Greg Abbott is taking a brief pause from using immigrants as political pawns to attack trans kids in yet another Republican-led effort to harm LGBTQ+ people in America.
The gay-hating Texas governor announced yesterday that he plans to sign Senate Bill 14 into law ASAP. The bill, which is currently en route to Abbott’s desk, blocks trans kids from receiving gender-affirming care and effectively forces those already in the process of transitioning to de-transition and start over after they turn 18.
“I’m not going to make any secret about it. I’ll be signing it. This is about protecting children,” he misled reporters on Thursday. “A person under 18, they don’t have the mental capacity to make a life-changing decision.”
Authored by New Braunfels Republican Sen. Donna Campbell, SB 14 would prohibit trans Texans under the age of 18 from accessing transition-related medical treatments including puberty blockers, hormone therapies and surgeries — though surgeries are rarely performed on kids.
The bill would also require trans youth who are already getting this care to be “weaned off” in a “medically appropriate” manner. This is slightly out of step with the abrupt cutoff mandated by the version the Senate approved last month, but the upper chamber has chosen not to ask for a conference committee to iron out the difference.
Other states have passed similar legislation but the laws have been stalled in the courts. The same will likely happen in Texas as the ACLU, Transgender Law Center, and Lambda Legal have already announced plans to sue, citing the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
“These laws are patently unconstitutional,” Paul Castillo, senior counsel for Lambda Legal, told reporters this week. “They interfere with the decisions of families in consultation with their doctors, and certainly no care should be stopped.”
Given the number of these laws being passed, as well as the number of lawsuits challenging them, it’s likely the matter will eventually end up at the U.S. Supreme Court, where things have gotten so chaotic that it’s hard to say which way the high court might rule on it.
Pollsters say the wave of bills targeting transgender healthcare in red states could backfire on Republicans in 2024 the same way the Roe v. Wade debacle backfired on them in 2022.
Things are certainly backfiring on Abbott and his colleagues on Twitter right now. Here’s what folx are saying…
Republicans are against big government unless when they want to make the lives of the LGBTQ community miserable
The point I keep trying to show people that these laws are written to outlaw cross dress, wearing clothing stereotypically thought of as for a different gender. People have commented that these laws only try to stop sexual or adult entertainment of a sexual manner. But here is a quote from the article. The practical effect is to comply with the new law that appears to classify all live drag entertainment, regardless of content, as adult entertainment, and prevent drag performances on outdoor stages that will be set up all along Wilton Drive for the June 17 party. This is what these laws are about. Denying the people who like to dress in drag to do so, which then will progress to outlawing trans people dressing as the gender they identify instead of the gender they were assigned at birth. Just as they quickly moved from don’t say gay laws for K-3 to now K-8th grade in Florida and in other states in all schools in all grades. This is about removing the LGBTQ+ from society, from the public, and they are starting with the most easy to target. The goal is stopping the public acceptance of people who do not act / reflect the values of Christians who think the best time in history was the 1950s and get their moral code from a book written 2,500 years ago. By the way, Wilton Manors is a very gay place. These laws have scared even these long gay activists. I think a lot of people have forgotten why pride parades were started in the first place. Back in the late 60s early 70s the LGBTQ+ got tired of the religious conservatives trying to make our lives miserable and make us disappear from society. We wanted our rights, and we needed to be vocal and in people’s public view. We need to remind these people of the fact we are family members, we are in their lives in every aspect. We won’t go back into any closets nor hide from the public. “We are here, we are queer, get use to it”! Hugs
In the week since Wilton Manors’ city commission voted unanimously to amend the permit for the Stonewall Pride Parade & Street Festival, people on both sides of the issue on whether or not to comply with drag laws have lashed out.
The amendment ensures event producers follow all laws, including ones passed since the permit was issued in February. The practical effect is to comply with the new law that appears to classify all live drag entertainment, regardless of content, as adult entertainment, and prevent drag performances on outdoor stages that will be set up all along Wilton Drive for the June 17 party.
It appears people in drag will be allowed into the event and to participate in the parade. However, performing in the parade or on any exterior stage is likely to be prohibited due to being labeled adult entertainment. Producers of the event haven’t finalized standards for admission and participation, but have said there will be a “dress code” applying to all participants, vendors, attendees, and performers.
