In currency we trust
How a Kentucky school is circumventing Christian nationalism.
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There are only a couple quick stories in today’s round-up, so let’s get to ‘em!
Transgender immigrants tortured
I’ve mentioned several times before that LGBTQ people are among those seeking refuge in the United States via our southern border, and that transgender people in particular are among those most most mistreated by our immigration officials. Today, the Texas Observer highlights some of those stories, noting how persecuted several transgender immigrants were in their home country and how much abuse they faced upon arriving in the U.S. as well:
“I was placed where everyone can see me,” Ortega said. “My makeup was destroyed, facial hair was growing, and they could laugh at me. Even the police officers were laughing at me.”
Please pay attention to these stories and recognize how horribly the U.S. government is treating trans individuals who are truly fleeing for their lives.
Equinox damage control continues
A week after Stephen Ross raised over $12 million for Trump’s re-election campaign, Equinox gym is still trying to engage in damage control over one of its major donors. In a new letter to members today, Equinox executive chairman Harvey Spevak insisted that Ross was simply “one of the investors” but “does not run the company.” To try to offset the damage, Equinox will be donating $1 million to five charities, including House Lives Matter, which supports the LGBTQ House Ballroom community.
That’s nice, but doesn’t change the fact Ross is still taking home profits from money spent there. Oh, and Blink Gym too, by the way.
Trans employees flee The Guardian over transphobia
British media has been beset by transphobic reporting and contributions, and it’s becoming a real problem for the queer people who work for them. Today, BuzzFeed reported that at least two transgender employees of The Guardian have had to quit because the paper’s reporting on trans issues has just been so toxic.
For an employee the article calls “Victoria,” the big turning point came last October when the Guardian ran an editorial claiming that trans rights “collide” with women’s rights and put women at risk, a common TERF talking point. “Gender identity does not cancel out sex,” the paper actually claimed. “Women’s oppression by men has a physical basis, and to deny the relevance of biology when considering sexual inequality is a mistake.”
“It suddenly became real,” Victoria said. “I’m entering this building with people who are denying my humanity.”
Backlash to Project Blitz in Kentucky
If you’ve noticed an increase in state laws requiring Bible literacy classes or mandating “In God We Trust” appear in more public spaces, it’s not a coincidence. It’s part of Project Blitz, an effort by evangelical Christians to spread Christian nationalism across the country, ultimately building up to other laws less symbolic “religious freedom” laws that mandate discrimination against LGBTQ people.
But today there was an amazing story of backlash against one of these laws. Kentucky recently instituted a law requiring “In God We Trust” be prominently displayed in public schools. While lawmakers have been encouraging schools to have mural contests and such, Fayette County Public Schools found an ingenious way of complying with the law: displaying the framed back of a $1 bill.
This really pissed off the law’s sponsor, Rep. Brandon Reed (R), who called it “extremely disappointing” that Fayette County was “searching for silly loopholes” and has “chosen to play political games,” calling the framed $1 bills an “unfortunate decision.”
But then FCPS Superintendent Manny Cault clapped back, reading Reed for filth. If he really cared about schools, maybe he and the other lawmakers could do more to fund them properly, Cault wrote. And he should also study history, because if the United States Congress thought money was a good place for the motto, why doesn’t he?
Hemant Mehta’s got the whole back-and-forth for your reading pleasure.
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Until next time, stay platinum!
(Framed $1 photo credit: Facebook/Brittany Pike.)