All Things LGBTQ+ (5 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]

On Thursday 13 April, Missouri’s attorney general issued an emergency ruling that restricts access to gender-affirming care for both minors and adults, under the guise that hormone therapy is an “experimental use” rather than an FDA-approved treatment.

For the past year, transgender youth have been a football for conservative politicians, with their access to gender-affirming care restricted or outlawed in 14 states.

But this move by Missouri’s attorney general is the first attack on gender-affirming care for transgender adults; assuredly, it won’t be the last.

The first time I tried to get access to gender-affirming care was in 2003. I was 24 years old and lived in Rhode Island. I’d been out as transgender for eight years by then, eight years spent looking (on a good day) like a 14-year-old boy, until finally the me I saw in the mirror and the me I saw in my head didn’t match any more. Only testosterone would make me feel like myself.

I told my doctor, who was kind and sympathetic and said she had no idea about the protocols for administration of testosterone to a transgender person. She did find me a list of all the practitioners in Rhode Island who offered such care.

There were three names on the list. True, Rhode Island is not a large state, but still: three names. I called them all. Only one would see me, and only after I had gone to therapy and had a psychologist certify that I was ready to transition………

It’s not just trans kids: Republicans are coming after trans adults like me, too | Alex Myers

This move by Missouri’s attorney general is the first attack on gender-affirming care for transgender adults – and it won’t be the last

www.theguardian.com

 

[Bigdaddysaints]

it is just hilarious how much the R's are scared of gay and trans people. its like they are TERRIFIED of them. its like since they can't pass laws or rules against black people anymore, they have to find people they can attack, the hate has to flow..lol

 

[Optimus Prime]

 

[Optimus Prime]

it is just hilarious how much the R's are scared of gay and trans people. its like they are TERRIFIED of them. its like since they can't pass laws or rules against black people anymore, they have to find people they can attack, the hate has to flow..lol

we watched a documentary a while back on the lavender scare - a purging of gay government employees (I think LBJ's chief of staff was outed as well)

The thing was, like today it was just manufactured outrage, give people something (and someone) to be livid about, to be scared of, and to vote against

The people behind it didn't believe it at all, just a way to get and/or keep power

 

[Taurus]

we watched a documentary a while back on the lavender scare - a purging of gay government employees (I think LBJ's chief of staff was outed as well)

The thing was, like today it was just manufactured outrage, give people something (and someone) to be livid about, to be scared of, and to vote against

The people behind it didn't believe it at all, just a way to get and/or keep power

It's a way to wind up Democrats and make them go chasing off to defend an out-group that most of America gives no forks about and which doesn't have the numbers to move the needle even if they all voted 100% blue.

It's galling how well it works.

 

[zztop]

Montana transgender legislator silenced after 'blood on your hands' comment

Montana statehouse Republicans on Wednesday silenced Democratic transgender legislator Zooey Zephyr from floor debates for breaking decorum after she said lawmakers who backed a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors would have "blood on your hands."

www.reuters.com

Zephyr, a first-term representative from Missoula, said in the debate that denying such care was "tantamount to torture," and that a ban would lead to more suicides.

"If you vote yes on this bill and yes on these amendments, I hope the next time there's an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands," Zephyr said.

In response, the Republican supermajority silenced her within the chamber until she apologized, prompting a large protest by Zephyr supporters at the statehouse on Monday

 

[MT15]

You don’t have to agree with what she said, but she has the right to say it. They are taking representation away from her 11,000 constituents. I hope she has a case and sues them.

Have they ever done this to anyone before for speech? She didn’t break any rules that I am aware of.

This is fascist-adjacent.

 

[BullSheetBuddha]

It's a way to wind up Democrats and make them go chasing off to defend an out-group that most of America gives no forks about and which doesn't have the numbers to move the needle even if they all voted 100% blue.

It's galling how well it works.

Or is it a way to wind up Republicans by making them think they're being saved from a collapsing society by their electees?

