March 29, 2023

Nebraska Democratic State Legislators are FIGHTING BACK!

This is so encouraging, it's the Democratic Party I've supported since before I was old enough to vote.

Nebraska GOP Tries To Stop Trans Filibuster, Dems File 742 Motions In Response
Nebraska's majority changed its long-standing rules around priority motions, attempting to kill a Democratic filibuster over trans rights. Democrats proceeded to file 742 motions to halt proceedings.

"On Tuesday, Republicans sought to end a Nebraska filibuster led by Sens. Cavanaugh and Hunt over anti-trans legislation. The focus of the filibuster is LB574, a bill that would require medical detransition for transgender youth and prohibit their medical care. Sen. Cavanaugh has gained national attention in recent weeks for effectively stalling the state's legislative process; no bills have been passed in Nebraska this year. She recently negotiated with GOP leadership to discuss the bill, cautioning that the filibuster would continue if the bill advanced. When it did, Democratic senators announced that a line had been crossed and the session was effectively over. In response, Republicans tried to terminate the filibuster by altering the rules, prompting Sen. Cavanaugh to assert that a filibuster would “flow like water.” Democratic Senators proceeded to file 742 motions on upcoming bills to be heard."

https://erininthemorn.substack.com/p/nebraska-gop-tries-to-stop-trans

(Erin is also the creator of the often updated map of anti-trans laws)

March 29, 2023

Gov. Bill Lee of Tennessee let his domain registration lapse...

"...and is now in the "finding out" portion of f*cking around with a tech industry that is dominated by LGBTQIA+ people"

https://www.governorbilllee.com

(from Mastodon, https://tech.lgbt/@mstrmustache@kolektiva.social/110035539175478949 )

March 27, 2023

Alabama Judge requires parents to turn over transgender children's medical records

Parents who are fighting to overturn Alabama’s ban on some types of gender-affirming care have been ordered by a federal judge to turn over their children’s medical records.

Boe v. Marshall was brought by five parents who argue a 2022 state law strips them of the right to make important decisions about their children’s healthcare. All of the children involved in the case are transgender, according to court documents, though not all have been formally diagnosed with gender dysphoria or chosen to take medication.

In their response to the defendant’s initial request for medical records, plaintiff’s stated that such records are protected and confidential medical information. They also argued that, under the new law, evidence that such treatments have been offered in the state could possibly lead to criminal charges.

Over 20 medical organizations have filed briefs in support of the plaintiffs claims that the treatments are essential medical care, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

https://www.al.com/educationlab/2023/03/judge-requires-parents-to-turn-over-transgender-childrens-medical-records.html

March 27, 2023

The Tennessee shooter and stochastic terrorism

Stochastic terrorism is typically defined as:

"the public demonization of a person or group resulting in the incitement of a violent act, which is statistically probable but whose specifics cannot be predicted"

Note that it doesn't say who commits the act. Typically though, it's someone who is in some way vulnerable to the techniques used. They could have any of a number of severe mental illnesses, but they could also simply be someone susceptible to the effects of the messaging being broadcast. The whole point of stochastic terrorism is that by using rhetoric designed to evoke strong emotions, those using it as a tool know that eventually, someone somewhere will snap and act on it.

People often assume that only people aligned with the rhetoric are susceptible, but it can also be those they are relentlessly attacking. And in that case stochastic terrorism is even more effective, as it can be used to demonize the community again, as we've already seen Republicans do.

Please keep that in mind when reading and discussing what the tragedy in Tennessee today and as more information is released?

March 27, 2023

Content warning: transgender suicide

The intentional, relentless, open expression of hate and cruelty that's been building up weighs on every trans person I know or am aware of via social media, you tube, blogs, media outlets, and so on.

There are far too many of us dying. Nobody should have to live like this, every day waking up to a constant barrage of threatened and actual violence, of so many people around us telling us we should not exist - and certainly not openly in society - and of the ongoing message that we do not deserve to live.

I don't know what to feel anymore, or what I actually do feel anymore. I bounce between fear, anger, sadness and despair all day long, while working and doing the best I can as a parent, and spouse.

Our community is scared. We are hurting. And yet all that pain seems to do is empower anyone who selfishly promotes us as a "threat" to their way of life.

"Popular and Well Loved Transgender United Airlines Flight Attendant Tragically Dies By Suicide"

https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2023/03/22/popular-and-well-loved-transgender-united-airlines-flight-attendant-tragically-dies-by-suicide/


"Trans flight attendant famed for airline ad found dead
Transgender flight attendant Kayleigh Scott — who gained fame after appearing in a United Airlines commercial — has been found dead."

