Shutdown day is here, and there has been a lot of competing coverage on Republican priorities, Democrat's demands, and what shutdown politics means for LGBTQ+ people in America.
Make sure you contact your representatives - primarily your senators and tell them that they need to vote no on anything with anti trans provisions in it under no uncertain terms. The shutdown won’t hurt us, only capitulation will.
If the government enacts this sweeping ban on Medicaid funds being used for GAC, there will be mass death in this country.
We can save a lot of our own through mutual aid and even just by being there for each other - but if hundreds of thousands or even millions of trans people see their GAC disappear overnight, a lot of people are going to die.
This, of course, is the ultimate goal of the anti-trans front - to see us all dead, in jail, or stuck in the margins, forced to perform shitty service jobs or sex work just to survive.
How can politics solve this? How do we persuade people who do not see us as human, without sacrificing so much of ourselves that they have no choice to recognize our humanity?
I’m just going to say it, I’m so fucking tired of living with a gun to my head. To quote my PCP “Tess, let me be really clear on this, without HRT, you will die”. Seems simple right, killing people is bad, but in today’s fascist Amerikkka killing me is a noble act worthy of heaven. Are my family or friends speaking out? No. Are the mainline Christian churches loudly speaking out? No. Will Democrats even utter the word transgender? No. Am I at risk enough to get asylum in Canada? No (says the Canadian immigration atty). Apparently not enough of us have been killed yet for them to change their laws. My rhetorical and useless question to the universe is this: WTF do you do when the entire world seems to want you dead? Thanks for listening I’m going to scream into the void now.
Until this morning , I was afraid the democrats would cave on the anti-trans riders. While that is still possible, trump's attack on Hakim Jefferies should make it clear that he has it in for all of the democrats. Today, in front of the assembled military brass, trump announced that they are going to war against all of us.
At this point anybody who supports trump, anybody who even acquiesces to him, is a war criminal and a traitor to the United States. We've got to shut it down. And I'm not just talking about the government. We have to shut everything down. At this point, that is the only way option left to the people of this country.
I've been calling all week all three of my reps Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, and Marilyn Strickland -- all dems -- demanding they shut it down if anti-queer, trans riders are in the CR. We've got to stand strong against these freakin' bullies and bigots and sexists and misogynists and racists! Lock arms and keep moving forward! Sending you all strength and courage!
Does anyone know how fast these would take effect if passed? My fiance has top surgery scheduled for literally October 17th and is getting financial aid for it from the hospital. They've been through so much to get this and I'm terrified it could all be undone when they've gotten so so close.
The dictator wants everything his way and his lackies just follow blindly. It’s time that Democrats stick it to them. Democrats must be true to its constituents at all cost and that includes the queer and trans community. The only thing that bullies respect is strength. We must also remember politicians like THE PA SENATOR AND ANY OTHERS WHO VOTE WITH THE REPUBLICANS MUST GO. WE MUST VOTE THEM OUT
Thank you for the clear information Erin. My guess is at least some of the restrictions on the trans community will end up in the final bill although maybe not all. Some of those provisions seem very damaging and dangerous others perhaps less so. It will certainly be important to all of us to keep an eye and ear on what ends up in the final version and who votes for it.
I wish I had faith in Chuck Schumer and Jeffries but I don’t. I have a democratic representative with a gay niece so I am comfortable that he will do the right thing.
Make sure you contact your representatives - primarily your senators and tell them that they need to vote no on anything with anti trans provisions in it under no uncertain terms. The shutdown won’t hurt us, only capitulation will.
I’m in a red state :-/
Remind them that Jesus always stood with the marginalized. It's hard to pierce their irrational hatred, but maybe worth a try.
If the government enacts this sweeping ban on Medicaid funds being used for GAC, there will be mass death in this country.
We can save a lot of our own through mutual aid and even just by being there for each other - but if hundreds of thousands or even millions of trans people see their GAC disappear overnight, a lot of people are going to die.
This, of course, is the ultimate goal of the anti-trans front - to see us all dead, in jail, or stuck in the margins, forced to perform shitty service jobs or sex work just to survive.
How can politics solve this? How do we persuade people who do not see us as human, without sacrificing so much of ourselves that they have no choice to recognize our humanity?
Must this burden fall on us? On our children?
I’m just going to say it, I’m so fucking tired of living with a gun to my head. To quote my PCP “Tess, let me be really clear on this, without HRT, you will die”. Seems simple right, killing people is bad, but in today’s fascist Amerikkka killing me is a noble act worthy of heaven. Are my family or friends speaking out? No. Are the mainline Christian churches loudly speaking out? No. Will Democrats even utter the word transgender? No. Am I at risk enough to get asylum in Canada? No (says the Canadian immigration atty). Apparently not enough of us have been killed yet for them to change their laws. My rhetorical and useless question to the universe is this: WTF do you do when the entire world seems to want you dead? Thanks for listening I’m going to scream into the void now.
Until this morning , I was afraid the democrats would cave on the anti-trans riders. While that is still possible, trump's attack on Hakim Jefferies should make it clear that he has it in for all of the democrats. Today, in front of the assembled military brass, trump announced that they are going to war against all of us.
At this point anybody who supports trump, anybody who even acquiesces to him, is a war criminal and a traitor to the United States. We've got to shut it down. And I'm not just talking about the government. We have to shut everything down. At this point, that is the only way option left to the people of this country.
I've been calling all week all three of my reps Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, and Marilyn Strickland -- all dems -- demanding they shut it down if anti-queer, trans riders are in the CR. We've got to stand strong against these freakin' bullies and bigots and sexists and misogynists and racists! Lock arms and keep moving forward! Sending you all strength and courage!
Does anyone know how fast these would take effect if passed? My fiance has top surgery scheduled for literally October 17th and is getting financial aid for it from the hospital. They've been through so much to get this and I'm terrified it could all be undone when they've gotten so so close.
The dictator wants everything his way and his lackies just follow blindly. It’s time that Democrats stick it to them. Democrats must be true to its constituents at all cost and that includes the queer and trans community. The only thing that bullies respect is strength. We must also remember politicians like THE PA SENATOR AND ANY OTHERS WHO VOTE WITH THE REPUBLICANS MUST GO. WE MUST VOTE THEM OUT
Essential context. Identifying the stakes. More value added.
Thank you for the clear information Erin. My guess is at least some of the restrictions on the trans community will end up in the final bill although maybe not all. Some of those provisions seem very damaging and dangerous others perhaps less so. It will certainly be important to all of us to keep an eye and ear on what ends up in the final version and who votes for it.
I wish I had faith in Chuck Schumer and Jeffries but I don’t. I have a democratic representative with a gay niece so I am comfortable that he will do the right thing.