http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/breaking_obama_surprises_pride_celebrants_with_brand_new_gender_identity_executive_order

Score!

Sadly, that only protects federal employees...

If he really wanted to help, he should have just done one for all LGBT employees.

Quote from: ChelseaAnn on June 30, 2014, 10:31:45 PM
Sadly, that only protects federal employees...

If he really wanted to help, he should have just done one for all LGBT employees.

Yeah ... But I think with an executive order like that, he may only have the ability to do something for federal employees, and not the private sector. Unless I misunderstand, it's the best he can do with the huge amount of congressional obstruction.

The thing I'm waiting for (and dreading) is the outcry from the far right in the U.S. I can hear them now. Complaining about paying for health insurance and making it out to sound like a huge financial drain when it will probably cost individuals pennies or less given the small amount of people in the federal government that this would actually affect, being horrified that we exist and want basic respect ... They can scream all they want though. As much as I hate to describe politics as a sport, for lack of a better descriptive phrase we win this round.

You're right, Amy - that's the extent of his unilateral executive power when it comes to things like this.  Anything else would have required congress to act, and that's not (never?) gonna happen.

But even this is especially useful right now after the terrible Supreme Court decision in the Hobby Lobby case, which was a huge step backwards when it comes to the possibility of employers covering trans healthcare.

Republicans and organized religion - seriously the two main groups responsible for keeping us as second-class citizens, and anyone who hasn't figured that out by now really needs to get a grip.

Quote from: __________ on July 01, 2014, 10:26:45 AM
You're right, Amy - that's the extent of his unilateral executive power when it comes to things like this.  Anything else would have required congress to act, and that's not (never?) gonna happen.

But even this is especially useful right now after the terrible Supreme Court decision in the Hobby Lobby case, which was a huge step backwards when it comes to the possibility of employers covering trans healthcare.

Republicans and organized religion - seriously the two main groups responsible for keeping us as second-class citizens, and anyone who hasn't figured that out by now really needs to get a grip.

What was decided in the Hobby Lobby case? I heard about it, but must have missed the outcome.

Quote from: FA on July 01, 2014, 12:47:46 PM
What was decided in the Hobby Lobby case? I heard about it, but must have missed the outcome.

Look here.

Quote from: __________ on July 01, 2014, 10:26:45 AMAnything else would have required congress to act, and that's not (never?) gonna happen.

Maybe when the Democrats finally have control of both houses of Congress and the Presidency again (odds are against that at least until after the districts are redrawn again after the next census in 2020 due to the gerrymandering Republicans accomplished in State legislatures across the country in 2011-12 giving them a near lock on controlling the House*). *That's why there are more Republican representatives right now even though more people voted for a Democrat representative in 2012.

Actually John boner is the only reason ENDA hasn't passed. It passed the senate with a bi-partisan vote, which these days is unusual. The expectation is that it would pass the house as well, but John boner won't let it go to vote. He doesn't think its necessary. Well I don't think he's necessary either.

Why all the republican hate? I'm a republican, I'm also trans! We do exist! Guess what I'm also Catholic! Shocker right? Lol no not all republicans are evil, not all religious sects are discriminatory. Nothing is black and white everything is grey.

I'm neither, but I'm anti tea party and anti John boner.

Quote from: ThePersona on July 01, 2014, 10:32:26 PM
Why all the republican hate? I'm a republican, I'm also trans! We do exist! Guess what I'm also Catholic! Shocker right? Lol no not all republicans are evil, not all religious sects are discriminatory. Nothing is black and white everything is grey.

I'm actually frankly generally ultra conservative on most things.  However, on some of the right wing websites I spend time on, when gay or trans subjects come up they do their damnedest to make me turn liberal.

The first friend I disclosed to was my best friend who's something of a survivalist and politically to the right of Attila the Hun, we were both wearing sidearms and sitting in his gunroom building an AR15 for his wife. One of his first questions was "when Obama finishes destroying the country and we're engaged in running gunfights with rogue biker gangs across the wastelands of the former United States, will you need to carry a lighter pack?" I told him probably, and hoped he could understand me turning to cannibalism and snacking on pituitary glands after I run out of mah pillz. Then we both cracked up. It was probably the most surreal conversation I've ever had.

He told me later, when I said I needed to discuss something serious, that due to my background he thought I'd been hired as a CIA assassin. The second friend I told, thought I was going to tell him that I was born in an Argentinian village and grew up speaking German. So apparently I've lived a life where being a killer for hire or the spawn of Nazi war criminals is considered more likely than being trans by those that know me well. FWIW it also shows that even conservative people can be understanding.

I'm very conflicted. I'm generally conservative on most things except gays and trans issues, and that's about the only thing I have in common with liberals or other trans people(who tend to be liberals, naturally). And I don't agree with open borders, so that knocks out libertarians. So I guess I'm an exile in multiple ways, because I have no-go show stoppers with almost every group.

