The change is an attempt to insert a divide in the LGBTQIA+ community by the Trump administration, and to erase transgender people from any consideration or recognition.
As a cis lesbian, I am not just going to stand by and watch while they come after our trans siblings - we all stand together! I hate this stupid "divide and conquer" approach and find it insulting.
All cis queer people need to contact Dem leadership and say emphatically there is no LGB without the T! We absolutely will not stand for it! Democrats need to stand up or they will lose ALL the LGBTQ and progressive community.
It was devastating but ultimately unsuccessful in Nazi Germany, and it's traumatizing but will be unsuccessful in the US. We've seen this show before and we can influence the ending.
It also clearly indicates that America is just such a country: a dangerous one to travel to if you are transgender and one that only recognizes male and female gender markers
so well written Erin! This is so clearly an intentional erasure of trans identity and rights. Thank you for being one of the only reports tracking this with the sense of urgency it demands!
Please be safe. Tempers are running high. I think the transgender community needs to take a page from the African American community when dealing with law enforcement. Be polite. Keep your hands in sight. Follow their instructions about whether or not to get out of the car. I think MOST blue state local and state law enforcement officers will continue to behave the way they have, but I worry about I really worry about the Feds that are instructed to enforce these executive orders and don't want to lose their jobs. When you protest, do it in groups and in public for your safety.
I'm flying so my encounter will be at YVR airport's Pre-Clearance. We'll see what happens but I am a bit nervous about it since it could literally go either way.
I do not believe for even a second that it is possible to erase trans people like they did in Germany in the '30s. The only reason that they were able to essentially delete us from history is because of how much data was centered at Magnus Hirschfeld's institute.
In the modern era, every single one of us has access to the internet archive. Data hoarders exist. I have already downloaded the CDC's entire research database up until the purge, and I am capable of copying and distributing it to anyone I choose. Surely thousands of other people have already done the same thing. No matter how hard they try, they are not competent enough to prevent every single person who wants to preserve this history from doing so.
Even if the worst comes to pass, and even if every single person reading this does not survive the purge, our history will remain. They cannot, will not delete us the way that they have in the past. It is impossible. We will live forever. A world without us will never exist.
Thank you for the archival work. We're going to need to do a lot of that sort of thing- squirreling away bits of science and culture wherever and however we can; if they're already feeling bold enough to target science, a purge of the arts under federal authority can't be far behind.
Forget about legality. Pirate content if you have to, especially if it's only available on a streaming service (read that: subject to arbitrary deletion at any time); back up books, movies, TV shows, video games, music- anything and everything you have the hard drive capacity for. That's what I'll be doing, anyway.
The idea that trans people aren't part of the broader LGBTQIA+ community is ridiculous. There are a million reasons why, but there's only one that really matters, and I'll address it to that tiny minority of gay activists who want to throw us under the bus:
We're all part of the same community because the same people who hate us also hate you, for the same reasons. Trans people are a threat to the fragile worldview of the straight white Christian man, where he holds a position of privilege, but so are gay people.
When they get bored attacking us, they'll come for you. They'll push "religious freedom" exceptions to civil rights laws that amount to a full-on right to discriminate against gay people. They'll go after Obergefell and Lawrence v Texas, and with the current supermajority on the Supreme Court, they might even win.
Or, if organizations comply in advance to his EOs on transgender issues, like is happening in a few cases, he'll just issue an EO prohibiting gay marriage and allowing sodomy restrictions and see who complies in advance to that.
I think ACLU attorney Shanon Minter summed it up well in an interview with Law Dork "How this story comes out does depend to a great degree on what we do right now."
I heard from a friend in Washington State that Washington, Oregon, and California are talking about how to collectively resist these EOs and maintain their dedication to DEI and transgender care and inclusion.
I live in WA state and there were several articles in the Spokesman Review about “knowing your rights” for immigrants and transgender people in WA. Also, where to get help and services for both communities and how we can all help by getting active. I’m impressed with our little paper and also embarrassed to say I read a newspaper. (I also keep a paper calendar.) 🙄
I have so much anxiety around air travel with this sort of thing happening. All my paperwork says female and I have had GRS (not that that should matter), but I'm concerned that they will use their AI and our tax returns, SSA documents, etc to make assumptions about transgender people and target us at TSA checkpoints. Not to mention having to get a dilator through security screening. Please tell me I'm wrong! I have a flight booked next week.
