A new The 19th/SurveyMonkey poll reveals that most Americans oppose bans on trans care for youth, with LGBTQ+ people overwhelmingly opposing such bans.
Going out on a limb, those who oppose political medical bans for one , likely feel the same for all people. We must retain self governance of our own minds and bodies.
I’d add those who support political medical bans, should rethink what it is that brings them pleasure playing god in other people’s lives.
I will be waiting with baited breath to see if our Democratic leaders will stand up for the transgender population or cave. I have very little faith in the moment.
Thanks for posting that. It reminded me to call Chuck "Gutless" Schumer's office today to tell them "thanks" for holding firm against Republican demands and not sacrificing LGBTQ rights the way he did with the NDAA. I'll make it a point to keep calling until the resolution of this bill, whatever it might be. And then I'll make one last call, which will either be very angry or very appreciative. The best thing we can do is to keep these people's phone lines ringing.
We are the 'current' scapegoat. Tomorrow it will be someone else. There will always be a scapegoat for these zealots. It used to be 'the blacks', then it was women's rights extremists, then it was 'the gays', then it was abstract artists, then it was Muslims, then it was . . . it just never stops for them. Even if they get rid of everyone they don't like, they'll find someone among their own ranks to hate, probably people who wear sweatpants or something.
Difficult to believe those who oppose it could stand to vote for forcing any boys to have and grow up with breasts and periods, and, forcing any girls to have and grow up with beards and deep voices.
That’s our problem. The strongly in favor of bans are reliable fascist voters. The strongly opposed will often stay home if their pet issue isn’t perfectly addressed.
"The finding undercuts a familiar line from “centrist” strategists who insist Democrats should retreat on transgender rights. On healthcare at least, the stronger play with independents appears to be standing against bans."
And I have to think the stronger play by far is actually to spend a $100 million or so to counter the (~$300million I think it was) the Social Conservatives spent on propaganda against us. Why do I see essentially no Democrats even attempting to inform people what is real about transgender people -- that what these bans do is abuse transgender children monstrously, and how accurately the endorsement for medical transition is made for youth and adults. The regret rate of <1% is real!
"While most Americans opposed outright bans, they also rejected establishing a legal “right” to gender-affirming care for youth. That doesn’t mean they favor restrictions—rather, they see the decision as one for parents, families, doctors, and the young people themselves, a pattern confirmed in other surveys."
That is an utterly incoherent opinion on their part. If they are saying they think the decision should be the patients/parents/caregivers involved, that is most Americans saying it is right of those so involved to make the decision.
I like politics. Politics is ugly, cynical, and rarely satisfying, but it's the best process we have for figuring out how to live with one another (there are alternatives, but all are bloody).
I'm also a small-d democrat. I believe that the most just method for making policy decisions is through popular assent, whether via direct referenda or proportionally-elected representation (i.e. not the US Senate).
At the same time, although I believe that democratic politics requires us to meet people where they are at, I do not think that means accepting bigotry as a fact of life - it must be challenged vigorously and with principle. It is in this last respect I find myself differing most from the mainstream Democratic Party.
Over many decades, the Democratic Party has abandoned basically every principle it once held. This is inevitable and not necessarily bad - the Democrats were also once the party of slavery and Jim Crow, after all - but the current party hasn't replace the old principles with anything new. Instead, they stand for two things that are really the same thing - beating the Republicans, and keeping their people in power.
In this post-principle party, there's a cold rationality to the way they view politics: we want to win, and if the Republicans are the current winners, we should become like them. This is politics as sports fandom, as Yankees vs. Red Sox. The Yankees and the Red Sox aren't ideological opposites - they're highly profitable sports franchises, for goodness sake - so when one team adopts new ideas and techniques that yield success, it makes sense that the other team would want to mimic those ideas and techniques themselves.
Thus, the Democrats see the shifting political landscape, and say, ah, the Republicans won by being openly transphobic and hateful towards immigrants and anyone embodying the "other" — we should totally do the same thing!
