In Virginia the legislature passed a historic sexual orientation and gender identity (SO/GI) non-discrimination bill. The bill faced strong Republican opposition.
His argument is that passage of the bill will deny “religious freedom,” the right to belittle, humiliate, harass, and discriminate trans students.
Notice the bill passed with a vote of 59 to 39 and the House of Delegates is has 55 Democrats and 45 Republicans so there were some crossover Republicans who voted for the bill.
Virginia now has a trifecta; the governorship, Senate, and the House of Delegates are all Democratic. The Democrats won control of the governorship and legislature for the first time in last year’s election in over twenty years, during that time no pro-LGBTQ legislation was introduced but many anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced to try to take away our rights.
The attack on us is nationwide and in Republican controlled legislatures.
They just don’t care what harm they do to us, they don’t listen to the medical professionals, their hatred of us runs so deep that they don’t care if we die as long as it gets them votes.
Why did all these states at once decide to introduce these bills?
There are anti-trans organizations that are backing the legislation and have the ear of the Republican party and Trump’s, they have had caucuses to “educating” legislators.
In a Washington Post article they say that...
These bills according to the USA Today article will…
Be prepared to see anti-trans bills introduced here in Connecticut this legislative session, this is an election years and the Republicans are going to milk their hate for us to the hilt.
Both chambers pass Virginia Values Act to protect LGBTQ individualsIn this video clip from the House of Delegates, listen to the Republican legislator as he tells the reason he is against the bill and Danica Roem passionate reply.
WHSV
By Cayley Urenko
February 7, 2020
STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) — The LGBTQ community celebrated after the Virginia Values Act passed through both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly.
The Virginia Values Act, or SB 868 and HB 1663 would allow sexual orientation and gender identity to be protected when it comes to discrimination related to housing, employment, credit and public accommodations.
"As an LGBTQ Virginian, you risked being fired from your job, you risked being evicted from your housing. This legislation really does let them breathe a sigh of relief and know that they are protected," Emily Sproul, executive director of the Shenandoah LGBTQ Center, said.
Sproul said she is proud that Virginia is the first southern state to adopt the act.
"That is a huge victory in a state that has long struggled to embrace its LGBTQ citizens," Sproul said.
His argument is that passage of the bill will deny “religious freedom,” the right to belittle, humiliate, harass, and discriminate trans students.
Notice the bill passed with a vote of 59 to 39 and the House of Delegates is has 55 Democrats and 45 Republicans so there were some crossover Republicans who voted for the bill.
Virginia now has a trifecta; the governorship, Senate, and the House of Delegates are all Democratic. The Democrats won control of the governorship and legislature for the first time in last year’s election in over twenty years, during that time no pro-LGBTQ legislation was introduced but many anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced to try to take away our rights.
The attack on us is nationwide and in Republican controlled legislatures.
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| SOURCE USA TODAY research |
They just don’t care what harm they do to us, they don’t listen to the medical professionals, their hatred of us runs so deep that they don’t care if we die as long as it gets them votes.
National firestorm on horizon as states consider criminalizing transgender treatments for youthsSo where is all this hate coming from?
USA Today
By Kristin Lam
February 6, 2020
A polarizing debate is happening around the nation as lawmakers in eight states have introduced bills in recent weeks seeking to restrict transition-related treatment for transgender youth.
[…]
The South Dakota House passed its version of the bill last week, which would impose a one-year jail sentence and a maximum fine of $2,000 on doctors who provide hormone replacement therapy, puberty blockers and gender confirmation surgery to children younger than 16 years old.
Chase Strangio, ACLU Deputy Director for Transgender Justice, said transgender rights advocates are geared up for a fight against HB 1057 and similar measures in Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, South Carolina and Florida.
Why did all these states at once decide to introduce these bills?
There are anti-trans organizations that are backing the legislation and have the ear of the Republican party and Trump’s, they have had caucuses to “educating” legislators.
In a Washington Post article they say that...
Over 200 medical professionals in the South oppose bills targeting trans youthThey think that they have found a weak-point to get a foothold in anti-LGBTQ legislation.
A group of doctors and other health workers signed an open letter opposing state bills that "violate the rights and freedoms of transgender young people."
By Nico Lang
February 6, 2020
[…]
He has framed the bill as “homegrown,” but said he consulted with conservative groups such as the Liberty Counsel and Kelsey Coalition as he was drafting it. In October, Deutsch attended the Summit for Protecting Children from Sexualization in the District hosted by the right-wing Heritage Foundation, which discussed similar efforts criminalizing transgender care in other states, he said.
A website promoting Deutsch’s bill includes videos from the Heritage Foundation and a “parent resource guide” from the Minnesota Family Council, a Christian organization aligned with the Family Research Council. The website also includes quotes from people who say they regret gender transitioning.
These bills according to the USA Today article will…
The nine bills would ban transition-related treatment for transgender minors. Many reference gender dysphoria, discomfort or distress caused by a discrepancy between a person’s gender identity and sex assigned at birth.These bills go against established medical procedures, according to NBC News,
Medical treatment for dysphoria can include puberty blockers, which a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found reduces risks for mental health problems and suicide, which 35% of transgender youth attempt. Prepubescent minors may decide to socially transition before requesting treatment, experts said, by seeing how changing their style and name makes them feel.
Lawmakers in Kentucky and Florida have proposed making providing such care a felony. If passed, bills in Illinois, Oklahoma and South Carolina would require doctors who treat transgender youth face professional discipline, such as the suspension or revocation of their medical license. Colorado's version of the bill proposes classifying the medical treatments as both a felony and malpractice.
A sudden interruption in health care, according to transgender advocates and health experts, could precipitate physical and mental health crises among trans youth.There is only one way to stop these attacks on our freedoms and that is to vote! And vote blue.
“Gender-affirming medical care for transgender and gender-diverse minors is life-saving,” said Dr. Alex Keuroghlian, director of both the Fenway Institute’s National LGBT Health Education Center and Massachusetts General Hospital’s Psychiatry Gender Identity Program.
Keuroghlian, a physician, said comprehensive gender-affirming medical care has been the accepted best practice for the American Academy of Pediatrics since 2018.
Be prepared to see anti-trans bills introduced here in Connecticut this legislative session, this is an election years and the Republicans are going to milk their hate for us to the hilt.
Your map and its caption have a minor defect. Illinois,(my home state) has a Democrat Majority in both state houses as well as a Democrat Governor, who has a very charming m2f aunt.
ReplyDeleteHowever, (there has to be one of these) the main anti-LGBTetc. thrust actually comes from the Black Ministers Assn. This is a powerful group of fundamentalist, mainly, storefront Baptists, with very loyal and voting followings in northern Illinois. This is the group who delayed the same sex marriage vote for at least two Legislatures. Almost all are politically aligned members of the Democrat Organization on most other issues.