All Things LGBTQ+ (15 Viewers)

[Farb]

Didn't really see a place for this so I thought I would start a thread about all things LGBTQ since this is a pretty hot topic in our culture right now

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/17/sup...y-that-refuses-to-work-with-lgbt-couples.html

• The Supreme Court on Thursday delivered a unanimous defeat to LGBT couples in a high-profile case over whether Philadelphia could refuse to contract with a Roman Catholic adoption agency that says its religious beliefs prevent it from working with same-sex foster parents.
• Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in an opinion for a majority of the court that Philadelphia violated the First Amendment by refusing to contract with Catholic Social Services once it learned that the organization would not certify same-sex couples for adoption.

I will admit, I was hopeful for this decision by the SCOTUS but I was surprised by the unanimous decision.

While I don't think there is anything wrong, per se, with same sex couples adopting and raising children (I actually think it is a good thing as it not an abortion) but I also did not want to see the state force a religious institution to bend to a societal norm.

 

[Optimus Prime]

A polling firm has revealed that more than half of registered voters view Republicans’ anti-trans ads as “mean-spirited.”

54 percent of voters agree with the statement that attack ads on transgender people have “gotten mean-spirited and out of hand,” according to polling data released Thursday by left-leaning Data for Progress. 31 percent of Republicans also agreed with the statement, according to the poll.

Another 80 percent of likely voters said they “strongly” or “somewhat” agree both political parties should “spend less time talking about transgender issues and more time talking about voters’ priority issues like the economy and inflation.”

52 percent of likely voters also responded they would vote for a candidate who supports transgender rights over one who does not.

The Republican party has boosted its investment in ads attacking transgender peoplein the lead-up to Election Day, according to data from AdImpact, an ad-tracking firm, released this month.

Donald Trump’s most-aired attack ad against Kamala Harris in recent weeks, according to The New York Times, ends with the statement: “Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you.”…….

Republicans have bet big on anti-trans ads. Voters hate them

Republicans are investing in a wave of anti-trans ads in the lead up to Election Day

www.independent.co.uk

 

[coldseat]

Another 80 percent of likely voters said they “strongly” or “somewhat” agree both political parties should “spend less time talking about transgender issues and more time talking about voters’ priority issues like the economy and inflation.”

I'm so tired of this both sides bull shirt. Democrats don't talk about "transgender issues" at all. I can't even remember the last time a Democrat on the campaign trail even brought up transgender issues unless it was a question directly posed to them. And all of the questions posed to Democrats on "transgender issues" are purely seeking responses to Republicans villainization of transgendered people.

The only ones pushing "transgender issues" (really it's just hateful messaging, because they aren't actually talking transgender issues) are Republicans. And the reason they're talking about it so much is because they know the 80% of likely voters hate hearing about it and it makes them uncomfortable, so they will blame Democrats for it because they don't abandon the transgender community to make it a non-issue.

If those 80 percent of likely voters really want transgender issues to take a back seat to other "issues", then they would stop responding to this issues, stop blaming Democrats, treat transgender people respectfully, and stop voting for Republicans who are using this issue to win reelection. As always, this issue is with the 80 percent of likely voters and Republicans, not the transgender community or Democrats.

 

[J-DONK]

I'm so tired of this both sides bull shirt. Democrats don't talk about "transgender issues" at all. I can't even remember the last time a Democrat on the campaign trail even brought up transgender issues unless it was a question directly posed to them. And all of the questions posed to Democrats on "transgender issues" are purely seeking responses to Republicans villainization of transgendered people.

The only ones pushing "transgender issues" (really it's just hateful messaging, because they aren't actually talking transgender issues) are Republicans. And the reason they're talking about it so much is because they know the 80% of likely voters hate hearing about it and it makes them uncomfortable, so they will blame Democrats for it because they don't abandon the transgender community to make it a non-issue.

If those 80 percent of likely voters really want transgender issues to take a back seat to other "issues", then they would stop responding to this issues, stop blaming Democrats, treat transgender people respectfully, and stop voting for Republicans who are using this issue to win reelection. As always, this issue is with the 80 percent of likely voters and Republicans, not the transgender community or Democrats.

I'm honestly shocked Conseratives are still trying to make this an issue. They vastly underperformed in 2022 trying to use this as a tentpole issue. It really doesn't hold up when someone realizes we are talking .01% of the population.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Frederick County, Virginia — Dr. Jerry Putt, Frederick County Middle School’s (FCMS) principal since 2017, has been removed from his role following a divisive debate over a discontinued “LGBTQ+ Kindness” flex-time class intended to provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ students.

In response to the dismissal, an online petition has been launched, urging Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) officials to reinstate Dr. Putt, emphasizing his impact on the school community and his dedication to student welfare.

The controversy erupted after a group of parents voiced concerns about the LGBTQ+ flex-time offering at Tuesday’s Frederick County School Board meeting, arguing it deviated from state-approved curricula and questioning its appropriateness.

