Trump Administration Eyes Defining Transgender Out of Existence

[Sydney_NYC]

The National Center for Transgender Equality just released this:

In response to a story by The New York Times about efforts within the Trump administration to eliminate the rights of transgender people, Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, issued the following statement:

"This proposal is an attempt to put heartless restraints on the lives of 2 million people, effectively abandoning our right to equal access to health care, to housing, to education, or to fair treatment under the law. This administration is willing to disregard the established medical and legal view of our rights and ourselves to solidify an archaic, dogmatic, and frightening view of the world. This transparent political attack will not succeed administratively, legally, or morally.

In the name of preempting some misinformation, let's talk about what this proposed rule would not do. It would not eliminate the precedents set by dozens of federal courts over the last two decades affirming the full rights and identities of transgender people. It would not undo the consensus of the medical providers and scientists across the globe who see transgender people, know transgender people, and urge everyone to accept us for who we are. And no rule—no administration—can erase the experiences of transgender people and our families. While foolish, this proposed rule deflates itself in the face of the facts, and the facts don't care how the Trump administration feels.

To transgender people: I know you are frightened. I know you are horrified to see your existence treated in such an inhumane and flippant manner. What this administration is trying to do is an abomination, a reckless attack on your life and mine. But this administration is also staffed by inexperienced amateurs overplaying their hand by taking extreme positions that ignore law, medicine, and basic human decency.

With each awful headline like this, remember that you are far from alone. NCTE and other organizations are continuing to fight against this bigotry. Remember that there is an entire human rights community that not only stands with us but will always fight back—and fight hard. Thousands of us have devoted our lives to protecting you and your families, and our ability to do so is nothing short of a privilege. And we will not lay down now.

Transgender people have fought rules like this one in federal and state court and won. We have stood toe-to-toe with administrators, legislatures, and executives who would agree with this rule and yet we won. We have fought and will continue to fight for The Equality Act, a bill currently in Congress that would explicitly enshrine civil rights protections for transgender people—Congress must pass this long overdue bill now. We know how to defeat this, and we will do everything we can until every transgender person feels secure in their rights under the law.

At the heart of our work at NCTE is the belief that no one should have to suffer just to be true to themselves. And yet transgender people are still often forced from their homes, fired from their jobs, harassed at their schools, and denied the most basic level of dignity by a broken system. Knowing this, millions of transgender people wake up every day and step into an uncertain world. This is the most common trait shared by transgender people: A strength and resilience for hard and difficult times. If this administration is hoping to demoralize us, they will be disappointed. If they are hoping we will give up, they should reconsider the power of our persistence and our fury."

[NikkiJ]

I plan to announce that anyone I even suspect of voting for trump, including friends and family, are out of my life. Sorry sis, maybe you and your redneck family should think for yourselves instead of letting your redneck husband tell you what to do.

[DustKitten]

@Complete, for a lot of us, THIS IS our worst fantasy, we hardly dare dream of anything worse.

DO NOT normalize this and say "Well, it probably won't stick...they probably won't win this election anyway." That's how we got to this point in the first place! We've waited, we've watched them go after our rights, and the rights of other minorities, and we've done nothing, because we thought it wouldn't get this bad. If we don't do anything now, it's only going to get worse. At the VERY least, we need to do what we can to make sure the Republicans don't hold on to their congressional majorities after the midterms. It's also time for us to start working out what we're going to do if we cannot stop this here. We can't just count on other people to protect us this time, we need to mobilize politically and protect ourselves.

Questions:

What other options do we have? We can tell all our friends about this, and write letters, and vote, but if that's not enough, then what? Can we reverse this even if we're stuck under the thumb of a government that believes we SHOULD suffer discrimination? What other groups can we ally ourselves with to amplify our voice? How are we, as a community, going to respond to this?

