All Things LGBTQ+ (3 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

 

[Optimus Prime]

Transgender youth in the United States have been flooding crisis hotlines since the election of Donald Trump, who made anti-transgender themes central to his campaign. Many teens worry about how their lives could change once he takes office.

During his presidential bid, Trump pledged to impose wide-ranging restrictions and roll back civil rights protections for transgender students. And his administration can swiftly start work on one major change: It can exclude transgender students from Title IX protections, which affect school policies on students’ use of pronouns, bathrooms and locker rooms.

One ad that aired over 15,000 times crystallized Trump’s stance on rights for transgender and nonbinary Americans: “Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you.”

For one Alabama teen, the ad seemed to paint transgender and nonbinary people as a threat to society. The weekend before Election Day, the 16-year-old teen, who identifies as nonbinary and uses the pronouns “he” and “they,” called a crisis hotline at the Rainbow Youth Project.

The group that serves LGBTQ+ young people has received more than 5,500 calls to its crisis hotline in the past 10 days, up from the 3,700 calls it typically gets every month.

The teen was in despair and struggling with suicidal thoughts, according to his mother, Carolyn Fisher. She said she hadn’t realized the depth of her child’s depression and how painful it was for him to see political ads that felt like a personal attack.

With the help of crisis counselors, Fisher said her teen has begun feeling better. But bullying at school has gotten worse, with some students telling her child Trump is going to make him “go back in the closet,” Fisher said.

”The kids who have taunted him are now proud of themselves, and they rub it in,” she said.

Opposition to transgender rights was a focal point of Trump’s campaign: Republican ads attacking political opponents over transgender or LGBTQ+ issues have aired over 290,000 times on network TV since March 2023, according to data from the media tracking firm AdImpact.

The messaging may have resonated with many Americans. More than half of voters overall — and the vast majority of Trump supporters — said support for transgender rights in government and society has gone too far, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide.


President Joe Biden’s administration expanded recognition of transgender rights just this year. Interpretation of Title IX, a landmark sex discrimination law, is largely up to the executive branch, although court rulings can affect enforcement.……

Trump pledged to roll back protections for transgender students. They're flooding crisis hotlines

Transgender youth in the United States have been flooding crisis hotlines since the election of Donald Trump, who made anti-transgender themes central to his campaign.

apnews.com

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

Transgender youth in the United States have been flooding crisis hotlines since the election of Donald Trump, who made anti-transgender themes central to his campaign. Many teens worry about how their lives could change once he takes office.

During his presidential bid, Trump pledged to impose wide-ranging restrictions and roll back civil rights protections for transgender students. And his administration can swiftly start work on one major change: It can exclude transgender students from Title IX protections, which affect school policies on students’ use of pronouns, bathrooms and locker rooms.

One ad that aired over 15,000 times crystallized Trump’s stance on rights for transgender and nonbinary Americans: “Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you.”

For one Alabama teen, the ad seemed to paint transgender and nonbinary people as a threat to society. The weekend before Election Day, the 16-year-old teen, who identifies as nonbinary and uses the pronouns “he” and “they,” called a crisis hotline at the Rainbow Youth Project.

The group that serves LGBTQ+ young people has received more than 5,500 calls to its crisis hotline in the past 10 days, up from the 3,700 calls it typically gets every month.

The teen was in despair and struggling with suicidal thoughts, according to his mother, Carolyn Fisher. She said she hadn’t realized the depth of her child’s depression and how painful it was for him to see political ads that felt like a personal attack.

With the help of crisis counselors, Fisher said her teen has begun feeling better. But bullying at school has gotten worse, with some students telling her child Trump is going to make him “go back in the closet,” Fisher said.

”The kids who have taunted him are now proud of themselves, and they rub it in,” she said.

Opposition to transgender rights was a focal point of Trump’s campaign: Republican ads attacking political opponents over transgender or LGBTQ+ issues have aired over 290,000 times on network TV since March 2023, according to data from the media tracking firm AdImpact.

The messaging may have resonated with many Americans. More than half of voters overall — and the vast majority of Trump supporters — said support for transgender rights in government and society has gone too far, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide.


President Joe Biden’s administration expanded recognition of transgender rights just this year. Interpretation of Title IX, a landmark sex discrimination law, is largely up to the executive branch, although court rulings can affect enforcement.……

Trump pledged to roll back protections for transgender students. They're flooding crisis hotlines

Transgender youth in the United States have been flooding crisis hotlines since the election of Donald Trump, who made anti-transgender themes central to his campaign.

apnews.com

This has been an issue in my household. My kid is doing better, and has switched from wanting to study abroad for 4 years, to wanting to get into advocacy of some sort.

 

[Optimus Prime]

and we've talked about this before

The anti trans hysteria is no different than the anti gay hysteria

a red meat issue specifically designed to drive people into an angry frenzy engineered by people who didn't much care what the red meat issue was as long as it served the purpose of driving people insane with rage and fear "Gotta give em' something to be mad about"

It's also what I call the migration of hate, when one red meat cause dries up just move to the next

There was a time when one could publicly say "I hate gay people!" with zero backlash or consequences, that changed (unfortunately becoming more acceptable again)

Okay, so you can't say "I hate gay people" anymore so that switched to "I don't have a problem with gay people but I hate gay marriage!" then that changed

Okay, now you can't say "I hate gay marriage!" anymore either so that switched to "I don't have a problem with gay marriage but I hate gay adoption!"

