cast stones at the theory and teaching of gender when your gender is set up by the world as the ‘correct’ interpretation (cisgendered and passing). Gender seems to not exist because yours (and the binary other) is allowable to it and privileged.
A quick NYT rip again “Speaker Mike Johnson Says He Will Ban Transgender Women From Capitol Bathrooms”
Never be fooled into thinking their ‘concerns’ (hate) stops with children. Children are being used as a tool. Once they have power they intend to target every trans person.
“Sarah McBride doesn’t get a say,” Ms. Mace told reporters on Monday. “I mean, this is a biological man.” Ms. McBride, she added, “does not belong in women’s spaces, women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms — period, full stop.”
Straight out of the TERF playbook. The casual cruelty of these people shocks me (I am far too hopeful it seems).
Next, a neat? series of photos (and a link to a book with more) by the Stasi.
Finally, a positive read from my archives. A very interesting blog about trauma surgery and what not: Doc Bastard
I meant to write more on tech, but got to the end of the day without getting the chance and needed to wrap up.