FAIW, back around 2000, I had to travel with a set of dilators. Nobody ever gave me any grief about them. If they had asked me any questions, I would have provided enough details to make them really regret asking. ;-)
I've had them flag my dilators for "enhanced scrutiny". Women officers tend to look a little embarrassed, but one male turned several shades and ran away, A woman took over looking quite pleased at the reaction her coworker had. This was flying out of Chattanooga Tennessee about 4 years ago.
They are in the process of doing the same thing on the Social Security website. Various pages that previously referenced LGBTQ+ are now only referencing LGBQ. Some webpages that I tried to search and reference are missing entirely.
😣 I'm so glad we were able to get my daughter's social security record updated before Jan 20. Although even having done so feels risky with the privacy of data threatened.
I am happy that you had it changed when you did, while Social Security does not generally track gender, other agencies do (Medicare/Medicaid). Short of them backing off all changes this should make things a bit easier for her.
I completely understand feeling at risk. I started my transition almost 3 years ago and it is only recently that I feel like I have a target on my back.
My trans daughter was not able to get her SS marker changed, this was yesterday in KCMO. I went with her for support, but no go. We asked if she (the clerk) could look up the rule and we were quoted the 1/31 EO. My daughter argued that the EO takes 30 days to come into effect, but nothing we said made any difference. We were told to come back later when the BC was changed (this is in process). As a parting shot I said, yeah, we will, if there hasn't been a new EO in the meantime for genocide. She was not happy.
As a cis lesbian, I am not just going to stand by and watch while they come after our trans siblings - we all stand together! I hate this stupid "divide and conquer" approach and find it insulting.
All cis queer people need to contact Dem leadership and say emphatically there is no LGB without the T! We absolutely will not stand for it! Democrats need to stand up or they will lose ALL the LGBTQ and progressive community.
Thank you of your support! ❤️
Thank you of your support! ❤️
He can TRY to erase us but we're way too strong. Keep fighting!
It was devastating but ultimately unsuccessful in Nazi Germany, and it's traumatizing but will be unsuccessful in the US. We've seen this show before and we can influence the ending.
I am a cis gay guy, I will never support removing the "T"
Thank you of your support! ❤️
It also clearly indicates that America is just such a country: a dangerous one to travel to if you are transgender and one that only recognizes male and female gender markers
Yeah, I can just imagine what other countries are putting on their travel pages about the U.S.
so well written Erin! This is so clearly an intentional erasure of trans identity and rights. Thank you for being one of the only reports tracking this with the sense of urgency it demands!
Jesus H. Christ.
Also, I'm in Canada this week and about to encounter US CBP on Saturday on my way home. I will report back what happens.
Please be safe. Tempers are running high. I think the transgender community needs to take a page from the African American community when dealing with law enforcement. Be polite. Keep your hands in sight. Follow their instructions about whether or not to get out of the car. I think MOST blue state local and state law enforcement officers will continue to behave the way they have, but I worry about I really worry about the Feds that are instructed to enforce these executive orders and don't want to lose their jobs. When you protest, do it in groups and in public for your safety.
I'm flying so my encounter will be at YVR airport's Pre-Clearance. We'll see what happens but I am a bit nervous about it since it could literally go either way.
Be safe! And we appreciate your taking the time to report back!
Thank you!
I do not believe for even a second that it is possible to erase trans people like they did in Germany in the '30s. The only reason that they were able to essentially delete us from history is because of how much data was centered at Magnus Hirschfeld's institute.
In the modern era, every single one of us has access to the internet archive. Data hoarders exist. I have already downloaded the CDC's entire research database up until the purge, and I am capable of copying and distributing it to anyone I choose. Surely thousands of other people have already done the same thing. No matter how hard they try, they are not competent enough to prevent every single person who wants to preserve this history from doing so.
