More Red Legislatures Acting Predictably

[audette]

For my post, specifically IA, although folks may choose to add additional stories below about other states...

Seems Iowa is trying to pass a law banning gay marriage.  Because, of course.


www.kwqc.com/2023/03/01/iowa-lawmkers-bring-forward-legislation-ban-same-sex-marriage/?fbclid=IwAR00-rr4w7qnKU6XRoavYGbJIDmAFqb50mX8TwmTFoyua6rq-DnHtd4gxp0



Multiple schools are staging walk outs today about it.  I can only hope these kids remain active once they can vote...  The same news agency has a story about that, and indicates that 35 schools across the state are expected to have walk outs.

[mpm]

I don’t even know where to start. Every day of Georgia’s legislative session seems worse than the last.

The don’t say gay bill, just as awful as Florida’s but much less publicized because our governor’s evil flies under the radar, which also included some eyebrow raising elements policing teacher dress at school, was tabled but will probably be revived and racked onto another bill on the eve of crossover day. legiscan.com/GA/text/SB88/id/2679859/Georgia-2023-SB88-Introduced.pdf

They’re going to force lockdown drills in all schools and parents won’t be able to opt out unless their district decides to give them that right. Yay for school-sanctioned trauma. legiscan.com/GA/text/HB147/id/2674301/Georgia-2023-HB147-Introduced.pdf

Vouchers that will absolutely gut the state’s public education. I actually have mixed feelings on this because as a parent the desire for an immediate solution for my own kids in school right now conflicts with my desire to support public schools through a solution that will take years to fully implement, even assuming there was political appetite for it which there isn’t here right now. legiscan.com/GA/text/SB233/id/2721684/Georgia-2023-SB233-Comm_Sub.pd

Banning abortion after conception and many contraceptives 😵‍💫: www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/64875

[pixy0stix]

Mississippi banned gender affirming care for minors - www.cnn.com/2023/02/28/politics/mississippi-transgender-health-care-ban/index.html

[seeyalater52]

Mar 1, 2023 14:00:08 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Mississippi banned gender affirming care for minors - www.cnn.com/2023/02/28/politics/mississippi-transgender-health-care-ban/index.html

I was wondering if the staggering number of anti LGBTQ and anti-trans bills in particular would ever get mentioned here, so thanks for that. This is all I’ve eaten, breathed, and slept besides work in the past 2 months. I cry every day. I am so scared for my wife and my family. I am scared for our community. I am scared by how little people seem to be paying attention.

@@@@@@

Mississippi is the 6th state to ban gender affirming care for minors (Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, South Dakota and Utah) with a dozen more states advancing similar bills this session. Many of them will pass. They will forcibly detransition kids on puberty blockers and hormones. Some will charge parents and doctors with crimes for allowing gender affirming care or referrals for gender affirming care. Some of them even ban affirming care from mental health practitioners (which means anything that isn’t trans conversion therapy isn’t allowed.)


Oklahoma SB129 and Tennessee HB1215 are advancing quickly, essentially bans on coverage for gender affirming care of all ages, due to mechanisms related to entities that receive public funds. Tennessee’s law would also prohibit their Medicaid agency from contracting with insurers that cover gender affirming care in ANY state, not just TN.

Drag bans have passed in several states (TN most recently) and are advancing in several others. Bans on trans (girl) athletes in sports are also popping up everywhere, and were an early indicator of this onslaught as several states started with these a couple of years ago to test the waters for this push.

Arkansas SB270, a bill that would make trans people using using the restroom if a minor is present a criminal offense, got stalled in the Senate because of some concern about drafting errors. This is what happens when you introduce pre-fab bills written by out of state hate groups I guess. I suspect it will be back.