There are currently only 1.4 million transgender people living in America--hardly a drop in the bucket where elections are concerned. We aren't a priority for EITHER political party, and that needs to change, but we can't do it alone. It'll take ALL of our voices, and the voices of all our friends and families, to make something happen. So let's do something about it!

[Dena]

The reason the left was so upset with Kavanaugh is because he would end Roe vs Wade under the argument that it wasn't constitutional. The same argument/logic applies in this case. It doesn't matter what Kavanaugh's personal views are,

Given his ranting about the Clintons trying to get revenge I have my doubts about that... If be believed that he is irrational. and if not he was willing to lie  to congress to get to the levers of power, which is not how a judge which could put aside his personal opinions would act.

Your making the assumption of guilt without proof. If you were falsely accused I suspect you might say a few thing that you would regret latter and I know he regrets some of what he said. Hopefully in the long debate of the case, rational thought will prevail on both sites.

Textual judges follow the constitution as it's written and their personal view can't be considered in their decision.

But when the specifics are not spelled, nor the specifics of the questions at hand never seriously imagined, and times were so hugely different at the time of the writing of the constitution,  how what IS written should be applied is not always obvious ...

So there is always room for finding a way to justify personal beliefs on either side that sounds reasonable.

The constitution and the Federalist Papers solve that problem. Both of them clearly define the intent of the founding fathers and if it's not included in those two sources, the government is forbidden from going there. Unfortunately years of inventive reading of the constitution have resulted in the mess we have today. I dare say that most of the laws on the book wouldn't pass Constitutional muster if put to the test. I fully understand how this came about but unfortunately it is a forbidden subject.

This results in consistent decision that can be predicted in advance and it's why we must have judges who can ignore their personal views. If we don't have this, we have a king where one person can rule the country.

I have to disagree.. The spirit of the intent, as well as taking into consideration ho much the world has changed from when the words were framed, needs to be taken into account when interpreting the constitution.

The constitution needs to be applied with consideration to current realities. Those who call themselves strict texualists AFAIK invariably seem to fall on only one side of the political spectrum - and I think that is telling.

- Karen

Have you considered that one party would prefer not to be encumbered by the constitution and the other side is still traditional believing in the constitution? If you can freely interpret the constitution, it's worthless paper. if it doesn't meet todays needs, Amend it. The founding fathers knew they made mistakes, in particular on the subject of slavey so they allowed the ability for the document to grow as needed. They made it difficult because they wanted changes to be well thought out to avoid exactly what we are seeing now.

[Karen_A]

Given his ranting about the Clintons trying to get revenge I have my doubts about that... If be believed that he is irrational. and if not he was willing to lie  to congress to get to the levers of power, which is not how a judge which could put aside his personal opinions would act.
Your making the assumption of guilt without proof.

The only assumption I am making is that the Clintons did not orchestrate the accusation of sexual misconduct against him.... Given that, what he said about that is either delusional, or a calculated lie to help him get confirmed...

Even if he is innocent of the charges of inappropriate behavior, when she starts throwing around while conspiracy theories, as I don't think he is delusional, he shows that he goes to unacceptable lengths to further his personal agenda for Supreme Court Justice IMO.

If you were falsely accused I suspect you might say a few thing that you would regret latter

In fact I was (thought it was not sexually based) and it almost cost me my job... but as angry and scared as I was, I stuck to the facts and did not try smear my accuser with wild theories.

and I know he regrets some of what he said.

Only because of the backlash I suspect.

Unfortunately years of inventive reading of the constitution have resulted in the mess we have today.

What specially do you mean by that... I suspect we might see mess in very different places.

Have you considered that one party would prefer not to be encumbered by the constitution and the other side is still traditional believing in the constitution?

Well we disagree about that at a very basic level...

I think the spirit of teh constitution would be to not prohibit or discriminate against same sex marriage at teh federal level for example, even though the framers might have have been dead set against it (I'm sure they never even considered the possibility) ... And that is because of greater understanding of the human condition that has evolved over time.