Commissioner Chris Caputo will be at the June 17 parade as “Lady Vote,” according to a post on his Facebook page. Caputo says he’s ready to test — and perhaps push to strike down — the new law that bans having children at live shows that “in whole or in part” depict or simulate “nudity, sexual conduct,” or the exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.
“Personally, I don’t believe drag performances at our Stonewall cultural event are illegal,” Caputo wrote. “I believe they are of artistic and political value, and I am comfortable showing up in drag. If the Governor disagrees with that, he is welcome to recall my seat and we can fight it out in the courts.”
The anti-drag bill (SB 1438) originally targeted food and beverage venues for criminal charges — a first-degree misdemeanor — if children were exposed to these “adult live performances.” But an amendment added on the Senate floor also subjects city officials to charges if they issue a permit for an event that exposes children to the same thing.
As Caputo notes, in addition to potential criminal charges, DeSantis has the power to remove city officials who defy the ban under a statute enacted in 2018. There’s much more at both links above.
LOCAL: It appears people in #drag will be allowed into #Stonewall and to participate in the parade. However, performing in the parade or on any exterior stage is likely to be prohibited due to being labeled adult entertainment.
I have, and will continue to encourage people to dress as their authentic selves or favorite drag icons — as I plan to do (albeit, poorly!). The city did not ban drag queens.
Personally, I don’t believe drag performances at our stonewall cultural event are illegal. I believe they are of artistic and political value and I am comfortable showing up in drag. If the Governor disagrees with that, he is welcome to recall my seat and we can fight it out in the courts. The amendment we passed protects city employees — since language in the law directly affected them. It’s one thing for the Governor to recall my elected seat; it would be poor leadership on my part to put city staff at risk of being unemployed for any duration. I can afford a protracted legal battle without my city position, they shouldn’t have to.
I understand emotions are high — the anti-LGBTQ legislation we are facing is deplorable. We need to stand together against it.
𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰: I disagree with the state’s supposed interpretation of what adult entertainment is (i.e., I personally don’t feel that drag performers at Stonewall are engaged in that) AND I am personally willing to take it to the courts to test it. I plan to be at Stonewall as “Lady Vote 🗳️,” which I believe isn’t illegal, and it’s an opportunity to clash with the Governor if he wants to push an abusive, inappropriate interpration of the law and infringe on my civil rights.
If you have any questions about that or my position, I am always here and happy to answer them. You can also text me at 954.557.2801.
That’s why I posted these warning signs from Berlin yesterday. At first, Jews weren’t allowed to join the Red Cross or auto club. And a few years later they were being massacred.
Freedom to DeSantis means “You have everything to lose if you don’t obey.”
I sure hope the actions of Chris Caputo and others leads to all these laws being overturned. Those actions are what John Lewis called causing good trouble.
Edit: I can’t imagine pride without the multi-colored queens performing everywhere you look and the leather folks walking around in full gear with strap-ons and every other adornment!
OMG!!! It’s SO good to see you, girl!!!! (big hugs)
Do it anyway. Fuck DeSantis and anti-First Amendment, unconstitutional laws. Fight back against fascism or step out of the way. Those bricks didn’t throw themselves.
Hence you plan to have willing folks be the target for the fight and pre-set the legal funding to ride the case up. You also work with national level orgs to figure out the best unified response as part of a national legal strategy.
I remember at a pride event, one private security guard threatening to throw members of the leather community out for bare asses, even tho it was completely legal in the city. Luckily, the people stood their ground and the Pride leadership and the police educated the guard.
Great Zeus, this is scary, the push by Christian nationalist to indoctrinate every public school kid with their religion. They don’t care if the kids have a different religious faith or no faith at all, it is entirely about expanding their faith on to everyone in the public square. They feel driven to push their god and their doctrines, regardless of anything else. A good point asked by this Texas lawmaker was why a rainbow flag is called indoctrination by these Christians pushing their religion, yet demanding the posting of the ten commandments in schools and installing Christian pastors as untrained councilors is not. Well worth the time to watch. Hugs
Texas State Rep. James Talarico and Michelle Goldberg, columnist for the New York Times, talk with Alex Wagner about a push by Texas Republicans to impose new religious measures on public schools, and the shift in Republican politics to more openly embrace white Christian nationalism.
