News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Hazumu on January 14, 2008, 05:37:12 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Refight the Nineties?
Post by: Hazumu on January 14, 2008, 05:37:12 PM
Post by: Hazumu on January 14, 2008, 05:37:12 PM
Rep. Barney Frank
Posted January 9, 2008 | 03:59 PM (EST)
The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-barney-frank/refight-the-nineties_b_80751.html)
Note: The word 'Transgender' is conspicuous by its absence. We're 'sexual minorities' with a 'fundamental nature' of 'gender identity'.
"It would have been nice in the nineties not to have had to fight to defend a woman's right to choose whether or not to have an abortion, and I would be very happy if that fight ended tomorrow. I was troubled when Newt Gingrich and his right wing band took over Congress after the election of 1994 and sought to put an end to programs to deal with continuing racial discrimination and the resulting inequality, and I am even more distressed that we have to continue to fight that battle against a Republican party largely opposed to all of these efforts -- consider the Bush Justice Department and its role in dealing with people's right to vote. As a gay man, additionally, I would have been delighted in the nineties if our conservative opponents had been willing to recognize our rights to be treated fairly under the law, and I would have saved a lot of time, as recently as this past year, if there was not continued strong right wing opposition to the "radical" position that people should not be denied jobs because of their fundamental nature, or that hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity should be treated less seriously than those based on racial or religious prejudice."
====
"Dog-whistle" politics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog-whistle_politics) in reverse. He can't come out and say 'transsexual' or 'transgendered' because he's (I think irrationally) afraid of triggering a bad reaction, but he can't not mention us outright, so he pitches some words so we hear them (to placate us) but they don't...
But it's well written. Perhaps we can crib phrases for our use the way WingNutDaily and ConcernedWomenOfAmerica crib from Barney to make their transphobic points.
Karen
Posted January 9, 2008 | 03:59 PM (EST)
The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-barney-frank/refight-the-nineties_b_80751.html)
Note: The word 'Transgender' is conspicuous by its absence. We're 'sexual minorities' with a 'fundamental nature' of 'gender identity'.
"It would have been nice in the nineties not to have had to fight to defend a woman's right to choose whether or not to have an abortion, and I would be very happy if that fight ended tomorrow. I was troubled when Newt Gingrich and his right wing band took over Congress after the election of 1994 and sought to put an end to programs to deal with continuing racial discrimination and the resulting inequality, and I am even more distressed that we have to continue to fight that battle against a Republican party largely opposed to all of these efforts -- consider the Bush Justice Department and its role in dealing with people's right to vote. As a gay man, additionally, I would have been delighted in the nineties if our conservative opponents had been willing to recognize our rights to be treated fairly under the law, and I would have saved a lot of time, as recently as this past year, if there was not continued strong right wing opposition to the "radical" position that people should not be denied jobs because of their fundamental nature, or that hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity should be treated less seriously than those based on racial or religious prejudice."
====
"Dog-whistle" politics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog-whistle_politics) in reverse. He can't come out and say 'transsexual' or 'transgendered' because he's (I think irrationally) afraid of triggering a bad reaction, but he can't not mention us outright, so he pitches some words so we hear them (to placate us) but they don't...
But it's well written. Perhaps we can crib phrases for our use the way WingNutDaily and ConcernedWomenOfAmerica crib from Barney to make their transphobic points.
Karen
Title: Re: Refight the Nineties?
Post by: tekla on January 14, 2008, 07:16:38 PM
Post by: tekla on January 14, 2008, 07:16:38 PM
Oh, but that's so pre 9-11 thinking. Don't you know, 9-11 changed everything? Or, maybe not.