The constitution is intended to prevent tyranny by the majority, and issues need to be looked at from that point of few.

In any case the republicans have gone so far right and catering to the religious far right, and reinforcing into conspiracy theirs to divide the country, I don't see how anyone who has or needs to change sex could support them..

I find it incomprehensible.

- Karen

[Lady Sarah]

I was worried that the Trump administration would do something like this. This administration has been staffed by those who are the most basic types of intolerant bigots one can find. We are not the only targets. They will belittle anyone that is not rich and white. The last 2 years should be proof enough of that. If nothing else, attacking immigrants could get this piece of legislation passed through without anyone noticing. Then, they can tell you they got bigger fish to fry, and they ain't got time to hear what you have to say. In their case, leading by example tells the rest of the country it's OK to hate and discriminate. I know. It's sad. But, what else could one expect from an administration based on creating conflict everywhere?

[Dena]

If you were falsely accused I suspect you might say a few thing that you would regret latter

In fact I was (thought it was not sexually based) and it almost cost me my job... but as angry and scared as I was, I stuck to the facts and did not try smear my accuser with wild theories.

To be human is to make mistakes. To be god like is to be perfect. Unfortunately many of us are human and we do make mistakes. That is why forgiveness exist, so we don't need to live with our mistakes for the rest of our life.

Unfortunately years of inventive reading of the constitution have resulted in the mess we have today.

What specially do you mean by that... I suspect we might see mess in very different places.

Have you considered that one party would prefer not to be encumbered by the constitution and the other side is still traditional believing in the constitution?

Well we disagree about that at a very basic level...

I think the spirit of teh constitution would be to not prohibit or discriminate against same sex marriage at teh federal level for example, even though the framers might have have been dead set against it (I'm sure they never even considered the possibility) ... And that is because of greater understanding of the human condition that has evolved over time.

The constitution is intended to prevent tyranny by the majority, and issues need to be looked at from that point of few.

In any case the republicans have gone so far right and catering to the religious far right, and reinforcing into conspiracy theirs to divide the country, I don't see how anyone who has or needs to change sex could support them..

I find it incomprehensible.

Before coming to Susan's I spent months learning the political history of the United States. This is stuff they don't teach in school and it answered the question I started with which was why are we in the mess we are today. Both sides are at fault though one more than the other and the problems started when we drifted away from the text of the constitution. Had Obama done this the right way and pushed it through congress, the republicans wouldn't have been able to use the same process to present their agenda. Two wrongs don't make a right and at this point, the only way out is to do it the right way. Remember that the court would produce a 4-5 decision at worst case but I suspect enough of the judges would see the unconstitutionally of the issue that both decisions would be ruled improper. I suspect it's possible that it would be a 9-0 decision with the current court.

It's very possible that Trump could regret his court picks if he is agreeable to the new rules.

[PhoenixGurl2016]

I am voting in November, I am reaching out to others, but I am also going to be prepared. I am sorry I am a coward but if that door opens to Canada, I am taking it at the drop of a hat. I know a lot of us can not do that, but I can and will. I will vote, I will talk, but I am not going to be unprepared.

[Devlyn]

In fact I was (thought it was not sexually based) and it almost cost me my job... but as angry and scared as I was, I stuck to the facts and did not try smear my accuser with wild theories.
To be human is to make mistakes. To be god like is to be perfect. Unfortunately many of us are human and we do make mistakes. That is why forgiveness exist, so we don't need to live with our mistakes for the rest of our life.

What specially do you mean by that... I suspect we might see mess in very different places.

Well we disagree about that at a very basic level...

I think the spirit of teh constitution would be to not prohibit or discriminate against same sex marriage at teh federal level for example, even though the framers might have have been dead set against it (I'm sure they never even considered the possibility) ... And that is because of greater understanding of the human condition that has evolved over time.

The constitution is intended to prevent tyranny by the majority, and issues need to be looked at from that point of few.

