Category: BlueSky / Social Media
Ohio activists quash an anti-trans resolution in major victory for trans rights
I would again like to point out this is not about protecting kids, it is entirely political. Look how often they attack Biden and the administration on a local school board issue. This is being used by the republicans to rile up their base with misinformation and to hurt a group of kids they don’t like. Hugs
: A supporter holds a sign that says “Support Trans Youth” in Washington Square Park on the 8th Annual Trans Day of Action on June 22, 2012 in New York City. Photo: ShutterstockIn a victory for trans Ohioans, the Ohio State Board of Education decided to delay voting on an anti-trans resolution that would ban trans girls from women’s sports teams, force teachers to out trans students to their parents, and ban classroom discussions on LGBTQ issues in kindergarten through third grade.
The resolution was introduced by board member Brandon Shea and rejects a proposed rule from the Biden administration to apply Title IX anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ students nationwide.
It aligns with a lawsuit against President Joe Biden’s proposal put forth by Ohio’s Republican Attorney General Dave Yost (along with other state attorneys general) and states that sex is an “unchangeable fact” and that “there are observable, quantifiable, and immutable differences between males and females.”
“Denying the reality of biological sex destroys foundational truths upon which education rests and irreparably damages children,” it declares.
The resolution blasted the Biden administration for “federal overreach” and criticized its assertion that schools who fail to adhere to gender anti-discrimination policies could lose federal funding for free and reduced lunch programs.
Activists, teachers, parents, students, and the like showed up in droves to testify against the resolution – after many in favor of it also spoke.
“The mental, emotional and psychological toll will be huge if it is passed because it takes away protections from the students who need those protections the most,” said Rev. Andrew Burns of the King Avenue United Methodist Church. “And I would be one of the people who would have to clean up the mess left behind.”
After four hours of public comments, trans rights won the day, and the board decided to delay a vote on the measure.
In a 12-7 vote, the board decided to send the resolution to an executive committee. Some board members believe it will probably die there, according to Cleveland.com. A softer version of the proposal will also reportedly be considered by the committee.
But the decision is still a huge victory.
Activist Erin Reed tweeted, “I can’t overstate how big a victory we just won in Ohio for trans people was. We got a boardroom full of Republican school officials to vote AGAINST moms for Liberty anti trans policies. The activists speeches objectively swayed things. The anti-trans group was stunned.”
Reed continued to explain that the vote shows that being anti-trans is becoming an extreme position, also praising Jon Stewart for his recent skewering of Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge (R) for the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for youth.
“The same arguments were repeated multiple times in the testimony,” Reed continued. “Ultimately though the credit goes to the activists who showed up. It was a pleasure to watch this and help mobilize from the VERY beginning. The fight isn’t over in Ohio. It isn’t over anywhere. but we won one for the kids today.”
Now that you have read the article I want to point out several things. First l want you to look at the trans man in the video above. This is a man. However republicans want to force this man to use women’s restrooms. For those women that say they would be uncomfortable knowing a trans person was using the same bathroom as they were, tell me you as a woman wouldn’t be uncomfortable seeing this man entering the female bathroom with you. This is the problem first with judging gender on looks, and second this is the end result of the republicans anti-trans agenda. Second the anti-trans people tried to make sure that they spoke first and took as many spots as they could, knowing that many board meetings have a time limit and they hoped to run out the clock so the trans positive people could speak. Also notice that the anti-trans activists used lies, myths, debunked talking points, to the point of claiming that trans people simply did not exist. They throw so much false misleading and wrong information out that as one of the people said it would take longer than the meeting like refute them all. It is called a Gish gallop. But what was nice was a real geneticist who destroyed the anti-trans arguments with scientific medical facts, not that the anti-trans people would ever listen to facts. Below is the unrolled tweets from the story. Hugs
Happening now… The waiting room is overflowing in Ohio as people pack the building in order to speak out against a policy that will force teachers to misgender Ohio trans students and ban them from bathrooms statewide.
I know the people fighting on the ground. People like @CamomileOgden who have devoted so much to ensuring this doesn't go through.
Give 'em hell.
Watch live here:
https://ohiochannel.org/live/state-board-of-education
Unfortunately Moms 4 Liberty has shown up to this meeting, unlike last time where all speakers were against this policy.
