The vote came after most of the same Democrats refused to allow an amendment on the floor to remove the anti-trans provision in the military spending bill.
The signal is crystal clear. We have no political support at this time. Remember, the house Dems were only slightly better. The only option is to get very loud and very visible very quickly.
Who is going to fight for us if we don't stand up for ourselves? Do you feel safe by hiding and keeping quiet? I guarantee that things are going to get a lot worse and a lot more unsafe for all trans people everywhere. I, for one, don't plan on sitting on the sidelines while our rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness get trampled.
I wrote emails to my two Washington Senators (Murray and Cantwell) last night to express my dismay. They are usually super supportive of LGBTQ+ rights. My adult trans daughter in particular is very depressed by this. I also sent a thank you to my House Rep (DelBene) as she voted Nay on this bill, as I think it’s critical to acknowledge those who are voting with their principles intact. The thing that’s galling about my Senators, which I pointed out to each of them, is that the Act would have passed without their votes so they could have easily stood on their principles. I said it’s the crack in the door for future anti-trans legislation from these bigoted and cruel Rs.
yeah. I grew up in NM and still have family there. I spent 20+ years in Denver, Colorado. John Hickenlooper was mayof of Denver for 8 years which is a very queer friendly city. He's a traitor.
The storm clouds are pretty damned dark, but I'll point out the silver lining: At the very least, this tells us who our 11 true-blue friends are. Our relations with them need to be nurtured. I figure we have been set back several decades, but we've got 11 allies, and we rebuild from there. Unfortunately, I may not live to see the day when the Equality Act is finally passed or when anti-discrimination is written into our Constitution, but these kids who are currently in the frying pan might. And that's worth the fight.
I still believe in the line about the moral arc of the universe but I, too, feel I may not live to see the day. But like the song says, "Rejoice, rejoice/We have no choice/But to carry on."
Unfortunately, we're losing one of the eleven. Debbie Stabenow is retiring and being replaced by Elissa Slotkin, who voted for the NDAA in the House last week.
As Larry and Nicole have indicated, I'm only counting the Dems. I'm pretty certain the Repubs who voted against it just oppose the spending of taxpayer money, especially on things such intervention in foreign wars. (Libertarians are isolationists.)
One thing I did not count, though, was the 10 other Senate Democrats who tried to introduce an amendment to strip out the anti-trans amendment from the House, but who ultimately voted in favor of the anti-trans NDAA. Perhaps we can count them as spineless, fair-weather friends - largely useless, but not lawmakers we can necessarily write off.
Well both senators from Colorado, a supposedly Blue state feed us to the neo nazis that now run America. They both know me as a trans gal especially Benett. I worked with his staff back in 2015 to expand Medicre Rule 1557 to expand the sexual discrimination clause to include trans , other sexual identities. Their betrayal of the Colorado LGBTQIA community is truly shocking. We are now refugees in our state. There are about 500,000 human beings in the Colorado LGBTQIA community. Unbelievable betrayal.
That - and Colorado has a pretty big military presence via the Air Force bases along the front range, and Fort Carson near Colorado Springs. I lived in Denver for 20 years, including when Hickenlooper was mayor. He's a goddamn traitor.
It should be noted that there are four independents in the Senate. All of them caucus with the Democrats and so should be included in considering Democratic votes on the NDAA. They are:
Angus King, Maine
Kyrtsen Sinema, Arizona
Joe Manchin, West Virginia
Bernie Sanders, Vermont
One of the four voted "no" while three voted "yes." I expect you can guess who voted which way. :-)
My senators are now deeply disappointing me! 😡 I'm furious they voted for it to remain and didn't join the call for removal! My messages will be scathing!
I just wrote to Senator Padilla of California about how disappointed I am in his yes vote, and to share my experience as a parent of a transgender child who was able to receive the gender affirming care that was needed. Without it, I'm not sure my child would be here today. Who knows if it will make a difference the next time he votes but I encouraged him to think of the harm that could be done to his constituents and their families.
Every single person in the transgender community needs to get very loud very visible all at the same time! We all I mean alllll of us need to march on Washington and say enough is enough!
The signal is crystal clear. We have no political support at this time. Remember, the house Dems were only slightly better. The only option is to get very loud and very visible very quickly.
Except we don't have the safety to do that. We've been loud, we've been visible, but without support we're just making ourselves a bigger target.
Who is going to fight for us if we don't stand up for ourselves? Do you feel safe by hiding and keeping quiet? I guarantee that things are going to get a lot worse and a lot more unsafe for all trans people everywhere. I, for one, don't plan on sitting on the sidelines while our rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness get trampled.
I'm tired, boss.