They deny their own political agency, because agency requires some internal stimulus - what some lofty idealists of a distant time might just call "principles." They fear challenging the status quo, while the Republicans openly hate the status quo and want to revert us to some mythical past.
Is it any wonder such a party is so unpopular? They are like the insecure kid showing up at school, trying to fit in with clothes and slang that everyone knows is unrepresentative of who they really are.
To bring this back to where I started: I needed this, today. Dare I say, our country needs this - a reminder that the American people are not, by and large, lackeys of MAGAworld, but decent, freedom-loving folk who may be skeptical of social change but also don't want to see kids and innocent people get hurt.
For the triangulating Democrats, obsessed with "meeting the people where they're at" — well, here they are, the people, showing you where they're at. Do you really want to try to compete with the Republicans for that 48%? You'll never be able to hate as purely and authentically as the GOP, so why not go the other direction? Be the party of inclusion, tolerance, peace, and justice.
I feel your thoughts your comment expresses in my bones. This is heartbreaking watching it unfold.
However, speaking for myself as politically unaffiliated let me briefly add: Freedom, Liberty, Body Autonomy and Freewill are every individual’s birthright, I ask for nothing extra, and I will defend every person’s absolute right to same.
Defending human rights is never too much to ask of ourselves, others, and especially our government. Defending these constitutional rights and principles is central to the reason given for securing the Blessings of Liberty in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, and at the very foundation of the United States..
Making any rule, law or code that affects different people differently based on sex, race, or peaceful ideologies, or dress style is inherently unconstitutional and unethical.
Nowhere can I find in the Constitution power given to government control over our minds or bodies. In fact, when the Constitution speaks of regulation, it speaks of external entities: The militia is to be well regulated, not our bodies, and not our hormones, and absolutely not our minds or clothing styles for goodness sake!.
We must defend every person’s human rights as if our own, because they are.
Good news I suppose, but the transphobic freight train is running at full speed by now, and this isn’t going to stop it or even slow it down. People need to understand that the right-wing ideologies are being driven by hate. This is not just a political difference of opinion or a way to scapegoat a group for votes (though yes, it likely is those things also). And when hate is the primary or a major motivator, there’s no stopping point usually.
On a different topic - not sure if EITM will eventually cover it or not - but Texas just passed a draconian bathroom ban, which has great importance because TX is one of our largest and most important states. Depending on how it plays out, this ban may have huge impacts on any female who isn’t gender-conforming (whether cis or trans).
Of course they do. MAGA doesn't care. Running on an anti-trans platform hasn't done them well in the past. But the Democrats need to listen to these stats and grow a backbone. If they created campaign commercials featuring trans people, particularly minors, talking about how they are being negatively impacted by anti-trans laws, I think they would elicited a powerful emotional response. It could make the election tion, if the process is not compromised.
This administration does not care about science as can be seen by his choice of JFK Jr Trump needs to find anything to rail against unfortunately this us just one of many He is a son of a bitch with no moral redeeming qualities and he chooses the same type of people to surround himself with WE MUST VOTE THESE REPUBLICANS OUT AND BLOCK HIS POLICIES TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY
Republicans have shown time and time again that they don't give half a flying fuck about public opinion. When they don't have enough support, they just change the rules so that they need less of it and do what they want anyway.
“The finding undercuts a familiar line from “centrist” strategists who insist Democrats should retreat on transgender rights.”
This would be right if what these centrist strategists were looking at were Democrat or even Independent voters. But they’re looking at Republicans with the notion that they can win them over if only they move a little more to the right. Same old centrist story as ever and points up the danger of centrists in general.
Going out on a limb, those who oppose political medical bans for one , likely feel the same for all people. We must retain self governance of our own minds and bodies.
I’d add those who support political medical bans, should rethink what it is that brings them pleasure playing god in other people’s lives.
