What can we expect with this election, and bathroom bills etc

[Lexi Nexi]

As you know the republican voter suppression machine was in full force and turned the blue wave into a pale cyan trickle. What can we LGBT people expect to happen in the next two years?

I heard the guy that started the bathroom bill in either NC or AZ turned out to be a pedophile like many in congress. Does any one know if that has effected his ability to stay in office or the bill? Normally people drop out when that happens, but these aren't normal times and they are actually supporting them even though the scandal has come out like in the case of ray Moore.

Did Chelsey Manning get in? Are there any new republicans with more vicious anti LGBT laws they support or sponsor?


Which direction are the bathroom bills going? Down the toilet like they should or are they getting more right wing support? No way in hell would I use the mens room dressed female now that I have boobs. Bad enough the few times I tried recently dressed as a guy.


Although in the next few months when my hair is a bit longer and boobs are a bit bigger and wearing some really nice dress and high heels, and 99% passable, I'm going to go into the mens room when there are other guys in there use the urinal like nothing is out of the ordinary wash my hands and walk out like nothing abnormal happened. Give me 3 or 4 months.  I will report back as to the look on their faces! 

This is such a bad time for our country tight now,

[Gertrude]

Looks like Sinema won in AZ. That's big.


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[Maid Marion]

Mass. Votes 'Yes' On Question 3 To Keep Law Protecting Transgender People In Public Accommodations

[itsApril]

Several gay or trans folks were elected here and there.  The new Governor of Colorado is an openly gay guy, and the Governor of Oregon is openly bisexual.  For the most part, the elections were positive.

Some trans candidates won election to state legislative offices.  The highest profile trans campaign was in Vermont.  The Democratic candidate for Governor was trans woman Christine Hallquist, who defeated several other candidates to win the Democratic primary.  In the general election this week, she faced a tough opponent - the inbent Republican Governor is pretty popular in the state.  Even so, Hallquist won over 40% of the vote.

Christine Hallquist was a really qualified, credible candidate - strong background and a TON of administrative ability.  She was a successful executive of a rural electric utility cooperative.  Christine campaigned on economic and infrastructure issues, especially those of importance to rural voters in Vermont, lots of whom have felt "left behind" by the progress the state is making.

Christine transitioned late in life, with the full support of her family.  Everybody in Vermont was well aware that she was trans, but it just didn't seem to be an issue in the campaign.  To his great credit, her Republican opponent campaigned against her with respect and took no cheap gender-related shots.

Though she didn't win, I think Christine Hallquist is the current "high-water mark" for trans folks in politics.  In a contested primary, she won the nomination of a major political party for the highest office in her state.  In the general election, she campaigned for office on a platform of good policies against a popular opponent on a pretty level playing field.  Though she didn't win, she finished above 40%.  I think it's only a matter of time before some highly qualified, credible trans candidate like Christine Hallquist crashes through to a top office like a state governorship.

I am really proud of Christine Hallquist.

Did Chelsey Manning get in?

Nope!  Chelsea Manning was eliminated way back in the primaries.  I love Chelsea Manning, but lots of folks (especially those with a military background) regard her as unfit for office due to her criminal conviction.  In the real world of electoral politics, she was just an outsider, "fringe" candidate.

[Devlyn]

Several gay or trans folks were elected here and there.  The new Governor of Colorado is an openly gay guy, and the Governor of Oregon is openly bisexual.  For the most part, the elections were positive.

Some trans candidates won election to state legislative offices.  The highest profile trans campaign was in Vermont.  The Democratic candidate for Governor was trans woman Christine Hallquist, who defeated several other candidates to win the Democratic primary.  In the general election this week, she faced a tough opponent - the inbent Republican Governor is pretty popular in the state.  Even so, Hallquist won over 40% of the vote.

Christine Hallquist was a really qualified, credible candidate - strong background and a TON of administrative ability.  She was a successful executive of a rural electric utility cooperative.  Christine campaigned on economic and infrastructure issues, especially those of importance to rural voters in Vermont, lots of whom have felt "left behind" by the progress the state is making.

Christine transitioned late in life, with the full support of her family.  Everybody in Vermont was well aware that she was trans, but it just didn't seem to be an issue in the campaign.  To his great credit, her Republican opponent campaigned against her with respect and took no cheap gender-related shots.

Though she didn't win, I think Christine Hallquist is the current "high-water mark" for trans folks in politics.  In a contested primary, she won the nomination of a major political party.  In the general election, she campaigned for office on a platform of good policies against a popular opponent on a pretty level playing field.  Though she didn't win, she finished above 40%.  I think it's only a matter of time before some highly qualified, credible trans candidate like Christine Hallquist crashes through to a top office like a state governorship.

I am really proud of Christine Hallquist.

