In a hearing on a gender affirming care ban for transgender youth in Ohio, the presidents of some of the top pediatric hospitals in the United States testified against trans care bans.
Opponents of trans care are always harping about "biology" and "trusting medical science" only to turn a blind eye to actual respectable and even renowned medical professionals. It's true cognitive dissonance. I only hope this testimony was enough to influence not just legislation in Ohio, but on the national level and for all states.
A couple of adult trans friends of mine had a flight cancelled and the airline recommended that they do not take the first choice alternative which involved a layover in Tampa and found them a different route with an Atlanta layover.
I call him Ron DerFührer. I just finished watching a movie about how ordinary human beings in the third reich committed the Holocaust (specifically, the two million or so Jews who died from firing squads). The people who carried it out were well-educated people from social Democratic backgrounds, and what makes fascism so scary is that seemingly ordinary people can easily become inhuman monsters. Florida is definitely no exception.
EDIT: In case you want to know what the movie was, it's called "Ordinary Men" and it's a documentary on Netflix.
In case you haven't, you might want to check out Stanley Milgram's experiments on obedience to authority, particularly on the variations that showed different levels of obedience.
But what’s chilling is that the USA *has* trodden this road before: Genocide was committed by the US against the indigenous population (and provided a roadmap for Hitler to commit his own genocide, but the aforementioned indigenous population–like us Jews, trans people, and everyone the genocides tried to kill–are still alive and kicking). Concentration camps were used against Japanese Americans back then and today against migrants from the south of the border. And that’s not even going into what we did and are doing to black people. This *is* who we are.
Let me try again. I posted this, it showed up twice, so I tried to delete one only to have both disappear. If it happens again, the heck with it, it stays.
My comment was actually meant to in response to Boytobutterfly. Sorry..
DerFührer certainly fits, but I like the alliteration from keeping the "DeS" past.
All the bills, all the hearings, all the testimony (from all sides), about care for trans youth combine to reveal one thing which we should say loudly, without hesitation or reticence: These bills don't have a damn thing to do with health care. They are about bigotry, fear, and ignorance and manipulation of all three in the fanatics' pursuit of power.
They are about controlling a vulnerable population and keeping them "in their place". In other words, in the closet where the snide GOP bigots won't see them.
It is that, but I think it's more: It's creating and then manipulating fear of that population for political ends. The religious fanatics may be driven by a feeling of disgust at the thought of trans people, but the forces that got them into their positions of power ultimately don't give a damn about trans rights one way the other except as a tool to be exploited to increase their own social and economic power. They always want there to be something for others to fear and if there isn't, they'll make one up.
Consider that just a couple of years ago, it was the demon of CRT that was going to destroy all that is good and wholesome. Having gotten what gain they could from that, the fanatics just dropped it (When was the last time you heard a right-winger screeching about CRT?) and moved on. If the fanatics did succeed in driving trans folks way, way back into the closet, they'd just come up with a new scary monster to the same purpose.
We should never forget: Ultimately, this isn't about - or, rather, solely about - trans rights. This is about human rights.
Which is why as a footnote, what the Terfs are about is so stupid: They think that by insisting "Oh no no no they're not with us," if trans paranoia succeeds, they'll be safe. More likely, they'll be the next target. Because "Ignorance and fanaticism is forever busy and needs feeding."
Great point. This is about Leopards eating faces. Once the leopards eat someone's face, they're on to eat someone else's face. Leopards can't eat a face that's already eaten.
As I said when I posted this YouTube video on our 802 United nonprofit organization page, while watching this testimony I have never been more proud to be a physician. I loved their passion, their wisdom, their practical suggestions, and their clarity. In particular, the first question asked of the physicians is how this bill stacks up against care around the country and around the world. The answer was priceless: European countries are NOT outright banning gender affirming care. They are reconfiguring how that care is provided, and many of them are using the current care framework used in Ohio (and similar programs) as a template. Let American physicians lead, people! (rather than willfully ignorant, bigoted, stubborn legislators with a culture war axe to grind).