I will be waiting with baited breath to see if our Democratic leaders will stand up for the transgender population or cave. I have very little faith in the moment.
Don't hold your breath, your suffocate
Thanks for posting that. It reminded me to call Chuck "Gutless" Schumer's office today to tell them "thanks" for holding firm against Republican demands and not sacrificing LGBTQ rights the way he did with the NDAA. I'll make it a point to keep calling until the resolution of this bill, whatever it might be. And then I'll make one last call, which will either be very angry or very appreciative. The best thing we can do is to keep these people's phone lines ringing.
Trans folks are the political scapegoat.
We are the 'current' scapegoat. Tomorrow it will be someone else. There will always be a scapegoat for these zealots. It used to be 'the blacks', then it was women's rights extremists, then it was 'the gays', then it was abstract artists, then it was Muslims, then it was . . . it just never stops for them. Even if they get rid of everyone they don't like, they'll find someone among their own ranks to hate, probably people who wear sweatpants or something.
And I hope they vote that way!
Difficult to believe those who oppose it could stand to vote for forcing any boys to have and grow up with breasts and periods, and, forcing any girls to have and grow up with beards and deep voices.
Thank you Erin.
That’s our problem. The strongly in favor of bans are reliable fascist voters. The strongly opposed will often stay home if their pet issue isn’t perfectly addressed.
"The finding undercuts a familiar line from “centrist” strategists who insist Democrats should retreat on transgender rights. On healthcare at least, the stronger play with independents appears to be standing against bans."
And I have to think the stronger play by far is actually to spend a $100 million or so to counter the (~$300million I think it was) the Social Conservatives spent on propaganda against us. Why do I see essentially no Democrats even attempting to inform people what is real about transgender people -- that what these bans do is abuse transgender children monstrously, and how accurately the endorsement for medical transition is made for youth and adults. The regret rate of <1% is real!
"While most Americans opposed outright bans, they also rejected establishing a legal “right” to gender-affirming care for youth. That doesn’t mean they favor restrictions—rather, they see the decision as one for parents, families, doctors, and the young people themselves, a pattern confirmed in other surveys."
That is an utterly incoherent opinion on their part. If they are saying they think the decision should be the patients/parents/caregivers involved, that is most Americans saying it is right of those so involved to make the decision.
I needed this, honestly.
I like politics. Politics is ugly, cynical, and rarely satisfying, but it's the best process we have for figuring out how to live with one another (there are alternatives, but all are bloody).
I'm also a small-d democrat. I believe that the most just method for making policy decisions is through popular assent, whether via direct referenda or proportionally-elected representation (i.e. not the US Senate).
At the same time, although I believe that democratic politics requires us to meet people where they are at, I do not think that means accepting bigotry as a fact of life - it must be challenged vigorously and with principle. It is in this last respect I find myself differing most from the mainstream Democratic Party.
Over many decades, the Democratic Party has abandoned basically every principle it once held. This is inevitable and not necessarily bad - the Democrats were also once the party of slavery and Jim Crow, after all - but the current party hasn't replace the old principles with anything new. Instead, they stand for two things that are really the same thing - beating the Republicans, and keeping their people in power.
In this post-principle party, there's a cold rationality to the way they view politics: we want to win, and if the Republicans are the current winners, we should become like them. This is politics as sports fandom, as Yankees vs. Red Sox. The Yankees and the Red Sox aren't ideological opposites - they're highly profitable sports franchises, for goodness sake - so when one team adopts new ideas and techniques that yield success, it makes sense that the other team would want to mimic those ideas and techniques themselves.
Thus, the Democrats see the shifting political landscape, and say, ah, the Republicans won by being openly transphobic and hateful towards immigrants and anyone embodying the "other" — we should totally do the same thing!
They deny their own political agency, because agency requires some internal stimulus - what some lofty idealists of a distant time might just call "principles." They fear challenging the status quo, while the Republicans openly hate the status quo and want to revert us to some mythical past.
