The Governor, who was on the short list for Harris potential VP pick, vetoed a gender affirming care ban last year. Far-right organizations ran millions in anti-trans ads against him.
Makes me glad he didn't get picked for VP- he still has several years left in his term, and he's already where he can do the most good: kneecapping the GQP's culture war right in his own backyard.
That kind of defeatism is upsetting. The winner-take-all Electoral College system makes the state political maps look more monolithic than they really are.
Governor Beshear is the hero that Kentucky NEEDS right now. He is a shining light of principled courage fighting the growing darkness of bigotry desperately trying to cloak itself in the false robes of warped religious hate.
It’s always amazed me that conversion therapy is still legal in many states. There’s absolutely no evidence that it works, plenty of evidence that it harms, and ethically wrong to try. Eventually it will be looked upon in the same way we view blood letting, exorcism, or foul humors… something to be laughed at and ridiculed. That day can’t come soon enough.
My point is that we need politicians like this one where they're at.
We need more progressive politicians in traditionally "red states," otherwise we can't reverse stuff like forced ABA or the ensuing Lavender Scare (anti-trans panic) that's brewing in these places especially.
"...It has no basis in medicine, and has no basis in science,” the governor said. I'm curious about that. The two organizations call it unethical and the cited research references people being "threatened" with conversion therapy.
Obviously this is not something that should be engaged it without the informed consent of the subject any more than the Trumpish fantasy of schools performing surgery would be ethical. But given the existence of well-adjusting trans individuals, a flat-out denial can not be warranted.
Another thing which is "obviously [...] not something that should be engaged in" is taking the bait of trolls who are "curious about" non-controversial and settled science.
And "informed consent of the subject" becomes a pretty thin veil to try to hide your bigotry behind when we are TALKING ABOUT MINORS...who do not get to consent when their parents or guardians decide they know better than the medical experts and force their gay or transgender kids into this bullshit religious-based quackery. The science has LONG been settled, Don, on "conversion therapy" being anti-LGBTQ bigotry and hate gilded with the thinnest possible veneer of "trying to help them fit in out of concern for their well-being". (You really wanna help these kids? Help create a world where being Queer is treated just like being a left-handed redhead...rare, but perfectly natural, valid, and beautiful.)
Take your bigoted "concern" trolling elsewhere, Jack. We've seen your tired old playbook before, and that BS won't work here.
Makes me glad he didn't get picked for VP- he still has several years left in his term, and he's already where he can do the most good: kneecapping the GQP's culture war right in his own backyard.
Exactly!
A good example of why we shouldn't write off the "red states".
Sadly, I remember reading an article from Vox a while back saying that the Dems should "abandon" the South.
That means that "red states" like mine would be abandoned to the likes of Glenn Youngkin, who is a lot worse than Trump.
And DeSantis to Florida...
That kind of defeatism is upsetting. The winner-take-all Electoral College system makes the state political maps look more monolithic than they really are.
*Florida to DeSantis, I should say.
Worth remembering: even Florida used to be a swing state.
Good for him! He has been an ally to so many!
Governor Beshear is the hero that Kentucky NEEDS right now. He is a shining light of principled courage fighting the growing darkness of bigotry desperately trying to cloak itself in the false robes of warped religious hate.
Yep!
Agreed!
Yes! An excellent example of how to use evidence, rather than hate, to craft policy
Not many politicians out there that do that, it seems, nowadays.
It’s always amazed me that conversion therapy is still legal in many states. There’s absolutely no evidence that it works, plenty of evidence that it harms, and ethically wrong to try. Eventually it will be looked upon in the same way we view blood letting, exorcism, or foul humors… something to be laughed at and ridiculed. That day can’t come soon enough.
You made my DAY!!! “No basis in science”, firm basis in the art and science if destroying youth and vulnerable people.
Encouraging news!
Warms my heart!
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Kentucky also has forced ABA and schooling programs against us Autistic people that isolate us from others.
No surprise that it's retrograde in trans rights and liberation.
My point is that we need politicians like this one where they're at.
We need more progressive politicians in traditionally "red states," otherwise we can't reverse stuff like forced ABA or the ensuing Lavender Scare (anti-trans panic) that's brewing in these places especially.
<growls autistically at the Kentuckians responsible>
Go go! And be aware of agents sowing dissent and trying to destabilize democracies and democratic elections.
https://theconversation.com/five-disinformation-tactics-russia-is-using-to-try-to-influence-the-us-election-238379
"...It has no basis in medicine, and has no basis in science,” the governor said. I'm curious about that. The two organizations call it unethical and the cited research references people being "threatened" with conversion therapy.
Obviously this is not something that should be engaged it without the informed consent of the subject any more than the Trumpish fantasy of schools performing surgery would be ethical. But given the existence of well-adjusting trans individuals, a flat-out denial can not be warranted.
Another thing which is "obviously [...] not something that should be engaged in" is taking the bait of trolls who are "curious about" non-controversial and settled science.
And "informed consent of the subject" becomes a pretty thin veil to try to hide your bigotry behind when we are TALKING ABOUT MINORS...who do not get to consent when their parents or guardians decide they know better than the medical experts and force their gay or transgender kids into this bullshit religious-based quackery. The science has LONG been settled, Don, on "conversion therapy" being anti-LGBTQ bigotry and hate gilded with the thinnest possible veneer of "trying to help them fit in out of concern for their well-being". (You really wanna help these kids? Help create a world where being Queer is treated just like being a left-handed redhead...rare, but perfectly natural, valid, and beautiful.)
Take your bigoted "concern" trolling elsewhere, Jack. We've seen your tired old playbook before, and that BS won't work here.
Tell 'em!