WARNING: THIS LINK CONTAINS MOST OF HER SUICIDE NOTE

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/mental-health/trans-flight-attendant-famed-for-airline-ad-found-dead/news-story/9ee934b75e6640bac7bfee74bfb04c4e

March 26, 2023

Missouri AG opens tip line to report transgender teen health care as 'child abuse'

In a step toward fascism:

"In an effort to protect children, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced today that his office has launched an online form where those who have experienced harm from gender transition interventions or witnessed troubling practices at transition clinics in Missouri can submit their concerns. This tip line stems from an investigation that Attorney General Bailey launched into a St. Louis pediatric transgender center that has been accused by a whistleblower of using experimental drugs on children, distributing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones without individualized assessment, and even giving children these life-altering drugs without parental consent."

That would be the "investigation" that stemmed from accusations strongly refuted by the actual patients & their parents:

"Families dispute whistleblower’s allegations against St. Louis transgender center"
https://missouriindependent.com/2023/03/01/transgender-st-louis-whistleblower/

“The idea that nobody got information, that everybody was pushed toward treatment, is just not true."
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/parents-push-back-on-allegations-against-st-louis-transgender-center-i-m-baffled/article_a94bc4d2-e68b-535f-b0c7-9fefb9e8e9f4.html




State of Missouri AG press release:
https://ago.mo.gov/home/news/2023/03/23/attorney-general-bailey-launches-tip-line-for-reports-of-questionable-gender-transition-interventions

March 22, 2023

Gay Sarasota school board member walks out of meeting after repeated homophobic remarks

The chairwoman of the school board let multiple members of the public directly attack a gay board member, calling him a "groomer" because he's openly gay.

Said chairwoman by the way is also the co-founder of the conservative nonprofit Moms For Liberty.

https://www.wfla.com/news/sarasota-county/gay-sarasota-school-board-member-walks-out-of-meeting-after-homophobic-remarks/

March 22, 2023

The reason behind the Amazon layoffs - leaked internal document

"Amazon Web Services posted 24,988 job openings in 2022, but the department was only approved to recruit for 7,798 positions."

AWS is just one division. Apparently the entire company is a chaotic mess internally. Kinda makes me wonder if decision makers at several big companies saw the pandemic as such a big profit opportunity they threw caution to the wind. Especially since they'd likely still have a job after the inevitable corrections.

https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-flawed-job-listing-process-over-hiring-layoffs-2023-3

March 22, 2023

Thanks to the Roberts Court, "A boom for concealed carry classes across California"

Prior to January, it was very rare for someone to have a concealed carry permit in the Golden State. Now class instructors are swamped. This will soon translate to vastly larger numbers of people carrying concealed guns in my home state and along with that, increased gun violence.

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/a-boom-for-concealed-carry-classes-across-california-but-long-waits-for-pe/

"There is supportive evidence that shall-issue concealed-carry laws may increase total and firearm homicides."

https://www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/concealed-carry/violent-crime.html#:~:text=Summary%3A%20There%20is%20supportive%20evidence,increase%20violent%20crime%20is%20limited.

March 21, 2023

Critics say US bishops' new statement on transgender health care lacks science

The U.S. Catholic bishops are one of the powerhouses behind the Republican drive to block transgender healthcare across the nation. Yesterday they issued a document yesterday rejecting all gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender individuals and reasserting that such procedures must not be performed by Catholic providers.

"Any technological intervention that does not accord with the fundamental order of the human person as a unity of body and soul, including the sexual difference inscribed in the body, ultimately does not help but, rather, harms the human person," wrote members of the bishops' Committee on Doctrine in a March 20 doctrinal note titled "On the Moral Limits to Technological Manipulation of the Human Body."

Since 2019, when the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education published "Male and Female He Created Them," which addresses "gender theory" and Catholic education, many anticipated an authoritative text from the U.S. bishops on gender identity. Yet the new doctrinal note is circumscribed; it principally covers medical interventions for people with "gender dysphoria" and emphasizes "particular care should be taken to protect children and adolescents."

Blocking LGBTQ healthcare and abortions are the primary reasons the Catholic church now controls doctors' decisions in 1 out of 6 hospitals in the USA.

This goes way beyond the "religous liberty" of a business or nonprofit. Even here in California, all major hospitals in the top third of the state are Catholic owned or affiliated, and prohibit such care. Across the nation for the last 20 years, they focused on buying or buying into isolated hospitals and regional trauma centers for the stated purpose of being able to control the healthcare provided based on the Church's religious dogma. They have monopolies in many regions around the country.

https://www.ncronline.org/news/critics-say-us-bishops-new-statement-transgender-health-care-lacks-sound-science-and-trans