In any case the republicans have gone so far right and catering to the religious far right, and reinforcing into conspiracy theirs to divide the country, I don't see how anyone who has or needs to change sex could support them..

I find it incomprehensible.
Before coming to Susan's I spent months learning the political history of the United States. This is stuff they don't teach in school and it answered the question I started with which was why are we in the mess we are today. Both sides are at fault though one more than the other and the problems started when we drifted away from the text of the constitution. Had Obama done this the right way and pushed it through congress, the republicans wouldn't have been able to use the same process to present their agenda. Two wrongs don't make a right and at this point, the only way out is to do it the right way. Remember that the court would produce a 4-5 decision at worst case but I suspect enough of the judges would see the unconstitutionally of the issue that both decisions would be ruled improper. I suspect it's possible that it would be a 9-0 decision with the current court.

It's very possible that Trump could regret his court picks if he is agreeable to the new rules.

There it is in a nutshell.

[DustKitten]

If a quarter of us are going to stand up for the republican party and defend them, we're doomed. We CANNOT afford to let politics tear us apart when our survival is at stake.

I'm not willing to discuss conservatism vs liberalism at a time like this. The only thing that matters is that the people in office RIGHT NOW have taken action against us, have attempted to deprive us of rights in the past, and will likely do so again.

THINK for a moment. The next time they do something like this, which right will they try to take from us? What about the time after that? Or after that? If they decide to create a transgender registry in the US, will that raise any eyebrows among our conservative members?

This is important, because it won't be the end. It needs to stop.

[Devlyn]

If a quarter of us are going to stand up for the republican party and defend them, we're doomed. We CANNOT afford to let politics tear us apart when our survival is at stake.

I'm not willing to discuss conservatism vs liberalism at a time like this. The only thing that matters is that the people in office RIGHT NOW have taken action against us, have attempted to deprive us of rights in the past, and will likely do so again.

THINK for a moment. The next time they do something like this, which right will they try to take from us? What about the time after that? Or after that? If they decide to create a transgender registry in the US, will that raise any eyebrows among our conservative members?

This is important, because it won't be the end. It needs to stop.

Is the answer silencing a quarter of us? I will, of course fight for the rights of transgender people. That can be done from either side of the political aisle. Transgender does not differentiate between people of one political persuasion or the other. What I don't want to have to fight for is my freedom of speech. It was gained hundreds of years ago, and is the cornerstone of this nation.

[DustKitten]

The answer is as you stated: defending ourselves from both sides of the aisle. Devlyn, I'm asking you to put aside political grudges and join us in common cause. The only ideals under attack here are those which directly seek to harm us and other minorities. We must not split ourselves over this issue.

[Devlyn]

The answer is as you stated: defending ourselves from both sides of the political aisle. Devlyn, I'm asking you to put aside political grudges and join us in common cause. The only political ideals under attack here are those which directly seek to harm us and other minorities. We must not split ourselves over this issue.

Of course, and my post above would probably have been better in the new site policy thread, where republicans have been instructed to dis-invite themselves from the site. 

[AnneK]

Is the answer silencing a quarter of us? I will, of course fight for the rights of transgender people. That can be done from either side of the political aisle. Transgender does not differentiate between people of one political persuasion or the other. What I don't want to have to fight for is my freedom of speech. It was gained hundreds of years ago, and is the cornerstone of this nation.

I have been watching the U.S. political situation for many years, going back to Johnson.  The Republicans of today, to a significant extent, are not the Republicans of old.  Don't forget, it was the Republicans who came out against slavery many years ago.  They started going off the rails with Reagan, bringing in religious support, though Nixon did that to a lesser extent too.  Bush senior wasn't too bad, but I certainly had doubts with Dubya.  Then the Tea Party types came in and now the Repubilcan party is largely a disgrace, pandering to all these divisive groups.