It’s all so fucking cruel. And it escalated SO quickly this year. Upticks in anti queer bills the past few years but this year’s 350+ bills is absolutely unprecedented. Equality orgs have already said they will not have the resources/bandwidth to fight all of these in court so sadly many of them will go into effect even if there is eventually litigation. In some states parents of trans kids who testified against gender affirming care bans may face criminal and/or child abuse charges once the laws go into effect so they are making plans to flee. I am so heartbroken.

[pixy0stix]

I honestly had no idea it was so widespread. I haven't seen much, if anything, in the news.

[seeyalater52]

Mar 1, 2023 21:46:09 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

I honestly had no idea it was so widespread. I haven't seen much, if anything, in the news.

Mainstream news is barely covering it, unless you count the relentless both-sides-ism of the New York Times’ coverage of “the transgender debate”… which I do not.

Every queer person I know is freaking out and no one else even knows it’s happening. If people want good consistent coverage check out and sign up for Them: www.them.us/

[bronxgirl]

seeyalater52 , that’s chilling. Thanks for the info and the website.

@@@
My friend’s trans niece lives in FL and my friend made some comment that she’ll go to Georgia for medical care, as though accessing care is the only issue. I’m terrified what response the family will face.

[sonrisa]

Mar 1, 2023 21:04:20 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

It’s all so fucking cruel. And it escalated SO quickly this year. 

Yes. So scary.

[underwaterrhymes]

It’s absolutely breathtaking how quickly and under the radar they’re rolling this out. Erasure of identity at this level is a genocide and I’m so fucking angry.

[audette]

I know of at least one family that has rearranged life situations due to these state bans. I'm somewhat shocked that it's only one family in my circle, as of yet, but I suspect that number will grow.

[chickadee77]

seeyalater52 my heart aches for you and your family. We've been following several of these bills for reasons that I will not disclose, and it's horrific.

On a tangent, but daily I feel a panic about rights that are being stripped away from different groups of people. I have such appreciation and respect for those who are fighting. Every day it feels like there's another hit, another bill, another law passed that's throwing us backwards to some theocratic ideal that I can't wrap my head around.

[pugz]

Shit is going down in Kansas too right now. It's infuriating.

[msmerymac]

Mar 1, 2023 21:51:33 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Mar 1, 2023 21:46:09 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

I honestly had no idea it was so widespread. I haven't seen much, if anything, in the news.

Mainstream news is barely covering it, unless you count the relentless both-sides-ism of the New York Times’ coverage of “the transgender debate”… which I do not.

Every queer person I know is freaking out and no one else even knows it’s happening. If people want good consistent coverage check out and sign up for Them: www.them.us/

Yes, I have a friend who lives in NC. Her youngest child is trans. Duke has an excellent pediatric gender care program, actually, which is constantly in danger due to their legislature. Her family has lived in NC for almost 10 years and LIKES it (research triangle, of course), but is ready and willing to leave if needed (her parents live in NY). But not everyone has that option.

[macmars45]

PDQ

@@@

My 19 yr old nibling is nonbinary and I'm so scared for them. They are visiting us in WA state next week. I hope H and I can help them with after college steps of where to live. (They currently live in AZ.)

[mysteriouswife]

@
TN being TN

www.cnn.com/2023/03/02/politics/tennessee-ban-drag-show-performances-governor/index.html


This is on top of the abortion debate, removing federal funding from school systems, trans athlete bans, and a slew of other demeaning policies being passed.

[smock]

WaPo had an article yesterday on state bills attacking transgender rights. As predicted, after passing anti-trans bills targeting minors, several states are now trying to ban gender-affirming care for adults. It's horrifying and cruel.

Gift link:
New state bills restrict transgender health care — for adults
wapo.st/3SHrgTS

[seeyalater52]

Mar 2, 2023 12:25:08 GMT -5 smock said:

WaPo had an article yesterday on state bills attacking transgender rights. As predicted, after passing anti-trans bills targeting minors, several states are now trying to ban gender-affirming care for adults. It's horrifying and cruel.