I wonder why with all the slurs and garbage spewed by the right wing religious haters and republicans in office. Talk about stoking anger and making a minority group targets for the right wing gang thugs. Hugs
Anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation has been introduced in recent months.
Catch up on the developing stories making headlines.
Threats of violence against the LGBTQIA+ community are on the rise and intensifying, according to a new briefing by the Department of Homeland Security.
The DHS document, distributed to government and law enforcement agencies on May 11, said that domestic violence extremists and people who commit hate crimes have increased threats of violence against the LGBTQIA+ community within the last year.
DHS said that the issues inspiring threats and calls of violence against the LGBTQIA+ community could lead to a rise of potential attacks against larger targets, such as public spaces and healthcare sites that may be linked to the community.
DHS analysts also cite social media chatter celebrating the recent mass shooting at a Nashville church school.
“High-profile attacks against schools and faith-based institutions like the recent shooting in Nashville have historically served as inspiration for individuals to conduct copycat attacks,” DHS said.
People march through the Texas State Capitol on April 20, 2023 in Austin, Texas.Brandon Bell/Getty Images
In recent months, politicians in Tennessee, Florida and other Republican-run states have introduced legislation that critics say targets the LGBTQIA+ community.
People demonstrate at the Texas State Capitol on April 20, 2023 in Austin, Texas.Brandon Bell/Getty Images
In March 2022, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education bill, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by detractors.
HB 9 and SB 3, signed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, make “a person who engages in an adult cabaret performance on public property” — or where it can be viewed by minors — a criminal offense.
Last month, a federal judge temporarily blocked the law, saying it was vaguely written and overly broad, according to AP.
At least 14 states have passed laws or policies that restrict gender-affirming care for people under the age of legal majority, which is the threshold for legal adulthood.
According to DHS, about 20% of all hate crimes reported throughout the country in 2021 were motivated by bias linked to sexual orientation and gender, citing the FBI’s hate crime statistics.
ABC News’ Kiara Alfonseca contributed to this report.
I want to point out that DeathSantis like all republicans when it comes to social medical matters lies about it. At one point, he claims that:
DeSantis said the push for the care was by an “ideologically charged small group of folks” and this is why he was signing Florida Senate Bill 254 into law to grant courts temporary emergency jurisdiction to intervene in some procedures.
“That is not based on science; that is not based on evidence,” DeSantis said …”
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association support gender-affirming care, which includes the surgical procedures and prescriptions for blockers or hormone antagonists that DeSantis and Florida Republican legislators are standing against.
DeathSantis also said this about being polite enough to call people by what makes them happy instead of being an asshole to others. DeSantis said the new law makes sure that Florida students and teachers will never “be forced” to declare pronouns in schools or “be forced” to use pronouns “not based on biological sex” as part of an “indoctrination” effort known as transgender ideology and gender theory. “We never did this through all of human history until like what two weeks ago, now this is something? They are having third-graders declare pronouns. We are not doing the pronouns Olympics in Florida,” DeSantis said.
The idea that kids, even little kids, do not understand pronouns is stupid. Teacher Miss or teacher Mrs / Mr clearly establishes gender. Boys bathroom, girls PE, when they are read a story they hear he, she, they, them. He ran, she jumped, they carried, someone spoke to them. See it is all around us, kids see and hear pronouns / gender identifiers all the time. Just as most kids know their sexual orientation and who they’re attracted to. To deny that gay kids exist and that gay / same sex married teachers are not a thing is harmful. It deprives these kids of seeing people like themselves, who have their feelings, just so the Christian conservatives can push being gay is shameful and bad. It isn’t as we know now, and gay kids shouldn’t be traumatized by being made to feel they are wrong and broken. We have lived through that, we have progressed social beyond that, and medical science has shown that people are born gay / trans.
As for the bans on drag shows, remember there are already laws against taking minors to sex shows, adult entertainment, strip shows. These laws are about keeping kids from seeing men dressed as women and women dressed as men. That is what it is about. That is why they are singling out drag shows which are not sexual, especially the family friendly or drag queens story hours. See it is hard for conservatives to enforce gender stereotype norms from the 1950s. The old men were men trope. Hugs
LOL the USPS certainly has a terrific sense of irony, I just wonder how long it will take DeSantis to try TRY to outlaw these for “indoctrinating children”. Love it! Buy’em up! Mail Ronny boy a letter with these!