[Devlyn]

Welcome to politics, Anne. As a group loses votes due to spending taxpayer money on a whim, they start to lean more conservative. As a group loses votes due to being stodgy, they start to lean more progressive.

Our problem is term limits. If today's population were allowed to represent current social values, none of this would be an issue.

[Devlyn]

To expand, the president has limited power. Changing presidents changes little more than the name on the White House stationery. The true power lies with our legislators, and that group looks like someone let the nursing home out for lunch. 

[SadieBlake]

Devlyn if you want to argue these points, please argue fairly. There is no valid comparison between the Republican party of Lincoln through Eisenhower and what has followed.

Let's be really clear, southern white Democrats came about as a reaction to the civil war. When Kennedy and then Johnson undertook to deconstruct segregation in the US south the bigots changed alliances. The same people who had been bigoted southern Democrats became bigoted southern Republicans and just as the Democratic party had been willing to make a deal of accepting those politicians into their power base.

The Republicans can hardly lay claim to fiscal responsibility today, given they are essential in providing government welfare to:

Red States that use more social services than blue states while putting less money into the federal coffers

Corporate welfare to big money and especially agribusiness

I'm not blind to the evils of politics and for the record I have never given a dollar to either party. I've worked for candidates I believe in and always voted my conscience over my wallet.

Additionally nobody has told you to leave. I'm telling you I pay no attention to this or other strawman arguments.

[Devlyn]

Sadie, your arguments are as strawman as mine. I was referencing a point in history to highlight the very fact that political parties switch at will to curry votes.... and you know it.

[AnneK]

As a group loses votes due to spending taxpayer money on a whim, they start to lean more conservative. As a group loses votes due to being stodgy, they start to lean more progressive.

Changing presidents changes little more than the name on the White House stationery.

It's become much more than conservative or liberal.  It's an all out attack on certain groups, including us.  It's a president who thinks he can rule by tweet, attacking whoever he wants.  As for the stationary, look at all the damage Trump has done in less than 2 years that have nothing to do with conservative or liberal.  As I mentioned, he's launched attacks on us, Mexicans, Muslims and more.  Then we have him attacking long time U.S. allies, while praising the likes of Putin, Duterte and Erdoğan.  Those people are clearly not what I thought U.S. values stood form.  There are a lot of Republicans who have realized what a disgrace Trump is.  When you have people like the Koch brothers deciding to support the Democrats, instead of Republicans, you know there's a serious problem.  While you may be Republican, you have to take a stand and decide whether being one is more important than doing what's right.  Once Trump and Pence are out of the way, then you can go back to being Republican.  In the mean time everyone has a duty to stand up and oppose the current administration.

[Devlyn]

It's become much more than conservative or liberal.  It's an all out attack on certain groups, including us.  It's a president who thinks he can rule by tweet, attacking whoever he wants.  As for the stationary, look at all the damage Trump has done in less than 2 years that have nothing to do with conservative or liberal.  As I mentioned, he's launched attacks on us, Mexicans, Muslims and more.  Then we have him attacking long time U.S. allies, while praising the likes of Putin, Duterte and Erdoğan.  Those people are clearly not what I thought U.S. values stood form.  There are a lot of Republicans who have realized what a disgrace Trump is.  When you have people like the Koch brothers deciding to support the Democrats, instead of Republicans, you know there's a serious problem.  While you may be Republican, you have to take a stand and decide whether being one is more important than doing what's right.  Once Trump and Pence are out of the way, then you can go back to being Republican.  In the mean time everyone has a duty to stand up and oppose the current administration.

Look at NC. Two words for you: Pat McRory. Anti-trans legislation was put forward, and soundly rejected by the people and by commerce. I'm at a handicap in that the new site policy prohibits me from defending my position. Vegas is offering good odds right now on how long until I'm banned from the site. 

There are several good articles online right now about how misleading and divisive the NYT story is. They've been linked to in these discussions.. and ignored.