Topic: Why Are Republicans Betting the Farm on Attacking Transgender People?

[Laura1951]

Why Are Republicans Betting the Farm on Attacking Transgender People?


https://www.laprogressive.com/attacking-transgender-people/


LA Progressive by Staff on April 12, 2021

The GOP’s latest culture war is focused squarely on the nation’s transgender community, specifically transgender youth. It isn’t a new war, simply a new front in an old war that can be traced back to the famed “bathroom bills” from some years ago that spread across dozens of states. Those bills were introduced in tandem with former President Donald Trump’s targeted federal government-led attacks that included the overturning of anti-discrimination statutes protecting trans people and an outright transgender ban in the U.S. military.

[Emileeeee]

Wish I knew. It's exhausting, especially when almost everybody I know keeps voting them into office in spite of it. I get that there are other issues, but I'd kinda like to have a right to life.

[vanityfair63]

Because they can. They see them as an easy target, and they are sure that  God is on their side and wants them to inform the sinners. They are sure that if their children learn about the Trans people they will all magically transform right in front of their eyes. And they cannot stand for that. What we are seeing right now is the GOP elite posturing for the coveted presidential position, that they are certain God wants them to have. They are marganilizing the black community too. So if you know a Trans person, or a black person, or if you happen to be one, just know they think they are better than you, and they are smarter than you, and that God favors them over you. And they are going to teach you a lesson in humility.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

[Lady Sarah]

vanityfair63 is pretty spot on. It's much like the old crying "witch" to keep women in line during the dark ages. The elite make up stories and use us as scapegoats to demonize us, rallying the masses much in the same way as the elite did against "witches" back then. Much of the time, it is to keep the media focus off of what is going on behind closed doors, so to speak. They feel it is better for the public to fear us, than to fear them.

Alas, we are not their only enemy. Behold the abortion bills. How do you like that for a witch hunt? Not only do they want to deprive us of the right to do with our bodies as we please, but cis women as well. It would seem the only ones with freedom would be cis males. Haven't we been sending soldiers to war over such?

[Lyric]

I live in Texas and it's clear that Greg Abbott is using it as a sinister re-election strategy. The Republicans know they can't be elected by the majority so they aim to activate hate. While it's not so fashionable to openly arouse hate toward blacks, Hispanics or gays (though they do that, too, indirectly) TG people are a weak and easy target for hate focus. We are poorly organized, in relatively small numbers and no sort of threat to anyone. Only the stupidest knuckle draggers fall it, but apparently in Texas that's enough stay in office. But most of the time these politicians just concern themselves with pandering to the big oil interests.

[Devlyn]

I think the question would be better framed as "Why are people south of the Mason-Dixon Line Betting the Farm on Attacking Transgender People?" The problem is more geographical than political. With a few outliers, LGBTQIA+ rights are stronger in the North than the South.

I've said it before, I'll say it again: In Massachusetts it was a Republican governor who signed a transgender bill of rights into law.  He was initially against it, but he listened, he learned, and he did what was right for the people.

[Brooke Renee]

So let me see if I understand this correctly.  Many in the GOP were deeply wounded at mask mandates citing they were infringing on their rights even though the mandates were grounded in science.  But they have no problem infringing on women’s rights, gay rights, trans rights based on what has become a religious cult.  At the same time these "good christians" continue to worship a man that sees the seven deadly sins as a bucket list.  I'm confused.


Brooke

[Maid Marion]

That is intentional.  They wish to get smart folks doing stuff that won't help their cause.  Don't fall for that.

If you can, live a good life and show to your community that you are hardly a threat.

When the weather gets nice I'll be out  in my front yard tending my gorgeous flower garden wearing girly clothes.

Marion

[TXSara]

I live in Texas and it's clear that Greg Abbott is using it as a sinister re-election strategy. The Republicans know they can't be elected by the majority so they aim to activate hate. While it's not so fashionable to openly arouse hate toward blacks, Hispanics or gays (though they do that, too, indirectly) TG people are a weak and easy target for hate focus. We are poorly organized, in relatively small numbers and no sort of threat to anyone. Only the stupidest knuckle draggers fall it, but apparently in Texas that's enough stay in office. But most of the time these politicians just concern themselves with pandering to the big oil interests.

Agreed, Lyric.  It's a percentages play to be honest. 

Both parties like to pander to single issue voters because they are cheap and easy.  If you can rile up some of the bigots in East Texas, you can get them to vote for you and you don't have to really DO anything. 

It really will only change once it becomes "uncool" to be mean to transgender people.  When will that happen?  Heck -- I don't know.  It took many years before it became political suicide to openly attack the gay / lesbian community. 

I'm trying to not worry about it too much and focus on being a good representative of the community to everyone around me.  That's really the smart play here.  When people begin to realize that these politicians aren't hurting "random transgender people", but rather hurting "my friend Sara", that's when the tide will turn.

~Sara