GOP Blitz on transgender people
Republicans and their allies are on a full blitz to erase trans people from public life. Trans individuals continue to be undeservedly political targets.
This week a school district in Wisconsin changed its trans policy — and approved a new plan that will create more restrictive policies for trans students. The changes include:
- If a student is a minor, their parent or guardian must be alerted and provide consent before the student can identify with new pronouns or a new name that is different from what is on their birth certificate. (This seems dangerous and unrealistic for many trans individuals. There is evidence that barely half of parents accept their trans and non-binary children.)
- If a parent gives consent to affirm their child’s gender identity with new pronouns and a new name, under this policy, school staff “may” use those pronouns and name but “shall not be compelled” to do so, according to the district’s plan. (This also seems unhelpful if people in the public space like teachers and administrators don't acknowledge fundamental individuality of a person.)
- Students will also use the restrooms, locker rooms and other facilities on district property consistent with their biological sex. (This is a long debate and mainly a scare tactic. If this was a problem, we'd know more by now. Resources here.)
- Students will be permitted to participate in intramural sports/extracurricular activities consistent with their biological sex, according to the plan. (The sports debate feels so far down on the worry of concerns. It's based more on discrimination rather than facts. Read this news and this overall argument for why this issue is a non-issue — just a discrimination against trans individuals. I don't think sport leagues are being overrun with this issue. )
The conservative nonprofit Moms for Liberty backed this plan. They are a group hellbent on taking LGBTQIA+ curriculum / books out of schools, or if you're a LGBTQIA+ person, hidden. They want to keep families nuclear and 1950s popular. They are self-proclaimed "Joyful Warriors," and led by Tiffany Justice, the most "joyful" of them all. She likes to taunt trans people and has pushed book bans in Florida, backing Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Like policies of this ilk, it's unclear what problems in public life have sparked an aggressive stance on trans kids, trans people. As the report points out:
Supporters of the new policy say the roughly 25 children in the district who identify as transgender should not be allowed to make the district’s 3,000 students feel uncomfortable.
But one speaker questioned why the policy should be changed if there haven’t been any actual incidents in Watertown.
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Meanwhile, from a school district in eastern Wisconsin to the halls of Congress, Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina is defending a measure she introduced that would ban transgender women from women's bathrooms in the U.S. Capitol. This is a move to taunt and make the life of a transgender individual, the first such individual elected to Congress, Dem. Sarah McBride, a living hell.
McBride said it best in a response:
“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. We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars. Delawareans sent me here to make the American dream more affordable and accessible and that’s what I’m focused on.”
This is a manufacturing and a distraction, but as long as Republicans want to talk about it, Dems and allies should stand with transgender individuals. While oppositions and colleagues should point to McBride's list as the real problems politicians should be trying to fix.
One of the base pillars for health is being able to feel accepted, feel respected. It's great work to create spaces — and policies — that respect everyone. Blitzes should be met with shields and blocks.
P.S. A great piece from transgender journalist Erin Reed:
Erin Reed
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