So getting back to the OP, I am glad he enacted that executive order. One thing I do like about ACA is the ban on pre existing conditions, so I don't have to worry about getting dumped for being trans. So while on balance I don't think it's a good law, there's that at least. It really isn't a case of black and white "republicans/democrats good/bad", there is some grey there.

Quote from: ThePersona on July 01, 2014, 10:32:26 PM
Why all the republican hate? I'm a republican, I'm also trans! We do exist! Guess what I'm also Catholic! Shocker right? Lol no not all republicans are evil, not all religious sects are discriminatory. Nothing is black and white everything is grey.

Sure, on an individual basis, there are plenty of perfectly reasonable republicans, and plenty of perfectly reasonable religious people.  On a collective basis, however, there are some pretty solid black-and-white conclusions that can be drawn.  I might even go so far as to say that religion alone, and republicans alone, are not that bad either.  It's the intersection of the two where some truly evil people hide, using one another as tools to push various hate-driven policies.  Politicians who quote religion, preachers who use the sermon to influence elections: nasty.

Quote from: ErinS on July 01, 2014, 11:32:40 PM
I'm actually frankly generally ultra conservative on most things.  However, on some of the right wing websites I spend time on, when gay or trans subjects come up they do their damnedest to make me turn liberal.

The first friend I disclosed to was my best friend who's something of a survivalist and politically to the right of Attila the Hun, we were both wearing sidearms and sitting in his gunroom building an AR15 for his wife. One of his first questions was "when Obama finishes destroying the country and we're engaged in running gunfights with rogue biker gangs across the wastelands of the former United States, will you need to carry a lighter pack?" I told him probably, and hoped he could understand me turning to cannibalism and snacking on pituitary glands after I run out of mah pillz. Then we both cracked up. It was probably the most surreal conversation I've ever had.

It always surprises me who ends up being an ally, and it's good to be reminded once in a while that support and understanding comes from the most unexpected places at times.

Quote from: ThePersona on July 01, 2014, 10:32:26 PM
Why all the republican hate? I'm a republican, I'm also trans! We do exist! Guess what I'm also Catholic! Shocker right? Lol no not all republicans are evil, not all religious sects are discriminatory. Nothing is black and white everything is grey.

Oh, I don't think all republicans or religious people are evil. I also don't exactly champion democrats either, as I'm still very angry that they did little to help us when they had control of the house, senate and presidency.

But like it or not, the vast majority of people standing in our way, turning a blind eye, or actively working to hold us down are religious and/or conservatives. This makes it difficult for me to trust conservative individuals until I get to know them on an individual level so that I know they won't try to burn me at the stake for being transgender. Where I live, it's gotten to the point I'm actually afraid to talk to such people with those two qualities who are also Cisgender all together. That's because I live in Kansas. In other parts of the country I've lived in, conservatives tend to simply be people I sometimes disagree with, sometimes see their point.

But here?

Well ... There's a reason the Westborow Baptist Church can function in Topeka.

Quote from: awilliams1701 on July 01, 2014, 03:54:42 PM
Actually John boner is the only reason ENDA hasn't passed. It passed the senate with a bi-partisan vote, which these days is unusual. The expectation is that it would pass the house as well, but John boner won't let it go to vote. He doesn't think its necessary. Well I don't think he's necessary either.

Can't agree with this. Boehner is protecting the rest of the republican congress from having to vote for a popular bill that might get them in trouble with their more extreme constituents. Boehner was put in power by the republican caucus and he does what they need.

Disclaimer: Please don't take this as a put-down of republicans. It's not intended to be, just an explanation of how legislative leadership works.

Quote from: suzifrommd on July 02, 2014, 08:09:19 AM
Disclaimer: Please don't take this as a put-down of republicans. It's not intended to be, just an explanation of how legislative leadership works.

It's true. Political games are universal across any major party.

Quote from: dalebert on July 02, 2014, 09:17:49 AM
It's true. Political games are universal across any major party.

... and in every country. Our lot are just like yours: same circus, different clowns.

I'm not exactly sure where I read this, (huffington?), but there may be a much more expansive ruling in the near future.  Evidently, difineing race, religeon, sex etc. under the nondiscrimination laws has its' own federal commission under the executive branch.  They have already issued a preliminary report to redefine the "sex" category as inclusive of transsexuals.  This would expand Federal non discrimination laws nationwide and not require congressional approval.  I do not know what part of the transgender spectrum it will cover.   

Does this have any meaning for active duty military? Because we are on the federal pay roll. If so, this has massive implications.

A friend of mine thinks "Any university that has any research contracts, or even Work Study programs funded by the U.S. Government is covered as far as I can tell. And  gender identity (and maybe expression) is covered by (I think) a Title 7 ruling for organizations with 15 or more employees."

Perhaps if a company or organization gets Federal money for anything, this applies?

This is an interesting post. I have friends from agreeing all political persuasions. I find myself agreeing with some things on all sides of the political spectrum. Here in New York a bill to protect state employees was approved by the state assembly only to be voted down by the  state senate. This has been going on for nearly a decade and a half.  There should be protections for ALL transgender people whether employed by the public or private sector.