Yeah, I noticed that question, too. I kind of expected it in the wake of headlines about European countries "having second thoughts about gender-affirming care." No, they're not; they're reconsidering exactly how they go about it, which is exactly what you would expect professionals to do on an on-going basis as the information level continues to grow. Only the right-wing would use that as a weapon against the whole process.
Erin, I really appreciate this report. It was so moving and gives me hope that something might break through to these legislators. Thank you for all you do.
I'm a native Cincinnatian and worked at Cincinnati Children's for over a decade. I'm glad to see support from there!
Maybe it's time for another referendum in Ohio? It worked for abortion and for weed after all, much to the chagrin of state Republicans, and another one is in the works against gerrymandering. Constitutional amendment that patients have a right to appropriate medical care as determined by a medical professional?
Thank you so much for this, Erin! You’re doing god’s work. I’ve recently just started seeing a trans-specialized therapist, and she’s helping me a lot on my journey (at least as long as other trans folks have!)!
This is such powerful testimony both because of the content and the roles of those testifying. Sometimes the best way to make your case to legislators is by sending someone who looks "familiar" to them. Legislators often shy away from what they perceive as radical, so normalizing a concept can be a key step towards gaining their support.
Am I the only person who feels like the Ohio GOP allowing these doctors, and the other opponents of the bill, are only doing this as a show? I strongly suspect that they are being paid by FOTF, and other right wing "think tanks", for their votes. Sadly, I think this testimony falls on deaf ears.
The other relevant thing here is that not just ordinary MDs, but CEOs of major pediatric institutions (including the #1 ranked in the country) are showing up to testify. This is a warning shot to the GOP that their institutions (and the medical field in general) are not going to take this sitting down.
Opponents of trans care are always harping about "biology" and "trusting medical science" only to turn a blind eye to actual respectable and even renowned medical professionals. It's true cognitive dissonance. I only hope this testimony was enough to influence not just legislation in Ohio, but on the national level and for all states.
Thank you for your hard work Erin.
Much love from a trans girl in FL. 🏳️⚧️
My condolences to you. It’s hard enough to be trans, but in Florida? It seems like there’s no place to hide there…
I can't even transition socially in central FL. I'm not out publicly technically even though I've been out for a year now.
A couple of adult trans friends of mine had a flight cancelled and the airline recommended that they do not take the first choice alternative which involved a layover in Tampa and found them a different route with an Atlanta layover.
Wow! OK. Good to know things like that.
I call him Ron DerFührer. I just finished watching a movie about how ordinary human beings in the third reich committed the Holocaust (specifically, the two million or so Jews who died from firing squads). The people who carried it out were well-educated people from social Democratic backgrounds, and what makes fascism so scary is that seemingly ordinary people can easily become inhuman monsters. Florida is definitely no exception.
EDIT: In case you want to know what the movie was, it's called "Ordinary Men" and it's a documentary on Netflix.
In case you haven't, you might want to check out Stanley Milgram's experiments on obedience to authority, particularly on the variations that showed different levels of obedience.
But what’s chilling is that the USA *has* trodden this road before: Genocide was committed by the US against the indigenous population (and provided a roadmap for Hitler to commit his own genocide, but the aforementioned indigenous population–like us Jews, trans people, and everyone the genocides tried to kill–are still alive and kicking). Concentration camps were used against Japanese Americans back then and today against migrants from the south of the border. And that’s not even going into what we did and are doing to black people. This *is* who we are.
I'm so sorry. I'll be thinking about you a lot.
I've been calling him Ron DeSandFlea but Desatan is much better. I'm going to steal it. :-)
As I said above, I call him Ron DerFührer.
Let me try again. I posted this, it showed up twice, so I tried to delete one only to have both disappear. If it happens again, the heck with it, it stays.
My comment was actually meant to in response to Boytobutterfly. Sorry..
DerFührer certainly fits, but I like the alliteration from keeping the "DeS" past.
Ah, fair enough. I'm sorry if I was rude.
All the bills, all the hearings, all the testimony (from all sides), about care for trans youth combine to reveal one thing which we should say loudly, without hesitation or reticence: These bills don't have a damn thing to do with health care. They are about bigotry, fear, and ignorance and manipulation of all three in the fanatics' pursuit of power.
