USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
Well, I suppose I can't be surprised.
"The department argued in its memo that key government agencies needed to adopt an explicit and uniform definition of gender as determined “on a biological basis that is clear, grounded in science, objective and administrable.” The agency’s proposed definition would define sex as either male or female, unchangeable, and determined by the genitals that a person is born with, according to a draft reviewed by The Times. Any dispute about one’s sex would have to be clarified using genetic testing."
USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
given their inability to write policy that gets through the court on the first try, and that states who control the issuing of ids having very different standards, if we are lucky this can get tied up in the court until the next administration and never fully go into effect.
USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
I want to believe what you're saying, but in this situation we're not talking about a law at all. They're doing this to establish a definition outside of the current legislative process.
And that will still wind up being debated by the judicial bodies, no doubt. But considering that the fascists now control the courts, I wouldn't hold out much hope for a favorable judgement there moving forward. Even in spite of precedent.
USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
the fascists have a 1 man majority on the court provided they avoid the sacred cows of the older conservatives on the court.
states rights is that cow.
USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
I question that, honestly.
Anyone who seemed to be republican aligned yet decent has, in the last two years, eschewed decency and humanity for naked power.
I have no confidence that this trend will stop.
It's only taken less than two short years for them to say "Let's roll back everything, regardless of precedent". What's to stop them now?
re: USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
The courts.
For instance: "On March 23, 2018, President Trump banned transgender and transsexual people with current or previous gender dysphoria from serving in the U.S. military. However, the Pentagon said they would comply with the court decision until it is reversed." -- Wikipedia
NTM only ONE bathroom bill, North Carolina's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, was passed... and it was later repealed.
re: USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
@Phorm @001zlnv So I'm resolutely not willing to panic yet. Trump does NOT have a great history of getting people on his side for these things. Kavanaugh on the Supreme is a worrisome factor, yes, but one of these cases would actually have to GET that far first, and at the speed these things progress, The Orange Nightmare could be long gone before he gets his way...
re: USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
While the legal nuts and bolts may be a slow and plodding battle, with little good precedent to support that moving forward, the thing that worries me more is the establishment of the veneer.
This will take time to go through the courts. And while it's doing so, this is a signal to those in federal agencies and beyond to dismiss trans individuals as valid human beings.
More than legal status, this is a signal to people: Fair game on trans individuals.
re: USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
@Phorm @001zlnv I mean, this is definitely true. He's more than happy to explain this issue for attention and base-support, and sadly, it generally works.
What really frustrates me is the increasing feeling this is all largely just to give all the anti-gay-marriage advocates a reason to keep existing, by finding a new progressive issue to harp on. Exploiting prejudice is always good for quick political points-- and membership dues. >_<
re: USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
@troodon @zebratron2084 @001zlnv
Good Grop do I hope you're right.
Strangely, though, I'll admit one thing. This latest pile of dreck doesn't make me feel completely hopeless and defeated. It makes me feel ANGRY and bitey. I presume I'm not the only one.
re: USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
@Phorm @troodon @001zlnv I'm pulling a lot of comfort out of historical and cultural precedent here, too. Again, there's that whole "think of them as a bunch of trolls" argument-- and we sure won against our trolls by being cuter and nicer in the long run. :D America ALREADY had its cultural/media shift towards accepting transgender people.
re: USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
@zebratron2084 @troodon @001zlnv
I'd like to believe that? But honestly, the only lesson I've learned over the last two/three years is: Whenever someone says "This could NEVER happen, it's too outlandish, and history dictates otherwise".
Well, it fucking happens anyway. And no one seems to care.
re: USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
@Phorm @troodon @001zlnv But was all that fit that "this could never happen" negative? Gay marriage, weed legalization, and universal healthcare were never supposed to happen in the first place, either. Now at least the first two have proven unassailable, and the third has been pretty resilient despite this sleazeball and his allies' repeated efforts.
Sorry to be contrary! 😽 But I think it's important to keep the good stuff in mind too.
re: USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
@zebratron2084 @troodon @001zlnv
Hell, don't apologize.
I'm glad there's someone out there who still can.
The fact that it's coming from a maulin', bitin' Tiger makes me feel a little better, too. ❤️
re: USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
@Phorm @troodon @001zlnv This is gonna be a real hard sell, outside the base, to a nation that already largely distrusts Trump and was already starting to think "Huh, TG folks are showing up on my TV and movies and acting like normal people. They might not be so bad." That won us the gay marriage debate good and hard, and while this is a much worse political clime... I'm hopeful this is the Far Right licking a big ol' cultural bear trap. :D
re: USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
@zebratron2084 @Phorm @001zlnv an *electrified* cultural bear trap. >:D
re: USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
@Phorm @zebratron2084 @001zlnv one other positive note: the timing on this is *not* in their favor. wherever this leaked, I promise you, they did not want this coming out right now--because this will drive *more* people to the polls, people who will vote *against* them, at a critical moment not just for this administration, but for their entire party.
as much as the left likes to say "we have bigger issues to worry about"--now is the time to give *them* a *much* bigger issue to worry about. we're going to rip apart everything they've built--it's already in progress, and it's only going to get more fierce. *fangy smile*
re: USPol, Gender (--) (Trying not to crater, promise)
@zebratron2084 @Phorm @001zlnv they're desperate, they're losing and they know it, they're bleeding loyalty and members and voters, so they're trying to find a far-right issue they can whip up that they think has a snowball's chance of winning--and they're gonna be surprised as hell to find out that this isn't it. :|