After policies targeting trans people were rejected nationwide on election day, Ohio Republicans have announced the first priority for hearings post-election are three bills targeting trans people.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Abortion rights and trans rights aren't related battles, they're the same battle. It's no surprise for them to switch, immediately, from one thing to another.
I’ve been saying the same thing as well! Abortion rights and trans rights are both about bodily autonomy so in essence, they’re the same set of rights and the same issue. Thank you for stating this!
Seems like the strategy is that if you can't win at the school board level it's time to put those super majorities to work and fight off the courts. That said, I think they don't need to see each other win (loses are brought in by a "corrupt system"), they just need to be seen hating and attacking. The reaction needs to be state legislators losing their seats.
The Ohio anti-trans bills are disgraceful, scary, cruel, and just deeply wrong. I do think, in a way, that yes it’s a case of opponents finding the easiest remaining target after being thwarted in the recent elections. Coincidentally, HuffPost is running a story today about how trans kids and their families are fleeing their red states because of all the hostile legislation- and going not to blue states, but rather to other countries.
Do you think Trump’s recent “I WILL KILL ALL WHO ARE DISLOYAL TO ME!!!” statement might have anything to do with why they are seeking refuge in other nations?
I was just thinking about a PR stunt of some OH group announcing a plan to produce a series of Shakespeare plays "presented as the Bard would have it," generate some publicity, then announce the idea had to be scrapped because it would be a felony. (In Shakespeare's time, women didn't appear on stage, so all female parts were played by men in drag.)
Meanwhile, I'm going to be on stage at Seattle's premier art music venue this week in an orchestra concert featuring at least six trans people, with a gender-nonconforming conductor. I guess we'd be outlaws in Ohio, at least for the five minutes it takes a court to overturn the law as unconstitutional.
How ridiculous is this going to get? Are they going to start arresting women in pants?
Iran and Saudi Arabia have morality police who arrest (and sometimes beat and murder) people who appear in public in clothing the religious authorities deem improper. Maybe not the best example to follow.
Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson and all his extreme right cronies are on the path of trying turn the US into a one party theocracy, not unlike Iran and Saudi Arabia.
As a former Ohioan who recently moved to Seattle, you’d have not even been rented the venue most likely (depending on area) lol that being said, I hope you have a wonderful show and a lot of fun!
Doesn't the Republicans' claim that drag bans aren't protected speech rely on their argument that all drag performances are "obscene?" I know they're bull****, but do the Ohio GOP even suggest an alternate reason why a performance of someone who's crossdressing that they admit to *not* being obscene is, in their minds, not protected by the first amendment?
> Doesn't the Republicans' claim that drag bans aren't protected speech rely on their argument that all drag performances are "obscene?"
The kind of logical approach you took to ask this question isn’t something they bother with. To them, we are evil, and we must be eradicated through any means necessary--and that’s the extent of their thought process. Democracy, truth, justice, people’s well-being, and the constitution are not even remotely sacred to them.
Oh I know it's not something they actually care about the logic, but they do need something to try to justify it both in the legislative session and in court, even if it's not actually what's driving them
> their argument that all drag performances are obscene
Yes, that is exactly the argument. They are obscene by definition because they hint at sexuality, again by definition. They hint at sexuality because they hint at the concept of being transgender, which again is obscene by definition.
And that is obscene by definition because for them, it is ALL about sex. All and always. For them, being any flavor of LGBTQIA+ is not about who you are, about your sense of self, it's not about psychology or personality or relating to the world, it's all about, and ONLY about, how you f**k and the way you do it is disgusting, therefore obscene. And their twisted hang-ups about sex render them incapable of perceiving of it any other way.
I think they are already tired of their bullshit, telling by last Tuesday's election. It's just that when the seats are gerrymandered in favor of republicans, you get unaccountable Republican legislation.
As a grassroots activist in Ohio, I enjoyed reading this post, Erin! It’s heartening to hear you reference all the amazing organizers in OH who are fighting this BS every day. I used to work for Red, Wine, & Blue, and I am a founding member of Trans Allies of Ohio along with Cam. Plus, Rachel Coyle & David DeWitt are the trusted sources & allies in shining a light on all the extremism in the Ohio Statehouse. This week is truly exhausting as the GOP Supermajority is indeed taking out their election defeat frustrations on Ohio’s trans community. They are cruel, heartless, and corrupt. I used to love my state, but now I seriously consider leaving as so many other trans people & families of trans kids have done. It is not safe here, and our democracy is hanging by the thinnest of threads. ☹️
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Abortion rights and trans rights aren't related battles, they're the same battle. It's no surprise for them to switch, immediately, from one thing to another.
Bodily autonomy for everyone. NOW.
I’ve been saying the same thing as well! Abortion rights and trans rights are both about bodily autonomy so in essence, they’re the same set of rights and the same issue. Thank you for stating this!
I have a lovely t-shirt I found on Etsy, it says:
It was never about bathrooms - just like it was never about water fountains...