DeSantis signs 5 new laws, including expansion of law critics know as ‘Don’t Say Gay’
Gov. Ron DeSantis visits a Christian school on Wednesday morning in Tampa. (Copyright 2023 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.)
TAMPA, Fla. – During his Wednesday morning speech, Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized gender-affirming care, a medical intervention when an individual’s gender identity is different than the one assigned at birth.
While at a non-denominational Christian private school in Tampa, DeSantis stood on a stage behind a “Let Kids Be Kids” sign to say that a “rogue element of the medical establishment” was engaging in “basically the mutilation of minors.”
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DeSantis said the push for the care was by an “ideologically charged small group of folks” and this is why he was signing Florida Senate Bill 254 into law to grant courts temporary emergency jurisdiction to intervene in some procedures.
“That is not based on science; that is not based on evidence,” DeSantis said during his visit to the Cambridge Christian School, a college preparatory school accredited by Christian Schools of Florida.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association support gender-affirming care, which includes the surgical procedures and prescriptions for blockers or hormone antagonists that DeSantis and Florida Republican legislators are standing against.
“This is going to create a way to recover damages for injury or death resulting from mutilating surgeries or these experimental puberty blockers that are given to a minor,” DeSantis said adding, “They go through this, then they get older and this is a huge problem. They should be able to sue the physician who hurt them.”
DeSantis also signed a bill into law that he described as an extension of the Parental Rights in Education bill, which critics nationwide have consistently referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” and an attack on the LGBTQ community.
DeSantis said the new law makes sure that Florida students and teachers will never “be forced” to declare pronouns in schools or “be forced” to use pronouns “not based on biological sex” as part of an “indoctrination” effort known as transgender ideology and gender theory.
“We never did this through all of human history until like what two weeks ago, now this is something? They are having third graders declare pronouns. We are not doing the pronouns Olympics in Florida,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis also said it was “sad” that he had to also sign Senate Bill 1438: Protection of Children into law. The American Civil Liberties Union referred to it as “The Anti-Drag Show” bill. DeSantis said it was necessary because it was “inappropriate” to have minors at drag shows, which he described as “sexually explicit” and “adult entertainment.”
“We passed two years ago the Fairness In Women’s Sports Act to say we are going to make sure our girls and our women athletes are able to compete with integrity. And you can’t be competing on the men’s team for three years, switch to the women’s, and what, all of a sudden you are the champion? That is not right,” DeSantis said adding the new law “imposes oversight” over the Florida High School Athletic Association.
Activist Luka Hein, who has been traveling around the country to oppose trans care, was among the speakers DeSantis introduced at the school. Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr., and the Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Jason Weida were also at the school at 6101 N. Habana Ave.
“While I am not from Florida, I am someone who went through the gender-affirming care industry as a minor,” Hein said adding this resulted in “health issues,” so the limits are not “about hate.”
DeSantis also recently signed bills against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion educational programs, as part of the Republican legislature’s fight against “wokeness” in schools. For that signing event, DeSantis introduced Christopher Rufo, a conservative activist from California who has been traveling around the country to oppose “divisive” critical race theory and DEI in education.
The governor just signed SB 254 the gender procedures for minors act, HB 1521 the safety in private spaces act, SB 1438, the protecting children from adult entertainment act, and HB 1069, the parental rights and education part 2 bill all this morning. pic.twitter.com/6hZwejyPOr
— Florida Family Policy Council (@FLPolicyInsider) May 17, 2023
The new laws include an expansion of "don't say gay," a ban on gender-affirming care, restrictions on trans people's bathroom use, and restrictions on drag shows. https://t.co/AUDD0OzFkg
Governor DeSantis signed 4 anti-LGBTQ+ bills into law. That includes gender affirming care ban, bathroom ban, restrictions on drag shows and the expansion of Don’t Say LGBTQ. He also signed a bill that impacts the Florida High School Athletic Association. Below is our statement. pic.twitter.com/an35QZBPA0
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) May 17, 2023
How soon do they forget. DeathSantis is counting on his right wing followers having no memories other than what the scaremongering politicians and Christian Taliban are pushing on them. It is tragic how they entirely change history and make up mythical wrong facts. For example, there has always been drag in the military and the government has always paid for drag shows to entertain the troops. Ever hear of Bob Hope and the USO. Famous for drag shows. Drag shows are men or women cross-dressing despite the rights attempt to make it seem like sex shows such as stripping and other adult entertainment. And before you say the men wear exaggerated boobs, remember this fact. A total of 212,500 breast augmentation procedures were performed in 2000, and 287,085 procedures were performed in 2019. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), breast augmentation numbers dipped for the first time in 20 years. If you read the linked article, you will see DeathSantis makes all sorts of scary claims he can not back up with fact. The recruitment numbers go up and down with the economy. If the economy is bad then you get more people joining the military to survive. If the economy is good for workers like now where employers are offering more to entice workers then recruitment falls. This idea that everyone in the military is there for the love of country is stupid and fake. They want a place to live and food to eat. Do they get indoctrinated and propagandized too? Yes. But that is not why the majority join. Hugs
In Iowa Saturday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said “drag queens” were part of the reason people didn’t want to enlist in the United States military.
