Beyond impeachment
It will dominate the news, but it won't be the only news.
So, we’re going down the road of impeachment. It’s the right call. What’s important to keep in mind is that it will suck up even more of the news cycle than Trump already has for the past three years. Other issues impacting all kinds of people could easily get lost in the drama, so please don’t let it!
I’ll try to help on the LGBTQ front!
Trump lies about LGBTQ support again
As a great example of the kind of weird harm Trump can still do, he told the United Nations today that he’s working to end sodomy laws:
…My administration is working with other nations to stop [the] criminalizing of homosexuality. And we stand in solidarity with LGBTQ people who live in countries that punish, jail, or execute people based upon sexual orientation.
Allow me to remind you that there is zero evidence this is taking place. The White House hosted leaders this summer from several of the countries that do punish homosexuality and the topic never even came up. There’s been no evidence of any kind of pressure or outreach about this issue to any of the dozens of countries with such laws on the books. And as the Washington Blade notes, this is the first time Trump has even mentioned this supposed initiative outside of Twitter.
Also, you can believe that being gay shouldn’t be criminalized and still be a terrible anti-LGBTQ bigot. This is all about promoting the fallacy that Trump shouldn’t be viewed as anti-LGBTQ because he’s doing this supposedly good thing and not doing things that are worse. Don’t fall for it.
Yes, there is an “epidemic” of violence against trans people
I’ve been seeing some of the concern trolls lately pushing back on the language that there is an “epidemic” of violence against trans people. That’s in spite of dozens of murders documented each of the past few years — that we know of. Any suggestion that there is not an epidemic is an attempt to deny that trans people are being persecuted at all.
There are two stories in the news this week that reinforce the “epidemic” framing. First was the news of yet another tragic murder Friday night in Dallas — the third such murder in that city alone this year. The suspect pulled up to the trans woman in a truck, yelled transphobic slurs at her, then shot her multiple times in the chest and arm. It was a brutal assassination.
The second story comes from my own city of Washington, DC, where a group of trans women have been attacked, robbed, and sent death threats. They are literally holed up at Casa Ruby, a shelter and support center, fearing what will happen if they go outside because of the repeated harassment they’ve faced.
We’re reminded too today about how desensitized we still are to transphobic rhetoric. The brilliant activist Brynn Tannehill pointed out that while many were quick to object to a Fox News guest calling climate activist Greta Thunberg “mentally ill,” trans people are called “mentally ill” all the time, and not just by the nastiest transphobes out there.
Transgender people, especially trans women of color, are incredibly vulnerable and very much targeted for violence in this country. Anyone who has an issue with the word “epidemic” being used to describe this situation is admitting they don’t take the danger seriously — or don’t care about their lives at all.
Ben Carson triples down on transphobia
If you want to convince people you aren’t a transphobic bigot, maybe you shouldn’t choose the show of another transphobic bigot like Tucker Carlson as the place where you plead your case.
But of course, that’s what HUD Secretary Ben Carson did Monday night. And in doing so, he actually undermined the very benefit of the doubt he was asking for. That’s because the way Tucker Carlson set up the interview, he made clear that the issue isn’t actual “big, hairy men” sneaking their way into shelters, but transgender women who others just perceive as big, hairy, and not-women. So, the conversation proved that the whole point of Carson’s remarks was to reject the legitimacy of transgender women’s identities.
And you don’t have to take my interpretation for it, because Carson said enough to make the point himself without Carlson’s help. “If I wake up tomorrow and I feel like I’m Chinese, it doesn’t necessarily make me Chinese. There are biological and scientific issues that have to be dealt with too,” he said. This is almost a direct quote from Dave Chappelle’s latest stand-up special, and a complete fabrication of what transgender people experience.
Carson also made some reference to being “persecuted” for sticking to “Biblical principles,” but he didn’t specify what principles those are. Frankly, the only verse I’ve ever heard religious conservatives cite to justify their transphobia is one of the opening lines of the whole tome, in which God creates Adam and Eve “male and female.” Their whole argument is literally, “God gave you a sex so you’re stuck with it.” It’s not very high-minded stuff.
Of course, Carson repeated his claim that he wants to protect “everyone’s rights,” but eliminating one group’s protections — as his department is trying to do — is a funny way of showing that.
Arizona governor flummoxed by LGBTQ protections
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) is personally responsible for stacking his state’s Supreme Court, which resulted in a ruling last week favoring an anti-LGBTQ hate group that wants to undermine nondiscrimination protections. In the wake of that ruling granting calligraphers a license to discriminate against same-sex couples, Ducey says he doesn’t see what the big deal is.
While explaining why he opposes creating statewide protections on the basis of sexual orientation, he claimed, “I’m against discrimination in all its forms.” You can’t expect anyone to believe that when you’re literally arguing that some discrimination should be allowed. He defended the Court’s decision, claiming that its license to discriminate struck the right balance.
Carson cares about “everybody’s rights,” Ducey’s against “discrimination in all its forms”… I’m surprised we haven’t heard someone say “All lives matter” about trans violence recently.
Bigot feigns support for LGBTQ issues for anti-choice bill
Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI) is not an LGBTQ ally; he has a big ol’ 0 on HRC’s congressional scorecard. And fortunately, he just retired, so we don’t have to deal with him much anymore. But before he left, he filed a ghastly bill that may portend future strategies from conservatives.
Duffy’s bill (HR 4442) would ban fetal genetic testing and abortions on the basis of sexual orientation. Responding to the recent study that found some genetic components to sexual orientation, Duffy claimed in a statement his bill was necessary to “protect the lives of unborn gay children.” Given his record shows absolutely no support whatsoever for gay children, the bill is just another limitation on abortion access dressed up with pretend concerns for the LGBTQ community.
It’s just the latest example of those who oppose reproductive choice feigning concern for vulnerable communities they do nothing else to support.
Vatican gives Jesuit school reprieve after not firing gay teacher
Earlier this summer, there were a number of high profile stories out of Indiana over how Catholic schools handled teachers who were in same-sex relationships. It’s a sad, common narrative that the teacher gets fired, except that Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School broke the mold and stood by its teacher, even as the Indianapolis archdiocese concluded it could no longer be a Catholic school — i.e. no longer conduct Mass.
The school hasn’t backed down, but has appealed, and the Vatican has for now suspended the decree punishing the school. There’s no guarantee the school will prevail, but given no other school has ever fought an order to fire a gay teacher, it’s very curious to see how the Vatican handles this situation. The fact that they’re even temporarily letting a Catholic school continue to be Catholic while a gay teacher works there is rather incredible.
Quick Hits
A group called the Campaign for American Principles is running a transphobic new ad about student athletes to support the re-election of Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (D).
The Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia sponsored a conversion therapy workshop earlier this month.
A Florida 8th grader has been arrested after threatening to kill LGBTQ people and other minorities.
Among those who joined the climate protest that shut down traffic in DC Monday was the queer activist group Werk for Peace, which holds dance party demonstrations.
To better address gender identity concerns, Ontario Provincial Police will simply no longer reveal the gender of people charged with crimes or their victims.
RuPaul did not take kindly to being asked about the lack of diversity that appears to be working on Drag Race.
Lone Star, a spinoff of Fox’s 9-1-1, will be the first television show to feature a black trans man — Brian Michael Smith — in the regular cast.
When Rice University played against Baylor University in football this weekend, its marching band had a special message for the anti-LGBTQ school:
The Rice band (@ricemob) taking a shot at Baylor’s LGBTQ policies in its halftime performance vs. the Bears. They spelled “Pride” at the end.Until next time, stay platinum!