Even if the worst comes to pass, and even if every single person reading this does not survive the purge, our history will remain. They cannot, will not delete us the way that they have in the past. It is impossible. We will live forever. A world without us will never exist.
Thank you for the archival work. We're going to need to do a lot of that sort of thing- squirreling away bits of science and culture wherever and however we can; if they're already feeling bold enough to target science, a purge of the arts under federal authority can't be far behind.
Forget about legality. Pirate content if you have to, especially if it's only available on a streaming service (read that: subject to arbitrary deletion at any time); back up books, movies, TV shows, video games, music- anything and everything you have the hard drive capacity for. That's what I'll be doing, anyway.
Nice! Thank you for doing that!
That's awesome, thank you so much for your foresight!!!!!!!
I hate going here but all i have to say is.... Fuck him. I really fucking hate him! I will do everything I can to help fight this.
The idea that trans people aren't part of the broader LGBTQIA+ community is ridiculous. There are a million reasons why, but there's only one that really matters, and I'll address it to that tiny minority of gay activists who want to throw us under the bus:
We're all part of the same community because the same people who hate us also hate you, for the same reasons. Trans people are a threat to the fragile worldview of the straight white Christian man, where he holds a position of privilege, but so are gay people.
When they get bored attacking us, they'll come for you. They'll push "religious freedom" exceptions to civil rights laws that amount to a full-on right to discriminate against gay people. They'll go after Obergefell and Lawrence v Texas, and with the current supermajority on the Supreme Court, they might even win.
Or, if organizations comply in advance to his EOs on transgender issues, like is happening in a few cases, he'll just issue an EO prohibiting gay marriage and allowing sodomy restrictions and see who complies in advance to that.
I think ACLU attorney Shanon Minter summed it up well in an interview with Law Dork "How this story comes out does depend to a great degree on what we do right now."
I heard from a friend in Washington State that Washington, Oregon, and California are talking about how to collectively resist these EOs and maintain their dedication to DEI and transgender care and inclusion.
I live in WA state and there were several articles in the Spokesman Review about “knowing your rights” for immigrants and transgender people in WA. Also, where to get help and services for both communities and how we can all help by getting active. I’m impressed with our little paper and also embarrassed to say I read a newspaper. (I also keep a paper calendar.) 🙄
I have so much anxiety around air travel with this sort of thing happening. All my paperwork says female and I have had GRS (not that that should matter), but I'm concerned that they will use their AI and our tax returns, SSA documents, etc to make assumptions about transgender people and target us at TSA checkpoints. Not to mention having to get a dilator through security screening. Please tell me I'm wrong! I have a flight booked next week.
FAIW, back around 2000, I had to travel with a set of dilators. Nobody ever gave me any grief about them. If they had asked me any questions, I would have provided enough details to make them really regret asking. ;-)
I've had them flag my dilators for "enhanced scrutiny". Women officers tend to look a little embarrassed, but one male turned several shades and ran away, A woman took over looking quite pleased at the reaction her coworker had. This was flying out of Chattanooga Tennessee about 4 years ago.
Disgusting hateful nazism
Such bullshit
So we're going to start deleting the letter T? Did President Rump completely think this through?
LOL!!!
They are in the process of doing the same thing on the Social Security website. Various pages that previously referenced LGBTQ+ are now only referencing LGBQ. Some webpages that I tried to search and reference are missing entirely.
😣 I'm so glad we were able to get my daughter's social security record updated before Jan 20. Although even having done so feels risky with the privacy of data threatened.
I am happy that you had it changed when you did, while Social Security does not generally track gender, other agencies do (Medicare/Medicaid). Short of them backing off all changes this should make things a bit easier for her.
I completely understand feeling at risk. I started my transition almost 3 years ago and it is only recently that I feel like I have a target on my back.
My trans daughter was not able to get her SS marker changed, this was yesterday in KCMO. I went with her for support, but no go. We asked if she (the clerk) could look up the rule and we were quoted the 1/31 EO. My daughter argued that the EO takes 30 days to come into effect, but nothing we said made any difference. We were told to come back later when the BC was changed (this is in process). As a parting shot I said, yeah, we will, if there hasn't been a new EO in the meantime for genocide. She was not happy.