Then then that changed to "I don't have a problem with gay people, gay marriage or gay parents, but I hate school children learning about/being exposed to any of those things!"

And "I hate trans people" came along at the same time with bathrooms then sports becoming a focal point

X years down the line it'll be something else

 

[coldseat]

and we've talked about this before

The anti trans hysteria is no different than the anti gay hysteria

a red meat issue specifically designed to drive people into an angry frenzy engineered by people who didn't much care what the red meat issue was as long as it served the purpose of driving people insane with rage and fear "Gotta give em' something to be mad about"

It's also what I call the migration of hate, when one red meat cause dries up just move to the next

There was a time when one could publicly say "I hate gay people!" with zero backlash or consequences, that changed (unfortunately becoming more acceptable again)

Okay, so you can't say "I hate gay people" anymore so that switched to "I don't have a problem with gay people but I hate gay marriage!" then that changed

Okay, now you can't say "I hate gay marriage!" anymore either so that switched to "I don't have a problem with gay marriage but I hate gay adoption!"

Then then that changed to "I don't have a problem with gay people, gay marriage or gay parents, but I hate school children learning about/being exposed to any of those things!"

And "I hate trans people" came along at the same time with bathrooms then sports becoming a focal point

X years down the line it'll be something else

It's a never ending game of whack a mole, supported by a population that never gets wise to the scam and seems to enjoy being yanked around by this chain of hysteria.

 

[Optimus Prime]

It's a never ending game of whack a mole, supported by a population that never gets wise to the scam and seems to enjoy being yanked around by this chain of hysteria.

and the innocent people used as cannon fodder for the hysteria? "Oh well, sucks to be you. Cost of doing business"

and I do think the population enjoys it to an extent.

"Enjoy" may not be the right word but it's certainly easier

"The problems and hardships you're experiencing now have many very complex and multi-faceted causes, many of which started decades ago"

vs

"It's all X's fault"

(and no one wants to hear that most of these decades long issues can't be 'fixed' in 2, 4 or 8 years)

 

[Optimus Prime]

Crowd cheered as two transgender women were attacked in Minneapolis, advocates say

The pair moved from Iowa to Minnesota last year under the 2023 ‘Trans Refuge’ law, according to a rally organizer

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Optimus Prime]

Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced legislation that would ban transgender women from using women’s restrooms on Capitol Hill just as the first transgender woman is about to be sworn into Congress.

Mace, a Republican serving in her second term, introduced the legislation on Monday evening. The bill would prohibit members of Congress, officers and employees of the House of Representatives from “using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.”

Earlier this month, Delaware elected Sarah McBride to be its sole member of Congress, making her the first openly transgender woman to serve in either chamber of Congress.

“Biological men do not belong in private women’s spaces,” Mace said in a post on X/Twitter. “Period. Full stop. End of story.”

The legislation would require the Sergeant at Arms of the House to enforce the resolution.

In response, McBride, who served in Delaware’s state senate, criticized the legislation.

“This is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing,” McBride posted on X/Twitter. “We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars.”………

Republican writes bill to ban transgender women from using proper bathrooms

‘This is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions,’ Sarah McBride says in response

www.independent.co.uk

 

[coldseat]

Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced legislation that would ban transgender women from using women’s restrooms on Capitol Hill just as the first transgender woman is about to be sworn into Congress.

Mace, a Republican serving in her second term, introduced the legislation on Monday evening. The bill would prohibit members of Congress, officers and employees of the House of Representatives from “using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.”

Earlier this month, Delaware elected Sarah McBride to be its sole member of Congress, making her the first openly transgender woman to serve in either chamber of Congress.

“Biological men do not belong in private women’s spaces,” Mace said in a post on X/Twitter. “Period. Full stop. End of story.”

The legislation would require the Sergeant at Arms of the House to enforce the resolution.

In response, McBride, who served in Delaware’s state senate, criticized the legislation.

“This is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing,” McBride posted on X/Twitter. “We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars.”………

Republican writes bill to ban transgender women from using proper bathrooms

‘This is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions,’ Sarah McBride says in response

www.independent.co.uk

There will be a whole rash of HATE legislation passed by this government. That's the one thing right wingers can agree on. Also, Nancy Mace is a detestable human being.

 

[Bigdaddysaints]

Also look for some roll back on Hate Crime Legislation.

 

[superchuck500]

Nancy Mace thinks she has found her issue. Has anyone checked to make sure she doesn’t have a penis?

 

[coldseat]

Nancy Mace thinks she has found her issue. Has anyone checked to make sure she doesn’t have a penis?

It's a sad commentary that that type of disrespect and prejudice are common in our Congress. She thinks she's being brazen and outspoken, when all she's doing is showing her arse to everybody. Even worse that she uses her claimed status as a sexual abuse survivor as a justification. I'm honestly questioning if she's even being honest about that, or if it's just another lie. I don't trust anything a person says that acts that outwardly and publicly ugly towards another person.