We've already had two speakers propose that people shouldn't be able to transition up to 25 years old because of "brain development."
And now there's a teacher saying that trans youth are a sign that "society is in decay"
I'm being told that the Moms4Liberty folks snagged the first 20 spots, and then later spots will be heavily opposed to the measure.
Its still a nonstop stream of people speaking in favor of the resolution. Soon the flavor of speakers will change. There seems to have been some shenanigans in how approved speakers were handled.
We are finally getting to the speakers in opposition to the policy.
"We already know how this policy works… the state practiced this policy for years and it killed LGBTQ+ people."
Oh cool cool cool, now they are saying that "[transgenderism] is moral decay in our public institutions that is growing like a cancer spread by globalists."
Reverend Andrew Burns of the United Methodist Church is speaking passionately against the measure.
This girl is AMAZING and is making an economic argument for rejecting this bill. She’s so good! I missed her name.
Getting word that there has been a disturbance outside of the hearing and mood is tense. Many speakers are now effectively speaking against this policy. I hope to clip some later.
This trans man speaking is amazing. "I am a trans man. I WAS one of the students who would be affected by this policy."
"I'm here today for all the trans kids in Ohio who are not able to be here to speak up for themselves"
I'll get his name later when I clip.
Amanda Erickson from Kaleidoscope Youth Center is AMAZING.
She's speaking on behalf of students who gave her quotes.
She says, "You are actively failing the students you have been elected and appointed to serve"
This geneticist is absolutely ripping the measure and teaching them about genetics and how there are hundreds of intersex conditions, and that "Sex is NOT binary"
Now a speaker is comparing trans acceptance to "Hitler youth"
🙄
"gender confusion" is the most garbage transphobe dogwhistle.
We're not confused about our gender – YOU are.
Although early speakers were ALL in favor of the resolution, it has been a nonstop wall of those opposed.
This is great. People are speaking powerfully and persuasively.
Oh look who else it is! This woman also spoke in favor of the Ohio bill to detransition all trasn youth.
Her SON has transitioned and is now an adult, and is living away from her.
She's mad at that so she's trying to stop youth transition.
You can see the previous speaker when she spoke earlier this year.
Her son has repeatedly stated that he is trans and is an adult and does not support this.
The ever amazing Cam Ogden just spoke, I didn't get a screenshot of her, but she pointed out how so many lies have been spoken and debunking them would take all the time in the world, and how the board should take more time to address and research the truth. @CamomileOgden 💜
I will clip the 2 or 3 best moments a little bit later this evening and probably post them in separate posts as well as to my TikTok.
Young republican speaking out in favor by saying that Biden "changed title IX by executive order" (All he did was interpret gender, as title IX law does not provide such an interpretation)
But its particularly rich to see Republicans complaining of executive actions.
The mother of a trans former student:
"How can you say that trans students should be included when you say they don't even exist?"
Public testimony is over – they will proceed to vote this evening.
Please tell the Ohio Board of Education to protect trans kids, not force teachers to misgender them, and not to ban them from bathrooms of their gender.
I feel good about Member Collins at least…
We are getting closer and closer to a vote that will determine the fate of so many trans students in Ohio…
Here we go…
They have moved to refer this motion back to committee (which would, for the time being, delay the motion for quite a while)
The vote on this motion has NOT happened yet. Lets hope this motion passes, if not then it will be outright voted on.
Sorry I want to be clear- they have MOVED to send it back to committee, but that motion must now be voted on. Its not a victory or defeat yet – lets see what happens with this vote.
"these kids exist… and there has been absolutely nothing said about what we can do for these kids."
– Member arguing to send this back to committee.
They are currently debating back and forth through parliamentary procedure and everything is kind of running into each other.
The Ohio Board of Education is completely trapped in a Roberts Rules loop.
We may get a vote from them in the next century.
THE OHIO BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS VOTED TO SEND THE PROPOSAL BACK TO COMMITTEE!
They have decided not, at this time, to force teachers to misgender their trans students and ban them from bathrooms.
Thank ALL the activists who did this.
The vote to send back to committee was done 12-7.