Gift link:
New state bills restrict transgender health care — for adults
wapo.st/3SHrgTS

This coverage is SO good and a nice (and unexoected!) change of pace from the bullshit from the NYT on this.

For more background on the Times’ shit, here’s a rundown of the timeline that includes a bunch of links for those wanting to read about specific criticisms. www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/02/new-york-times-trans-coverage-debate

[Velar Fricative]

Mar 2, 2023 12:25:08 GMT -5 smock said:

WaPo had an article yesterday on state bills attacking transgender rights. As predicted, after passing anti-trans bills targeting minors, several states are now trying to ban gender-affirming care for adults. It's horrifying and cruel.

Gift link:
New state bills restrict transgender health care — for adults
wapo.st/3SHrgTS

I would question how they sleep at night attacking people for who they are and constantly lying about everything they seek to accomplish in legislatures, but that would require them to have humanity. I just can't.

[goldengirlz]

Mar 2, 2023 4:47:13 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

It’s absolutely breathtaking how quickly and under the radar they’re rolling this out. Erasure of identity at this level is a genocide and I’m so fucking angry.

I don’t think it’s under the radar at all. It’s highly visible cruelty for political gain. I think a lot of people just don’t care.

[msmerymac]

Mar 2, 2023 12:29:57 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Mar 2, 2023 12:25:08 GMT -5 smock said:

WaPo had an article yesterday on state bills attacking transgender rights. As predicted, after passing anti-trans bills targeting minors, several states are now trying to ban gender-affirming care for adults. It's horrifying and cruel.

Gift link:
New state bills restrict transgender health care — for adults
wapo.st/3SHrgTS

This coverage is SO good and a nice (and unexoected!) change of pace from the bullshit from the NYT on this.

For more background on the Times’ shit, here’s a rundown of the timeline that includes a bunch of links for those wanting to read about specific criticisms. www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/02/new-york-times-trans-coverage-debate

Drew Margary's response was actually the first time I had heard about the Times coverage:

www.sfgate.com/politics/article/new-york-times-trans-panic-is-pathetic-17799837.php

[seeyalater52]

Mar 2, 2023 14:36:58 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Mar 2, 2023 4:47:13 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

It’s absolutely breathtaking how quickly and under the radar they’re rolling this out. Erasure of identity at this level is a genocide and I’m so fucking angry.

I don’t think it’s under the radar at all. It’s highly visible cruelty for political gain. I think a lot of people just don’t care.

It’s never been so obvious to me how little people care. That is one of the scariest parts to me. This cuts at the worst combination of “this doesn’t impact me directly” and “fuck stupid people who live in red states they should just move away” in a perfect storm of apathy and blue bubbling.

[underwaterrhymes]

Mar 2, 2023 14:36:58 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Mar 2, 2023 4:47:13 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

It’s absolutely breathtaking how quickly and under the radar they’re rolling this out. Erasure of identity at this level is a genocide and I’m so fucking angry.

I don’t think it’s under the radar at all. It’s highly visible cruelty for political gain. I think a lot of people just don’t care.

By under the radar I mean the media is not broadly reporting this. Or at least not in the way it should be.

[seeyalater52]

Mar 2, 2023 15:42:08 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Mar 2, 2023 14:36:58 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

I don’t think it’s under the radar at all. It’s highly visible cruelty for political gain. I think a lot of people just don’t care.

By under the radar I mean the media is not broadly reporting this. Or at least not in the way it should be.

Agree with this completely too. It’s also death by a thousand papercuts because there are so many different types of shenanigans at the state and federal level that it truly is hard to keep up with it all. The biggest GOP takeaway from the Trump era is to just constantly flood the field so things have to be triaged and they can see where there is energy. Unfortunately I don’t think this issue has a strong enough showing given what’s going on and I suspect that spells very bad news for the 2024 GOP presidential primary and potential change in administration. Trump looks like a moderate on trans rights compared to many people who have announced so “never Trump” isn’t going to be enough.

