So tonight the President gives his state of the union speech.

Personally, I'm not wasting time watching. I never watch them except maybe once or twice. Same old broken promises and rhetoric, no matter the party. I'm just going to read it the next day.

Anyway, what do you expect for him to say? Specifically issues for transgender people and maybe LGBT in general.

I'd like for him to at least acknowledge us and say that he wants to do something for us. And by that I don't mean LGBT issues in general, I want specifically something for transgender people. Throw us a bone! Maybe something about covering transition related surgery under the ACA?

Wouldn't it be great if some President just walked up to the podium, cleared his throat and said "Crappy" and walked away? 

Meh. I don't care about the current puppet on Pennsylvania Avenue. They are all liars, schmucks and douchebags. They usually mean the opposite of what they always say. I would rather spend the time speaking with my Portia doll. At least she would have something intelligent to say.

I remember in my 4th grade class we voted for the upcoming presidential election.  It was Ford versus Carter.  I have paid attention to politics ever since and have never seen progress for LGBT, and specifically trans issues, as much as this president has made.  While they certainly are not what we would all like, they have at least been addressed to some extent, which is not something I can say for the rest.  I don't expect much of the address to be toward trans issues at all tonight.  I would expect legislative proposals that will put the opposing party in the defensive (tax increases for the rich, etc.), rhetoric on the Keystone Pipeline and why he will veto it, immigration initiatives, and anything else he wants because he is a lame duck.  My guess is that most of his moves tonight will not be to court favor from the public, but to court discontent with the other party by the public with strategic proposals and executive actions to help position his party for the 2016 elections.

yay, politics! heh...

It is easy to understand people being disillusioned and apathetic about national politics.  Unless you have millions of $ to lobby with our voice may be drowned out by the plutocrats.  Mr. Obama's administrative record, however, is clearly one that has been supportive of expanding protections and civil liberties for LGBTQ people.  This is mass media we are talking about and our tiny numbers may hardly warrant mention in a national address.  It took years before then President Reagan was willing to say the word AIDS out loud.  It was and remains up to us to care for each other no matter what presidents do or say.

I still follow that sage advice we got back in the 60's, "Think globally and act locally" Be informed and work where we can see and feel the difference in or own communities.  I am not waiting for any single politician to save us.  This is our world and ownership comes with obligations....?

Quote from: Tessa James on January 20, 2015, 01:52:46 PM
It is easy to understand people being disillusioned and apathetic about national politics.  Unless you have millions of $ to lobby with our voice may be drowned out by the plutocrats.  Mr. Obama's administrative record, however, is clearly one that has been supportive of expanding protections and civil liberties for LGBTQ people. 

But this is the problem that I have with American voters: This habit of voting based on "cherry picking" certain issues. You see this with abortion and many other things. LGBT stuff is just another small issue in regards to everything else that is plaguing this country. I still say that getting this country back to a stable footing as far as jobs are concerned is far more important than anything else. If people are broke (both cis and trans alike) and worried about how they are going to survive. Nothing else matters.

My fellow Americans, we have borrowed and printed more and more money to line the pockets of our corporate overlords that footed the bills to get us elected.  Don't worry, we won't have to pay for it.  We have ensured that it will be the next generation's problem. /snark

Quote
Laura Squirrel

But this is the problem that I have with American voters: This habit of voting based on "cherry picking" certain issues. You see this with abortion and many other things.

The politicians count on the cherry picking when voting:

"White House Issues 2 Veto Threats Ahead of State of the Union:

The first threat was issued against H.R. 161, which would provide automatic approval of proposed natural gas pipelines if federal agencies did not issue permits within a specified timeline.

The second and more controversial threat was issued over H.R. 36, a 20-week abortion ban. (The 20-week marker refers to a widely-disputed theory of when infants can feel pain.)"

Quote from: ImagineKate on January 20, 2015, 12:26:00 PM
Anyway, what do you expect for him to say? Specifically issues for transgender people and maybe LGBT in general.

I'd like for him to at least acknowledge us and say that he wants to do something for us. And by that I don't mean LGBT issues in general, I want specifically something for transgender people. Throw us a bone! Maybe something about covering transition related surgery under the ACA?

Those hopes are a bit lofty.  He has a lot to cover and we probably are too small of a minority to warrant mentioning in this type of speech.  He may bring up ENDA to rally more people behind it so that the GOP is finally shamed into bringing it up for a vote, but overall the theme is going to be about the middle class.