I have clips coming of many moments today. Thank you all for following along.
Next stop – Virginia, where we must defeat a very similar proposal.
Originally tweeted by Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) on October 12, 2022.
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Trans youth charity Mermaids responds to The Telegraph ‘investigation’ amid breast binder row
Again the right has to lie about medical facts, make up fake “investigations”, and lie about the safeguards the charity has for their trans kid subscribers all to drive as much hate as possible against trans. Please notice that the famous well known TERF J.K Rowling is pushing the lies and myths hard as she does with anything atni-trans. Hugs
Mermaids marches at Pride in London, 2019. (Barcroft Media via Getty/ Wiktor Szymanowicz)
Trans children’s charity Mermaids has responded to an “investigation” by The Telegraph which suggested the charity was putting children at risk.
On Sunday (25 September), The Telegraph ran a story headlined: “Trans charity Mermaids giving breast binders to children behind parents’ backs”.
The story largely relied on an unidentified adult masquerading as a 14-year-old child to access services from Mermaids, including the charity’s youth forum and web chat helpline.
The newspaper reported an email exchange between the charity and the adult – pretending to be a 14-year-old trans boy named “Kai” – in which staff agreed to provide them with a free binder after they had become “a member of the charity’s online Youth Forum for a month and posted three times”.
Mermaids also reportedly provided extensive information about safe binder wearing, and risks associated with binders, which can reduce dysphoria in some trans people.
The Telegraph expressed outrage that the charity did not grill the “child” on their mental health and require that they inform an adult, even though “Kai” had already described their family as unaccepting.
Although Mermaids refused to comment for The Telegraph’s “investigation”, the charity said in its own statement addressing the issues raised: “Some trans masculine, non-binary and gender diverse people experience bodily dysphoria, as a result of their chest, and binding, for some, helps alleviate that distress.
“Mermaids takes a harm reduction position with the understanding that providing a young person with a binder and comprehensive safety guidelines from an experienced member of staff is preferable to the likely alternative of unsafe practices and/or continued or increasing dysphoria.
“The risk is considered by Mermaids staff within the context of our safeguarding framework.”
Although Mermaids’ youth forums are designed to be a safe space for young people, The Telegraph also published information about the kind of conversations being had by teenagers, including on the topic of puberty blockers.
Researchers in 2020 found that puberty blockers can be “life-saving” for trans youth, drastically decreasing their chance of suicide, depression and anxiety, and the Endocrine Society describes hormone-blocking medication as a reversible treatment option to “give adolescents more time to explore their options”.
The newspaper tried to paint Mermaids’ forums as unsafe, including quotes from anti-trans campaigners like Transgender Trend founder Stephanie Davies-Arai, and MPs Joanna Cherry and Miriam Cates, who claimed the “investigation” raised “huge safeguarding red flags”.
But the charity clarified: “We have robust security and moderation processes in place to ensure our forums are a safe space for trans, non-binary and gender diverse young people and their families.
“In August 2022, an individual – possibly a journalist – tried to gain access to the youth forums by pretending to be a 14-year-old in need of support, seemingly with the aim of discrediting Mermaids.
“This person was caught in the moderation process and has since been blocked. Security of our platforms and safeguarding of young people is of the utmost importance to us and we will continue to regularly review our processes and procedures to make sure our forums remain safe and secure.”
The article from The Telegraph has spread like wildfire across social media, stoking unfounded accusations of safeguarding concerns at Mermaids, and was shared by JK Rowling.
In response, Carrie Lyell, head of communications at Mermaids, told Rowling: “I’d be happy to have a chat about what we actually do at Mermaids. But then, real life is never quite as interesting or salacious as fiction, is it?”
Rowling has not publicly taken up their offer.