[seeyalater52]

Mar 1, 2023 14:00:08 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Mississippi banned gender affirming care for minors - www.cnn.com/2023/02/28/politics/mississippi-transgender-health-care-ban/index.html

Also to put a finer point on the situation in MS, the law has an emergency order in it so it goes into effect immediately. That means the next time families go to fill their prescriptions they will no longer be allowed, and kids will need to forcibly detransition/go through the wrong puberty (depending on their age and treatment choices to date) or seek care elsewhere.

I cant recall if this bill has penalties for parents or not but some of the other bans also forbid going out of state for treatment and make parents affirming trans kids’ identities child abuse so there may still be implications for seeking care out of state even if it is accessible.

[estrellita]

I follow someone who constantly calls out the NYT and their articles seem to keep getting worse and worse. It's disgusting. As is all of this. No one can possibly claim they're for "freedom" and "small government" and support these bills. It's no one's damn business what people do with their own bodies, the relationships they are in, how they want to present themselves, etc. It's not negatively affecting them (in any actual, real way) and we are not a theocracy following a religion these people like to hide behind.

When people ask how I can live where I live, this is a big reason why. All the states around us are pretty deep red (although IA used to be less red, and WI flip flops sometimes, but still) and they're all trying to or will probably try to pass these sorts of bills. The winters suck, but the odds of something like that being passed here is extremely low. I wish people didn't have to move just to live their lives 😠

[seeyalater52]

Mar 2, 2023 12:02:51 GMT -5 mysteriouswife said:

@
TN being TN

www.cnn.com/2023/03/02/politics/tennessee-ban-drag-show-performances-governor/index.html


This is on top of the abortion debate, removing federal funding from school systems, trans athlete bans, and a slew of other demeaning policies being passed.

Both this bill and the ban on gender affirming care for minors were signed by Gov Lee today. Many more bills pending in TN.

[mysteriouswife]

Mar 2, 2023 18:09:56 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Mar 2, 2023 12:02:51 GMT -5 mysteriouswife said:

@
TN being TN

www.cnn.com/2023/03/02/politics/tennessee-ban-drag-show-performances-governor/index.html


This is on top of the abortion debate, removing federal funding from school systems, trans athlete bans, and a slew of other demeaning policies being passed.

Both this bill and the ban on gender affirming care for minors were signed by Gov Lee today. Many more bills pending in TN.

Lee is garbage and I’m disgusted to live here. But hey everyone keep coming to Nashville! Let’s support these over priced bars and hotels

[cattledogkisses]

@@@

Florida is sinking to new lows:

Proposed Florida bill would allow courts to take "emergency" custody of trans kids, or kids with a trans parents or sibling, even if they live in another state.

www.businessinsider.com/florida-anti-trans-bill-court-custody-kids-gender-affirming-care-2023-3

So Florida is basically proposing state-sanctioned kidnapping.

[bronxgirl]

Mar 6, 2023 16:08:07 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Florida is sinking to new lows:


Proposed Florida bill would allow courts to take "emergency" custody of trans kids, or kids with a trans parents or sibling, even if they live in another state.

www.businessinsider.com/florida-anti-trans-bill-court-custody-kids-gender-affirming-care-2023-3

So Florida is basically proposing state-sanctioned kidnapping.

That's horrifying.  I mean, all of this is horrifying, but it keeps getting worse.

[mala]

Mar 6, 2023 16:08:07 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Florida is sinking to new lows:


((This needs an @ tag IMO))

@@ I read this this weekend and have been sitting on it. The more I think bout it the more I think it would be struck down in the courts since states can't just take jurisdiction like that. BUT also, that kind of thinking is how these types of laws get passed in the first place and of course that doesn't help the people affected before and while it's going through the courts. My nibbling has family in FL, and goes to visit regularly.... if this is passed I don't think they could visit without fear. I know I'll be terrified the entire time they're down there that they won't be allowed to leave.