 

[Taurus]

Or is it a way to wind up Republicans by making them think they're being saved from a collapsing society by their electees?

That, too.

The target bounces around...gays, immigrants, trans people, etc.

Always a minority, always an out-group lacking the numbers or money to cause the kind of damage Republicans claim even if that group were dedicated to destroying America 24/7.

 

[coldseat]

That, too.

The target bounces around...gays, immigrants, trans people, etc.

Always a minority, always an out-group lacking the numbers or money to cause the kind of damage Republicans claim even if that group were dedicated to destroying America 24/7.

The thing is that the left would easily ignore those attacks by the right wing. They always initially do ignore them because they're stupid and repetitive, but then they get caught flat footed. But the traditional media tying to "both sides" everything start to report on it and moderates start to "get concerned" and turn on Democrats. The moderates then start voting for "moderate Republicans" because for whatever reason the middle in the country inherently mistrust Democrats. So then the left and Democrats are forced to address the issues and "defend" (really explain how ridiculous the issue is more than anything else) the minority group.

Until the traditional media and moderates start ignoring Republican's culture wars, this cycle will never end. It's the same playbook Republicans have had for ages and it always works because of how skittish and mistrusting the middle of this country is of Democrats, no matter how much evidence we have that they should be reacting that way towards Republicans.

 

[Huntn]

The thing is that the left would easily ignore those attacks by the right wing. They always initially do ignore them because they're stupid and repetitive, but then they get caught flat footed. But the traditional media tying to "both sides" everything start to report on it and moderates start to "get concerned" and turn on Democrats. The moderates then start voting for "moderate Republicans" because for whatever reason the middle in the country inherently mistrust Democrats. So then the left and Democrats are forced to address the issues and "defend" (really explain how ridiculous the issue is more than anything else) the minority group.

Until the traditional media and moderates start ignoring Republican's culture wars, this cycle will never end. It's the same playbook Republicans have had for ages and it always works because of how skittish and mistrusting the middle of this country is of Democrats, no matter how much evidence we have that they should be reacting that way towards Republicans.

There is a movement on the Right Wrong, people on the Right are drinking the Koolaid. This movement is central to white privilege and the movement appears more than willing to toss democracy, equal rights, level playing fields, basically the foundations the country was created on so this group can maintain its perceived advantage. And it looks like they are willing to dismantle the Country to maintain it.

Just because the rest of us ignore the impending crisis, if there are enough imbeciles who elect poison, expect the worst. Number one we are in trouble because these people are electable, and number two, awareness of this danger is an important aspect of countering it, which the media plays an important role.

But like everything in our lives if just about anything is corrupted it becomes worthless. We‘ve seen this in politics and in the news media. And as always, these are just symptoms of the real issue which is not the jack arses in the media or on Capitol Hill, it is the people at home, millions of them who are willingly empowering the jack arses. This is why I am a cynic about our collective future.

 

[MT15]

 

[MT15]

 

[coldseat]

That "reservoir of sentiment" extends well into the left political side in our country as well.

 

[Optimus Prime]

'Offensive To Our Values': Group of Former Judges, IPS Officers Writes To President On Same-Sex Marriage

 

[bird]

And in Ohio-bama we have this little nugget:

Video: Testimony on Ohio trans bill accuses Muslim, Jewish opponents of being possessed

During House testimony on whether transgender minors should have access health care, man accused non-Christians who opposed HB 68 of being possessed.

www.dispatch.com

Note in the article that the bill would require any child undergoing gender care to be required to stop within 180 days or LEAVE THE STATE. The bill would also allow the AG to potentially penalize any doctor or therapist that makes a referral for a patient to go out of state.

 

[MT15]

These state legislatures are out of control. I’m a 68 yo woman, and according to their definition, I’m no longer allowed to use the womens bathroom?

 

[Taurus]

These state legislatures are out of control. I’m a 68 yo woman, and according to their definition, I’m no longer allowed to use the womens bathroom?

Watching the GOP try to define "woman" is like watching Dems try to define "assault rifle".