Nope!  Chelsea Manning was eliminated way back in the primaries.  I love Chelsea Manning, but lots of folks (especially those with a military background) regard her as unfit for office due to her criminal conviction.  In the real world of electoral politics, she was just an outsider, "fringe" candidate.

I'm of mixed minds on Chelsea. As a transgender person she has my support. As a veteran, I'm not fond of what she did while she was serving. However, she served her time in prison, and the rules say she's eligible to run for office, so I support her right to do so.

We're in an all too familiar situation with a legislature split between the parties. This is a recipe for government shutdowns, as we've had before. With the ability to get any meaningful work done domestically negated, the President will only be able to work on foreign policy. Obviously this is something that foreign governments have their eyes on. But internally, we're looking at deadlock until the next election cycle.

[Lucca]

Frankly, regardless of what one thinks about Chelsea Manning's leaks, I don't think she's qualified to be a Senator. She was a soldier, then was in prison for several years. None of that involves any governing or legislating experience.

If she wants to run for city council, sure. But jumping straight to the U.S. Senate? That's stretching things a bit.

[itsApril]

Which direction are the bathroom bills going? Down the toilet like they should or are they getting more right wing support?

WATCH OUT for another round of bathroom bill madness in TEXAS!

In Texas, the Republican Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General are all anti-trans loons, and Republicans are firmly in control of both houses of the state legislature.

When the last legislative session ended, the Legislature had a bathroom bill pending, but it was blocked by astute parliamentary maneuvering by the Republican Speaker of the House, Joe Straus.  Straus was a very conservative, business-oriented Republican.  He was not an ideologue on conservative social issues.  He understood that trans people are, above all, PEOPLE, and they should be accorded the same respect as everyone else.  He thought the bathroom bills were stupid, and he pulled out all stops to sink them.  He was even formally censured by the Texas Republican Party for doing so.  If you like, you can read about that here:

Texas Republicans censure House leader who blocked 'bathroom bill'
https://www.reuters.com/article/texas-politics-lgbt/texas-republicans-censure-house-leader-who-blocked-bathroom-bill-idUSL8N1PO5J9 🔗

"AUSTIN, Texas, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Texas Republican Party leaders have censured the long-serving Republican speaker of the state House of Representatives for thwarting legislation, including blocking bills that sought to limit access to bathrooms for transgender people.

"The move to reprimand Speaker Joe Straus over legislative priorities was an unheard of step for the party in the most populous Republican-controlled state. Emboldened by President Donald Trump's success, the conservative Tea Party wing of the party was aiming to stamp out the few remaining centrist Republican members of the Republican-controlled state legislature, an analyst said. . . ."


Joe Straus has now RETIRED.  So you good folks in Texas must assume that bathroom bill madness will soon, once again, raise its head in the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature.  And this time, Joe Straus won't be there to sink it.

. . . in the next few months when my hair is a bit longer and boobs are a bit bigger and wearing some really nice dress and high heels, and 99% passable, I'm going to go into the mens room when there are other guys in there use the urinal like nothing is out of the ordinary wash my hands and walk out like nothing abnormal happened. Give me 3 or 4 months.  I will report back as to the look on their faces! 

I hear ya, sister!  Nevertheless, I have never been looking for drama when I use a public restroom . . .

[warlockmaker]

In Asia if you shove a law down peoples throat without first winning their heart you will have enemies. The bathroom issue is controversial and not even fully suported even  by all Tgs. In Thailand you show understanding and respect, if you dont look female dont use female facilities.

[Lexi Nexi]

In Asia if you shove a law down peoples throat without first winning their heart you will have enemies. The bathroom issue is controversial and not even fully suported even  by all Tgs. In Thailand you show understanding and respect, if you dont look female dont use female facilities.

That is my rule. If I looked male like at the beginning of my trans. I wouldn't use the ladies room. It wasn't until I was getting comments in the mens room where I switched. Although I have used the mens 3 times in the last few months when I was to ill to dress up and do make up(although I realized I don't need it just one female article of clothing is needed for me), and was wearing mens clothes. I wouldn't dare make myself and other trans people look bad by using the ladies room and start making a scene by telling them I was trans and had the right since its not too obvious if I'm wearing male clothes and have my hair parted like a male.

I have never had a problem but if I did I would show my state ID that has my female name signed on it (even though it says male) and in the picture I look female. I have another picture ID that says Lexi on it but have never needed it.

Is that you in your picture? You look Caucasian are you Asian? Great picture you definitely "pass".

One thing I do worry about is having to announce that I'm in a stall when people can't see me but my voice isn't low but not female although sometimes I pass on the phone. That confuses me because sometimes they say ma'am before I give them a name. I don't think I sound female at all but that could just be my own self bias and doubt.

Has anyone had trouble using the womens room? What do you do/say? Some people say they carry a "note" whats that something from your doctor that says its legal to use the womens room? Wish we just had unisex bathrooms or at least men/female/and a unisex that way it would be easy to implement for businesses that will bitch about costs.