The word transgender will be mentioned once, as part of larger statement on human dignity:

QuoteAs Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we're threatened, which is why I've prohibited torture, and worked to make sure our use of new technology like drones is properly constrained. It's why we speak out against the deplorable anti-Semitism that has resurfaced in certain parts of the world. It's why we continue to reject offensive stereotypes of Muslims — the vast majority of whom share our commitment to peace. That's why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We do these things not only because they're right, but because they make us safer.

Quote from: Tessa James on January 20, 2015, 01:52:46 PM
It is easy to understand people being disillusioned and apathetic about national politics.  Unless you have millions of $ to lobby with our voice may be drowned out by the plutocrats.  Mr. Obama's administrative record, however, is clearly one that has been supportive of expanding protections and civil liberties for LGBTQ people.  This is mass media we are talking about and our tiny numbers may hardly warrant mention in a national address.  It took years before then President Reagan was willing to say the word AIDS out loud.  It was and remains up to us to care for each other no matter what presidents do or say.

I still follow that sage advice we got back in the 60's, "Think globally and act locally" Be informed and work where we can see and feel the difference in or own communities.  I am not waiting for any single politician to save us.  This is our world and ownership comes with obligations....?

I think he might be supportive of us, but some in his party treat us like unwanted children. Barney Frank, for example.

For a lot of Democrats, "LGBT rights" is really mostly gay rights, and mostly marriage and adoption.

For example, I don't think the healthcare reform went far enough with providing access to surgery for transgender patients. I also find it appalling that the VA will only pay for hormones and not surgery for veterans. Things like that can be fixed but won't be.

I also find it appalling that in 2014 that in many states someone can't be fired for being gay but can be for being trans.

So will it no longer be a back alley word or general society miss-conception?

Will see i guess.

QuoteThat's why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We do these things not only because they're right, but because they make us safer.

From last night's address:

QuoteAs Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we're threatened, which is why I've prohibited torture, and worked to make sure our use of new technology like drones is properly constrained. It's why we speak out against the deplorable anti-Semitism that has resurfaced in certain parts of the world. It's why we continue to reject offensive stereotypes of Muslims – the vast majority of whom share our commitment to peace. That's why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We do these things not only because they're right, but because they make us safer.

For those from other parts of the globe, once a year the American president goes to congress and makes a state of the union address detailing his assessment of the country in the past year and his plans for the next year.

Pretty rad tbh.  This past year has brought so much progress and without too much of the backlash I feared would come with it.

Quote from: skin on January 20, 2015, 08:06:37 PM
The word transgender will be mentioned once, as part of larger statement on human dignity:

THANK YOU POTUS!

There we are, now and for the first time, in a SOTU address.  Feel better?  Oh that's right, there is real work to be done and it is not one man or one party that will do it.  Better active today than radioactive tomorrow

We are citizens of the world and all members of the body politic.  I am a non-binary bisexual transsexual woman.  That is about as far out there as it is possible to go.  Yet I live in a city that explicitly prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and opportunity because of gender identity and sexual orientation:  In a state that with simple letters from my therapist and primary care physician allowed me to change my name and gender marker on all relevant state documents including my birth certificate: In a country that, with those same affidavits, allowed me to change my social insurance, my passport and all federal documentation related to my job:  With a chief executive who last night affirmed my rights as a member of society and a citizen of the United States.

This didn't happen by accident.  It is my reality because of the people who put themselves on the line so that justice and equality would become not only the law but the accepted norms.  I live an authentic life because of the sacrifice of others.  I have an absolute obligation to them and to those who come after to complete and extend this work!

In the United States we celebrated Dr. King's birthday on Monday.  This is a man who knew that he would be killed, and who responded with love, not only for African Americans, but for all Americans.  I wept at the service I attended.  Martin King did not compromise with human dignity, and neither will I.   Alone we can affect our neighborhood, but united we can change the world.

Change comes when everyone demands it.  Everyone in every village, town, and city.  There are authors on these forums whose lives are at risk because of their gender identity, or sexual orientation, yet they speak out here.  I am safe and secure in a job, in a city, in a country where I am given not only human rights but civil rights.  But here in the USA there are large swaths where there isn't safety, and there isn't liberty for people such as me.  Eventually things will change, but eventually I will be dead too.  It takes action; It takes speaking out; It takes voting and getting others to the polls.

Survival for trans folk is grass roots, it is growing, and it takes us all.

Julie

Julie... well said.

I love you for this. (Among other things. )

Quote from: Tysilio on January 21, 2015, 05:33:19 PM
Julie... well said.

I love you for this. (Among other things. )

And what might the other things be? - got to know I'm all ears.   

Julie

If we're voting, I'll go with your eyes, the window to the soul.

Hugs, Devlyn

Awww, thanks.  Nice that you see something good there.