Is it any wonder such a party is so unpopular? They are like the insecure kid showing up at school, trying to fit in with clothes and slang that everyone knows is unrepresentative of who they really are.
To bring this back to where I started: I needed this, today. Dare I say, our country needs this - a reminder that the American people are not, by and large, lackeys of MAGAworld, but decent, freedom-loving folk who may be skeptical of social change but also don't want to see kids and innocent people get hurt.
For the triangulating Democrats, obsessed with "meeting the people where they're at" — well, here they are, the people, showing you where they're at. Do you really want to try to compete with the Republicans for that 48%? You'll never be able to hate as purely and authentically as the GOP, so why not go the other direction? Be the party of inclusion, tolerance, peace, and justice.
I'm practically begging, at this point.
I feel your thoughts your comment expresses in my bones. This is heartbreaking watching it unfold.
However, speaking for myself as politically unaffiliated let me briefly add: Freedom, Liberty, Body Autonomy and Freewill are every individual’s birthright, I ask for nothing extra, and I will defend every person’s absolute right to same.
Defending human rights is never too much to ask of ourselves, others, and especially our government. Defending these constitutional rights and principles is central to the reason given for securing the Blessings of Liberty in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, and at the very foundation of the United States..
Making any rule, law or code that affects different people differently based on sex, race, or peaceful ideologies, or dress style is inherently unconstitutional and unethical.
Nowhere can I find in the Constitution power given to government control over our minds or bodies. In fact, when the Constitution speaks of regulation, it speaks of external entities: The militia is to be well regulated, not our bodies, and not our hormones, and absolutely not our minds or clothing styles for goodness sake!.
We must defend every person’s human rights as if our own, because they are.
I wish people who don't think transgender care is appropriate would think about what it would mean if THEY were denied care because of who they are.
Good news I suppose, but the transphobic freight train is running at full speed by now, and this isn’t going to stop it or even slow it down. People need to understand that the right-wing ideologies are being driven by hate. This is not just a political difference of opinion or a way to scapegoat a group for votes (though yes, it likely is those things also). And when hate is the primary or a major motivator, there’s no stopping point usually.
On a different topic - not sure if EITM will eventually cover it or not - but Texas just passed a draconian bathroom ban, which has great importance because TX is one of our largest and most important states. Depending on how it plays out, this ban may have huge impacts on any female who isn’t gender-conforming (whether cis or trans).
It is still disheartening to understand that 28% of LGBTQ responses did not support GAC for minors.
Of course they do. MAGA doesn't care. Running on an anti-trans platform hasn't done them well in the past. But the Democrats need to listen to these stats and grow a backbone. If they created campaign commercials featuring trans people, particularly minors, talking about how they are being negatively impacted by anti-trans laws, I think they would elicited a powerful emotional response. It could make the election tion, if the process is not compromised.
This administration does not care about science as can be seen by his choice of JFK Jr Trump needs to find anything to rail against unfortunately this us just one of many He is a son of a bitch with no moral redeeming qualities and he chooses the same type of people to surround himself with WE MUST VOTE THESE REPUBLICANS OUT AND BLOCK HIS POLICIES TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY
Republicans have shown time and time again that they don't give half a flying fuck about public opinion. When they don't have enough support, they just change the rules so that they need less of it and do what they want anyway.
“The finding undercuts a familiar line from “centrist” strategists who insist Democrats should retreat on transgender rights.”
This would be right if what these centrist strategists were looking at were Democrat or even Independent voters. But they’re looking at Republicans with the notion that they can win them over if only they move a little more to the right. Same old centrist story as ever and points up the danger of centrists in general.
Really excellent reporting, Erin, thank you as always.
I wonder if the fact that Gen X is the generation most likely to have teenagers right now is influencing their response.
Someone send the poll findings to All members of Congress, please.