Texas school board bans teachers from saying that trans people exist
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/08/texas-school-board-bans-teachers-saying-trans-people-exist/
As I have said this is never about protecting kids, it is about making the hated icky trans people maga dislikes go away. It is about their bigotry wrapped up in acceptable language of protect the children. This is what was done in Russia and Chechnya. Remove the mention of these people in society and the haters feel more comfortable, only two genders and the bigots are happy again, ban rights for women and minorities and the racists are happy, and when they get rid of democracy the right wing is ecstatic. Who is next on the hit list, well the don’t say gay already bans the mention or display of same sex couples and gay rights. It removes anti-discrimination laws and removes anti-bullying displays. Then when all the LGBTQ+ are wiped from society what next, Jewish people? Pentecostals? Who goes away next until there is a homogeneous white single religion population that Tucker Carlson and right wing fascist are pushing for? Notice most of the people at this meeting were against the anti-trans policy but the minority haters pushed it through anyay. I will leave you with something famous about this below. Hugs
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade
Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Martin Niemöller
Photo: ShutterstockA local school board in Texas has adopted a sweeping new set of guidelines that ban discussion about the existence of transgender people – which they call “gender fluidity” – and critical race theory, prohibits the use of pronouns that aren’t aligned with the sex on a student’s birth certificate, and restricts use of restrooms and locker rooms, among other new prohibitions.
The new guidelines, approved by the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District near Dallas, are the result of a concerted campaign organized by conservative Christian group Patriot Mobile Action, which has spent millions of dollars electing conservative majorities to Texas school boards.
Hundreds of residents showed up to the contentious meeting Monday night, with a majority speaking out against the proposed restrictions.
Among a far-right wish list of prohibitions, the new rules include guidance based on flawed definitions.
“Gender Fluidity” is defined in the text as “any theory or ideology that (1) espouses the view that biological sex is merely a social construct; (2) espouses the view that it is possible for a person to be any gender or none (i.e., non-binary); or (3) espouses the view that an individual’s biological sex should be changed to ‘match’ a self-believed gender that is different from the person’s biological sex.”
Gender fluidity is actually the idea that a person’s gender identity or expression can change over time. What the school board is calling gender fluidity is, in fact, the idea that transgender people exist at all.
Also, “nonbinary” means that a person isn’t male or female; it doesn’t necessarily mean they have no gender (that’s usually called agender).
The district also banned the use of pronouns for students and teachers “in any manner that is inconsistent with the biological sex of such person.” The district also limited the use of restrooms and other facilities to the one associated with a person’s gender on their “biological birth certificate.”
The district also banned teaching certain aspect of the history of racism in the U.S., specifically citing the 1619 Project and “critical race theory,” a catch-all term used by conservatives to describe teaching about racism in history.
Over a hundred people spoke in opposition to the proposal, including a United Methodist pastor who said the guidelines reflect a “fascist agenda” that does not represent Christian values.
A Patriot Mobile activist can be seen behind him.
BREAKING: the Grapevine-Colleyville school district board (GCISD), my hometown public school which recently elected a conservative majority, is proposing new guidelines for the district. This includes a ban on any discussion of what they define as "Gender Fluidity."
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Also: "the district will not promote, require, or encourage the use of titles or pronoun identifiers for students teachers or any other persons in any manner that is inconsistent with the biological sex of such person" and that employees may comply "at their discretion."
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Another item on the Grapevine-Colleyville school board agenda includes the banning of "equity audits" across the district, casting them as a tool of Critical Race Theory.
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New restrictions on books are also being proposed by the GCISD board. Some of these proposed restrictions could result in the removal of items from the library that go against "prevailing standards in the adult community." The adult community fired the first Black principal.
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There's even a proposal in the GCISD agendat around "bathrooms and changing facilities" which is clearly a part of an anti-trans agenda.
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The conservative members of the GCISD board also specifically seek to downplay the role of slavery in the founding of the United States.
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This is happening after the election of new conservative board members at GCISD like Tammy Nakamura, who made waves and may have violated school policy by speaking proudly about the firing of the first Black principal at a conservative activist forum.
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As @Mike_Hixenbaugh noted, GCISD is one of the districts that Patriot Mobile boasted about "taking over." It is now proposing language against "Critical Race Theory" that is stricter than the state law against CRT, but that language doesn't define CRT.
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Meanwhile, "GCISD saw a 40% jump in retirements and resignations this year." The district has a large number of teacher vacancies. The board has considered raising pay to stop the bleeding, but hasn't seemed to consider the role of their policies.
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Originally tweeted by steven monacelli (@stevanzetti) on August 19, 2022.
Scottie's Playtime 