Seems like the strategy is that if you can't win at the school board level it's time to put those super majorities to work and fight off the courts. That said, I think they don't need to see each other win (loses are brought in by a "corrupt system"), they just need to be seen hating and attacking. The reaction needs to be state legislators losing their seats.
They are so relentless! It’s the “It Follows” of political terrorism
The Ohio anti-trans bills are disgraceful, scary, cruel, and just deeply wrong. I do think, in a way, that yes it’s a case of opponents finding the easiest remaining target after being thwarted in the recent elections. Coincidentally, HuffPost is running a story today about how trans kids and their families are fleeing their red states because of all the hostile legislation- and going not to blue states, but rather to other countries.
Do you think Trump’s recent “I WILL KILL ALL WHO ARE DISLOYAL TO ME!!!” statement might have anything to do with why they are seeking refuge in other nations?
I was just thinking about a PR stunt of some OH group announcing a plan to produce a series of Shakespeare plays "presented as the Bard would have it," generate some publicity, then announce the idea had to be scrapped because it would be a felony. (In Shakespeare's time, women didn't appear on stage, so all female parts were played by men in drag.)
Following up on my own idea, what about announcing a video fest to feature clips of, for example,
- Flip Wilson as Geraldine Jones
- Jonathan Winters as Maude Frickert
- Barry Humphries as Dame Edna
- Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in "Some Like It Hot"
- Robin Williams in "Mrs. Doubtfire"
- Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari in "Bosom Buddies"
- Julie Andrews in "Victor/Victoria"
- not to mention half the cast of 'The Birdcage'
Would that be legal? Not in Ohio!
Whatever you do don't tell them about The Crying Game. 😉
The secret is safe with me. :-) I never told anyone the end of The Mousetrap, either - even though I guessed it.
Meanwhile, I'm going to be on stage at Seattle's premier art music venue this week in an orchestra concert featuring at least six trans people, with a gender-nonconforming conductor. I guess we'd be outlaws in Ohio, at least for the five minutes it takes a court to overturn the law as unconstitutional.
How ridiculous is this going to get? Are they going to start arresting women in pants?
Iran and Saudi Arabia have morality police who arrest (and sometimes beat and murder) people who appear in public in clothing the religious authorities deem improper. Maybe not the best example to follow.
Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson and all his extreme right cronies are on the path of trying turn the US into a one party theocracy, not unlike Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Enjoy making music with your collegues! I wish I could hear you all. Keep taking up space!!!
As a former Ohioan who recently moved to Seattle, you’d have not even been rented the venue most likely (depending on area) lol that being said, I hope you have a wonderful show and a lot of fun!
Doesn't the Republicans' claim that drag bans aren't protected speech rely on their argument that all drag performances are "obscene?" I know they're bull****, but do the Ohio GOP even suggest an alternate reason why a performance of someone who's crossdressing that they admit to *not* being obscene is, in their minds, not protected by the first amendment?
> Doesn't the Republicans' claim that drag bans aren't protected speech rely on their argument that all drag performances are "obscene?"
The kind of logical approach you took to ask this question isn’t something they bother with. To them, we are evil, and we must be eradicated through any means necessary--and that’s the extent of their thought process. Democracy, truth, justice, people’s well-being, and the constitution are not even remotely sacred to them.
Definition: “Obscene” = makes me uncomfortable
Oh I know it's not something they actually care about the logic, but they do need something to try to justify it both in the legislative session and in court, even if it's not actually what's driving them
> their argument that all drag performances are obscene
Yes, that is exactly the argument. They are obscene by definition because they hint at sexuality, again by definition. They hint at sexuality because they hint at the concept of being transgender, which again is obscene by definition.
And that is obscene by definition because for them, it is ALL about sex. All and always. For them, being any flavor of LGBTQIA+ is not about who you are, about your sense of self, it's not about psychology or personality or relating to the world, it's all about, and ONLY about, how you f**k and the way you do it is disgusting, therefore obscene. And their twisted hang-ups about sex render them incapable of perceiving of it any other way.
When are people going to finally get tired of this bullshit?
I think they are already tired of their bullshit, telling by last Tuesday's election. It's just that when the seats are gerrymandered in favor of republicans, you get unaccountable Republican legislation.
As a grassroots activist in Ohio, I enjoyed reading this post, Erin! It’s heartening to hear you reference all the amazing organizers in OH who are fighting this BS every day. I used to work for Red, Wine, & Blue, and I am a founding member of Trans Allies of Ohio along with Cam. Plus, Rachel Coyle & David DeWitt are the trusted sources & allies in shining a light on all the extremism in the Ohio Statehouse. This week is truly exhausting as the GOP Supermajority is indeed taking out their election defeat frustrations on Ohio’s trans community. They are cruel, heartless, and corrupt. I used to love my state, but now I seriously consider leaving as so many other trans people & families of trans kids have done. It is not safe here, and our democracy is hanging by the thinnest of threads. ☹️