Since the election, I have spoken with several people who voted for Trump. Every one of them denies that Trump has specifically targeted transgender rights and they all claim they did not see any of the attack ads that were run on TV.
Last night, I was talking to my dad (a strong Trump supporter) and got the same response. He didn't understand why I felt that I needed a passport. I asked if he watched the news. He said he watches the news every day and Trump never said any of these things. For reference, the only news outlet he watches is OAN (One America Network).
He then began to tell me about all the "fake news" outlets spewing lies about him. I stopped him right there while he denied that Trump had said any of these things. He was seated in front of his computer, so I directed him to go to Trump's website (donaldjtrump.com), click on "Agenda 47," scroll down, and click on the second page.
https://www.donaldjtrump.com/agenda47/president-trumps-plan-to-protect-children-from-left-wing-gender-insanityI told him that he could watch the video later and watch as this man actually speaks the words, but for now, let's read the transcript together.
1. Revoke Joe Biden's cruel policies on so-called "gender affirming care" ...
2. Sign a new executive order instructing every federal agency to cease all programs that promote the concept of sex and gender transition at any age.
3. Ask Congress to permanently stop federal taxpayer dollars from being used to promote or pay for these procedures. ...
5. Declare that any hospital or healthcare provider participating in the chemical or physical mutilation of minor youth will no longer meet federal health and safety standards for Medicaid and Medicare—and will be terminated from the program. ...
9. ... Ask Congress to pass a bill establishing that:
The only genders recognized by the U.S. government are male and female—and they are assigned at birth.He said, "Okay, but how does that apply to YOU?" What?
All of my medical care is through the Veterans Administration (a Federal Agency). My only health insurance is through Medicare (a Federal Agency). If those two agencies are prohibited from providing "gender-affirming care", that means that I lose my health insurance coverage and can no longer receive medical treatment, including mental health services. If I can't get therapy and medicine in this country, I will need to go somewhere that I can. This is not the country that I gave 14 years of my life to defend. "All men are created equal." "Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Ring a bell?
Dad said that he doesn't believe that any of this will happen. So I asked him if that meant that Trump was lying. He is here on his website saying he will do these things. He was in Arizona recently where he said he would do these things "on Day One". Was he lying? Are you saying that he is a liar? He said no, he wasn't lying but people can interpret this to mean different things.
I said, "If I show up on your doorstep with a loaded gun pointed at you, and said that I will pull the trigger in fifteen minutes, would you be concerned?" Maybe I am lying. Maybe you misunderstood what I said.
He finally admitted that I have good reason to be concerned, but for any of this to take place would take a long time, maybe even years. I agreed.
So what do I do in the meantime? If Congress and the courts agree that "The only genders recognized by the U.S. government are male and female — and they are assigned at birth", where does that leave me?
My citizenship in this country is based upon the fact that I was native-born on U.S. soil. But the document that proves that no longer matches my current identity documents. The name and gender are different. Does this mean that I am no longer a U.S. citizen? Does this mean I am an undocumented alien and subject to deportation? To where? If I have no country of origin, will I live in an airport terminal like Snowden did?
What if the "Federal Agencies" "cease all programs that promote the concept of sex and gender transition at any age"? Does my Social Security account get reverted to what was on my birth certificate? Does that mean I would no longer qualify for any of my pension income or Medicare insurance?
We don't know the answers to these questions. Will it take a long time for any of this to become a reality? Probably. There are numerous civil rights organizations ready to file lawsuits "on Day One" and will probably hit the courts before the ink is dry on these Executive Orders.
But that is not the point.
It is the fact that this man is even willing to try, with the power of the U.S. Government.
I wish I had gone to Law School. I would mount the largest class-action lawsuit in the history of the world. I would bury the courts in paperwork, from medical studies and Supreme Court cases to statements from 26 professional medical associations that support gender-affirming care as a medical treatment for gender dysphoria. I would demand reparations of $1 million for every transgender person who has been openly discriminated against by an elected official.
Prohibit taxpayer funds for gender affirming procedures?
Nope, you just financed all of them. Up yours.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