I wrote emails to my two Washington Senators (Murray and Cantwell) last night to express my dismay. They are usually super supportive of LGBTQ+ rights. My adult trans daughter in particular is very depressed by this. I also sent a thank you to my House Rep (DelBene) as she voted Nay on this bill, as I think it’s critical to acknowledge those who are voting with their principles intact. The thing that’s galling about my Senators, which I pointed out to each of them, is that the Act would have passed without their votes so they could have easily stood on their principles. I said it’s the crack in the door for future anti-trans legislation from these bigoted and cruel Rs.
Congratulations on writing those letters. I think it's effective to reach out!
So many sanctuary state Senators...
yeah. I grew up in NM and still have family there. I spent 20+ years in Denver, Colorado. John Hickenlooper was mayof of Denver for 8 years which is a very queer friendly city. He's a traitor.
The storm clouds are pretty damned dark, but I'll point out the silver lining: At the very least, this tells us who our 11 true-blue friends are. Our relations with them need to be nurtured. I figure we have been set back several decades, but we've got 11 allies, and we rebuild from there. Unfortunately, I may not live to see the day when the Equality Act is finally passed or when anti-discrimination is written into our Constitution, but these kids who are currently in the frying pan might. And that's worth the fight.
I still believe in the line about the moral arc of the universe but I, too, feel I may not live to see the day. But like the song says, "Rejoice, rejoice/We have no choice/But to carry on."
Unfortunately, we're losing one of the eleven. Debbie Stabenow is retiring and being replaced by Elissa Slotkin, who voted for the NDAA in the House last week.
Crap!
Might wanna check that list. Of the ones who voted against it, several were Republicans who actually supported the amendment.
14 voted against. 11 were Democrats. At least Massachusetts only sends people with brains to Congress - none of ours voted for this.
Thank God for Senators Warren and Markey. I am proud to be from MA.
As Larry and Nicole have indicated, I'm only counting the Dems. I'm pretty certain the Repubs who voted against it just oppose the spending of taxpayer money, especially on things such intervention in foreign wars. (Libertarians are isolationists.)
One thing I did not count, though, was the 10 other Senate Democrats who tried to introduce an amendment to strip out the anti-trans amendment from the House, but who ultimately voted in favor of the anti-trans NDAA. Perhaps we can count them as spineless, fair-weather friends - largely useless, but not lawmakers we can necessarily write off.
It should be okay. The count of 11 does not include the three GOPpers who voted "no."
Well both senators from Colorado, a supposedly Blue state feed us to the neo nazis that now run America. They both know me as a trans gal especially Benett. I worked with his staff back in 2015 to expand Medicre Rule 1557 to expand the sexual discrimination clause to include trans , other sexual identities. Their betrayal of the Colorado LGBTQIA community is truly shocking. We are now refugees in our state. There are about 500,000 human beings in the Colorado LGBTQIA community. Unbelievable betrayal.
That - and Colorado has a pretty big military presence via the Air Force bases along the front range, and Fort Carson near Colorado Springs. I lived in Denver for 20 years, including when Hickenlooper was mayor. He's a goddamn traitor.
What excuse do Schumer and Gillibrand have? I mean, Stonewall’s in our state! This is a huge-ass betrayal from both of them (but especially Schumer)!
This is infuriating. I've contacted my CA senator and also Warnoff in GA because I worked my ass off to get him elected. 😡
It should be noted that there are four independents in the Senate. All of them caucus with the Democrats and so should be included in considering Democratic votes on the NDAA. They are:
Angus King, Maine
Kyrtsen Sinema, Arizona
Joe Manchin, West Virginia
Bernie Sanders, Vermont
One of the four voted "no" while three voted "yes." I expect you can guess who voted which way. :-)
I am extremely disappointed with the Democrats.
My senators are now deeply disappointing me! 😡 I'm furious they voted for it to remain and didn't join the call for removal! My messages will be scathing!
I just wrote to Senator Padilla of California about how disappointed I am in his yes vote, and to share my experience as a parent of a transgender child who was able to receive the gender affirming care that was needed. Without it, I'm not sure my child would be here today. Who knows if it will make a difference the next time he votes but I encouraged him to think of the harm that could be done to his constituents and their families.
Well, time to let the dems know that they can't count on supporting from us if they keep pulling this shit. Utterly ridiculous.
God that’s depressing, that does not signal good news. I’m glad my senators had a backbone
Republicans want to erase the trans community. Democrats are willing to ignore them or bargain them away. There is no safe harbor in Congress.
Every single person in the transgender community needs to get very loud very visible all at the same time! We all I mean alllll of us need to march on Washington and say enough is enough!