Chris Davey, a Back Creek District resident, claimed the class was “perverted” and faulted Dr. Putt for permitting it without parental notice, leading him to escalate his concerns to the school board.

The board warned school staff that unsanctioned curriculum additions would not be tolerated, stating that educators are “on notice” if they deviate from prescribed guidelines.

Dr. George Hummer, Superintendent of FCPS, announced Dr. Putt’s removal in a letter to parents on Thursday, introducing interim principal Grant Javersak but not providing specific reasons for the decision.

Community outcry against Dr. Putt’s removal has grown rapidly, with parents, students, and alumni taking to social media to support the former principal and advocate for his reinstatement.

Tiffany McGee, a local parent, launched a petition on October 24, 2024, calling for Dr. Putt’s return, citing his unwavering commitment to his students and recounting his personal impact on her daughter.

“He literally carried my daughter when she broke her foot and made sure she was okay,” McGee stated, describing him as a compassionate and exceptional leader.

The petition, which has gained significant traction, underlines research suggesting that strong school leadership can vastly improve student outcomes.

Controversy Erupts at FCMS After Principal's Dismissal

Amid controversy over an LGBTQ+ flex-time class, Dr. Jerry Putt was dismissed as principal of FCMS, prompting a petition for his reinstatement from supporters.

www.thewinchestergazette.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

First trans model to walk Victoria’s Secret fashion show reflects on making history

‘I didn’t even realize I was the first to walk until after I walked the show,’ model says

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Optimus Prime]

Imara Jones was filming a documentary on a road trip in California when she took a break to scroll the news. A story about state lawmakers in Idaho banning transgender girls from playing on female sports teams at public schools caught her attention; it was the second anti-trans legislation that Jones had seen passed in 2020.

She turned to her producer and told her that they needed to look into “this anti-trans stuff”. Dozens of similar bills were introduced in statehouses throughout the nation soon after.

A year later, Jones launched her podcast The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: A Plot Against Equality to look into the religious extremists, conservative political groups and billionaires pushing an anti-trans agenda.

Since then, the urgency of her work has only grown. Republicans have spent more than $65mon anti-trans television ads in recent months, according to the New York Times, despite the negative impact that they have on trans people’s safety and wellbeing, and scant evidence of its effectiveness in swaying voters. And in 2023 and 2024, more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced each year.


On her podcast, Jones – a Black trans journalist and founder of the platform TransLash Media – investigates the anti-trans industry with a conversational tone, all while centering the voices and experiences of trans people.

“I have a belief that when you see the same thing happening in different parts of the country at the same time, that that’s something to look into,” Jones said. “I think that coincidence is always great as a fertile ground for journalism and for looking under the hood about what’s going on.”

In the first episode of this year’s season, Jones looks at how the paramilitary group Proud Boysuses anti-trans rhetoric to stoke political upheaval.

Far-right militia groups have grown at unprecedented numbers in recent years, accordingto the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), while political violence in general has also increased.

For trans people, such rhetoric can lead to increased violence against them, as well as suicidal ideation. A recent report from the LGBTQ+ advocacy group The Trevor Project found that suicide attempts among trans and non-binary youth increased by up to 72% in states that enacted anti-trans laws.

“We know that trans people overall have been facing more violence since there’s been an uptick in anti-trans rhetoric in terms of hate crimes,” Jones said. “So we know that there is an impact on people’s safety and wellbeing solely because of the [public] conversation.”

Jones hopes that through her work, that the press and political leaders will begin to see anti-trans rhetoric as a serious threat to democracy and community safety.…….

‘Take these attacks seriously’: journalist Imara Jones on the dangerous rise of anti-trans political ads

In her podcast, the Black trans media founder unpacks the harmful wave of rhetoric and laws against US trans people

www.theguardian.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

LGBT+ crisis hotlines have been inundated with phone calls from young people distressed by Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 US presidential election, according to reports.

The Trevor Project, a nonprofit collective dedicated to supporting queer youths and preventing suicide, revealed it had experienced a nearly 200 percent increase in conversations with election-related keywords such as “election” and “rights.”

“In just the past few days, The Trevor Project has seen a nearly 200 percent increase in conversation topics related to the election across our 24/7 crisis services,” said Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, in a press release. “While alarming, we are not surprised to see that the wave of anti-LGBTQ+ politics of the past few years continue to harm young people’s mental health.”

The organization also reported that 90 percent of LGBT+ young people said their well-being was negatively impacted due to the election. Meanwhile, The Rainbow Youth Project – a nonprofit that advocates for the health, safety, and wellness of queer young people – told the Washington Post it had received more than 3,810 calls this month, surpassing its monthly average of 3,765 in the span of six days.…….

LGBT+ crisis hotlines reported a month’s worth of calls amid Trump election win

The Trevor Project reported a nearly 200 percent increase in crisis calls from LGBT+ youths concerned about a Trump presidency

www.independent.co.uk