“When you see videos of folks recruiting for the military services using things like drag queens, you know, that is just fundamentally wrong,” DeSantis said in Sioux Center at the Feenstra Family Picnic, a major confab of Iowa Republicans.
The U.S. Navy, which DeSantis was a member of, used a female impersonator as a “digital ambassador.” The service member, named Joshua Kelley, performs as “Harpy Daniels.” DeSantis will sign legislation cracking down on drag shows later this Spring.
Read the full article. As most of you surely know, troops have been entertained by drag shows since forever.
In Iowa, @RonDeSantisFL blames 'drag queens' for military recruitment woes
Drag Queens entertaining troops… Drag in our time actually entered the mainstream because of soldiers doing drag shows during the war. pic.twitter.com/7SAR5joW1M
In World War Two, drag shows were popular among troops (US and Britain), as a way to relieve stress. One British unit came under attack while hosting a show, so they had to fight while dolled up. The government tried to keep these photos secret for years. pic.twitter.com/ZAMwmXsJx3
— Minerva E ~ Ambassador of Temu 🤫 (@ElmoreMinerva) May 11, 2023
Drag has long been alive and well in the military. I believe Orbanism hurts military recruitment. Fascism hurts military recruitment. Forcing one “religious belief” down everyone else’s throats hurts military recruitment.
Same sign was posted at public pools in Florida when my parents were children except “Mexicans” was replaced by “Latins”‘. That way they could exclude not only Spaniards and Cubans but also Italians and Sicilians.
My husband’s dad did drag in WWII before he was shot in the heart by a Nazi. He survived and did drag in the hospital for the troops as he and they recovered.
Military enlistment by men frightened by drag resulted in a treasonous Nazi enlisting in the National Guard. He then published military secrets in an effort to impress his audience of fellow Nazi traitors.
I’ll take a patriot in panties and a push-up bra over a Nazi any day.
Tired of reading about more nonsense from DeSantis. The drag queen thing is going to follow Dr. Suess and Mr. Potato Head and whatever other made-up right wing outrage down the memory hole as soon as it’s no longer effective.
Agreed to an extent in that it’ll be memory holed at some point, but it definitely has some real-world impacts that the others didn’t. After all, no one was going to go an attack or have rallies with threats of violence in front of every store that sold Mr. Potato Head toys. Too many stores that they had too much need of for other things – even the Nazis wouldn’t want to risk being trespassed from every WalMart in their state, probably. They likely don’t get email alerts telling them where Hasbro employees are visiting, stuff like that.
With the drag show issues, though, they can focus the rage in a way that likely won’t impact their day-to-day lives. And it’ll impact other real people more directly, which gives them a thrill that just burning a Potato Head doll on YouTube won’t provide.
So I expect the next big thing they attack will have similar qualities – stuff they can focus more and hit individuals than complaining about a candy’s boots or pretending to care about children’s books (especially since they’re also pushing to limit books now).
The reason armed forces recruitment is down, by the way, is because Biden fixed the economy (!)and the unemployment rate is now at the lowest it’s ever been since 1969. Of course recruitment was higher when unemployment was at 13% under Trump — people need to eat and pay bills, and when the Army-Navy recruiter in your dusty podunk town is the only place that’s hiring, then that’s what you sign up for.
Scottie's Playtime 