They are about controlling a vulnerable population and keeping them "in their place". In other words, in the closet where the snide GOP bigots won't see them.
It is that, but I think it's more: It's creating and then manipulating fear of that population for political ends. The religious fanatics may be driven by a feeling of disgust at the thought of trans people, but the forces that got them into their positions of power ultimately don't give a damn about trans rights one way the other except as a tool to be exploited to increase their own social and economic power. They always want there to be something for others to fear and if there isn't, they'll make one up.
Consider that just a couple of years ago, it was the demon of CRT that was going to destroy all that is good and wholesome. Having gotten what gain they could from that, the fanatics just dropped it (When was the last time you heard a right-winger screeching about CRT?) and moved on. If the fanatics did succeed in driving trans folks way, way back into the closet, they'd just come up with a new scary monster to the same purpose.
We should never forget: Ultimately, this isn't about - or, rather, solely about - trans rights. This is about human rights.
Which is why as a footnote, what the Terfs are about is so stupid: They think that by insisting "Oh no no no they're not with us," if trans paranoia succeeds, they'll be safe. More likely, they'll be the next target. Because "Ignorance and fanaticism is forever busy and needs feeding."
Great point. This is about Leopards eating faces. Once the leopards eat someone's face, they're on to eat someone else's face. Leopards can't eat a face that's already eaten.
As I said when I posted this YouTube video on our 802 United nonprofit organization page, while watching this testimony I have never been more proud to be a physician. I loved their passion, their wisdom, their practical suggestions, and their clarity. In particular, the first question asked of the physicians is how this bill stacks up against care around the country and around the world. The answer was priceless: European countries are NOT outright banning gender affirming care. They are reconfiguring how that care is provided, and many of them are using the current care framework used in Ohio (and similar programs) as a template. Let American physicians lead, people! (rather than willfully ignorant, bigoted, stubborn legislators with a culture war axe to grind).
Yeah, I noticed that question, too. I kind of expected it in the wake of headlines about European countries "having second thoughts about gender-affirming care." No, they're not; they're reconsidering exactly how they go about it, which is exactly what you would expect professionals to do on an on-going basis as the information level continues to grow. Only the right-wing would use that as a weapon against the whole process.
Thank you, too.
Erin, I really appreciate this report. It was so moving and gives me hope that something might break through to these legislators. Thank you for all you do.
I'm a native Cincinnatian and worked at Cincinnati Children's for over a decade. I'm glad to see support from there!
Maybe it's time for another referendum in Ohio? It worked for abortion and for weed after all, much to the chagrin of state Republicans, and another one is in the works against gerrymandering. Constitutional amendment that patients have a right to appropriate medical care as determined by a medical professional?
Thank you so much for this, Erin! You’re doing god’s work. I’ve recently just started seeing a trans-specialized therapist, and she’s helping me a lot on my journey (at least as long as other trans folks have!)!
This is such powerful testimony both because of the content and the roles of those testifying. Sometimes the best way to make your case to legislators is by sending someone who looks "familiar" to them. Legislators often shy away from what they perceive as radical, so normalizing a concept can be a key step towards gaining their support.
I just hope it worked.
If you have a moment and a stamp:
Steve Davis, MD, MMM
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
3333 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
He deserves our thanks.
Love you all.
Am I the only person who feels like the Ohio GOP allowing these doctors, and the other opponents of the bill, are only doing this as a show? I strongly suspect that they are being paid by FOTF, and other right wing "think tanks", for their votes. Sadly, I think this testimony falls on deaf ears.
It's hard to have to be concerned about that, but the support was amazing for our community and I hope it is meaningful.
To answer your question: No, you;re not.
Powerful....👍🏻
I’m glad all of that is on the record. History remembers.
It's telling how passionately people testify about the issue, we are on the right side, we aren't the ones with delusions, phobes are.
The other relevant thing here is that not just ordinary MDs, but CEOs of major pediatric institutions (including the #1 ranked in the country) are showing up to testify. This is a warning shot to the GOP that their institutions (and the medical field in general) are not going to take this sitting down.
wow wow wow. friggin’ awesome!!