Anti-DEI and sports ban provisions for the military still exist in the bill, but the removal of a health care provision is a major victory for transgender people in congressional legislation.
This all sounds good, but I’ll wait until the final bill is passed. I’m still concerned with the actual implementation. With Trump and Hegseth in charge I’m holding my breath.
Ignorance of the vast diversity in human beings is one of the worst aspects of Trump 2.0. If trans individuals only numbered in the thousands they would certainly still deserve recognition and protection, but to ignore millions of people in just this country who deal for their entire lives with one or more of a multiplicity of a multiplicity of genetic situations which are studied, known, and documented is ignorance on steroids...it must be brought to an end.
{{Though the final version still includes anti-DEI language and a transgender sports ban for those enrolled at military academies, defeating the surgical funding ban is a significant and unexpected victory.}}
Why is this victory "unexpected?" I don't know about all of you, but I've complained about the de-funding of gender-affirming care under Tricare since it went into place. Both of my senators (both Democrats) voted for that NDAA. Every time I have called, I have demanded the restoration of coverage, e.g. as a demand for ending the shutdown.
What's unexpected, for me, is that the message wasn't clear enough. I (and doubtless others who made the same calls) didn't expect a game of Whack A Mole. It seems the Democratic Party is trying to find the perfect titration point to offer the Republicans just enough sacrifice of our equal rights and dignity to appease them, while minimizing the blowback from the Democratic base. So perhaps our message needs to change to "STOP THROWING US THE FRICK UNDER THE BUS, AND RESTORE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE BARGAINED AWAY."
I think we have learned from the 2025 elections that the only voters who care about transgender issues are LGBTQ people (in particular trans people), and the Democrats are losing us over their capitulation to the Republican culture warriors like Mace. Perhaps that should be our new message, as well as a promise that we will work to cull the Democratic ranks of those who have betrayed us - like Gavin Newsom. I think we should demand that the Democratic Party maintain, as one of its core missions, a commitment to protect equality for EVERYONE. No exceptions. Nobody gets thrown under the bus.
Today is a small victory. It tells me that at least some of us are being heard. But I won't stop complaining until all the anti-trans, anti-DEI, anti-whatever stuff has been clawed back. When I call, though, I will express my gratitude that we are STARTING to move back in the right direction.
One additional note: I have learned something valuable of late: My past political contributions to Democratic candidates have amplified my voice, because I can now say, "I've supported you generously in the past, but I won't support you anymore if you keep doing this shit."
tRump’s latest is trying to remove all “protections” for transgender and intersex human beings from the prison system. WTF! I know there are a shit ton of people who think being transgender is a choice (nope) but intersex human beings??? Some of them don’t even know they are intersex. And there certainly isn’t a one size fits all test for it.
This has been my #1 fear, and people don't seem to understand it. They wonder why I, a compulsively law-abiding citizen, should care about prison policies. And I tell them that completely innocent people get arrested, convicted, and incarcerated all the time, particularly if they come from marginalized communities like ours.
If I were to wait long enough in the US, I wouldn't have to do anything other than to exist, to eventually run afoul of the law, because the GOP is relentlessly passing laws to restrict and eliminate our very existence. And that is indeed the end-goal expressed in the Project 2025 manifesto - to put all of us in prison - trans, intersex, LGB, everyone who doesn't conform to the "Leave it to Beaver" binary model of society from the 1950's.
THIS - the prison issue - is the #1 reason why I left the US, after 4 centuries and roughly 15 generations of family history in North America. And ironically, I left for the same reason many of my ancestors migrated to Plymouth Colony - to escape religious persecution (in a different sort of way).
Nah, we don't have to settle for anything less than full equality. Fuck their sacrifices of trans lives to the MAGA gods! I'll continue to hold Democrats' feet to the fire, and I hope you will too.
There was also that unexpected and little noticed letter that the house Democrats sent to speaker Johnson telling him to stop demonizing trans people. Still not clear what specifically prompted that. Or how it was receive. And what how it will be followed up on, and responded to.
Impressed by both parties dialing back - Republicans on their cruelty, and Democrats on their spinelessness. I doubt it's the sign of things to come, but even the small wins matter.
Can anyone confirm Mace's amendment banning trans people from restrooms at military facilities has been removed from the bill? I can't find it in its exact wording.
Wow! One down....Excellent news. Thanks, Erin.
This all sounds good, but I’ll wait until the final bill is passed. I’m still concerned with the actual implementation. With Trump and Hegseth in charge I’m holding my breath.
Very cool. Who fought for that removal?
Mace SUCKS!
Ignorance of the vast diversity in human beings is one of the worst aspects of Trump 2.0. If trans individuals only numbered in the thousands they would certainly still deserve recognition and protection, but to ignore millions of people in just this country who deal for their entire lives with one or more of a multiplicity of a multiplicity of genetic situations which are studied, known, and documented is ignorance on steroids...it must be brought to an end.
I'll take it. But sadly, any little thing is a victory these days.
{{Though the final version still includes anti-DEI language and a transgender sports ban for those enrolled at military academies, defeating the surgical funding ban is a significant and unexpected victory.}}
Why is this victory "unexpected?" I don't know about all of you, but I've complained about the de-funding of gender-affirming care under Tricare since it went into place. Both of my senators (both Democrats) voted for that NDAA. Every time I have called, I have demanded the restoration of coverage, e.g. as a demand for ending the shutdown.
What's unexpected, for me, is that the message wasn't clear enough. I (and doubtless others who made the same calls) didn't expect a game of Whack A Mole. It seems the Democratic Party is trying to find the perfect titration point to offer the Republicans just enough sacrifice of our equal rights and dignity to appease them, while minimizing the blowback from the Democratic base. So perhaps our message needs to change to "STOP THROWING US THE FRICK UNDER THE BUS, AND RESTORE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE BARGAINED AWAY."
I think we have learned from the 2025 elections that the only voters who care about transgender issues are LGBTQ people (in particular trans people), and the Democrats are losing us over their capitulation to the Republican culture warriors like Mace. Perhaps that should be our new message, as well as a promise that we will work to cull the Democratic ranks of those who have betrayed us - like Gavin Newsom. I think we should demand that the Democratic Party maintain, as one of its core missions, a commitment to protect equality for EVERYONE. No exceptions. Nobody gets thrown under the bus.
Today is a small victory. It tells me that at least some of us are being heard. But I won't stop complaining until all the anti-trans, anti-DEI, anti-whatever stuff has been clawed back. When I call, though, I will express my gratitude that we are STARTING to move back in the right direction.
One additional note: I have learned something valuable of late: My past political contributions to Democratic candidates have amplified my voice, because I can now say, "I've supported you generously in the past, but I won't support you anymore if you keep doing this shit."
Happy to see this but the fight will continue.
tRump’s latest is trying to remove all “protections” for transgender and intersex human beings from the prison system. WTF! I know there are a shit ton of people who think being transgender is a choice (nope) but intersex human beings??? Some of them don’t even know they are intersex. And there certainly isn’t a one size fits all test for it.
This has been my #1 fear, and people don't seem to understand it. They wonder why I, a compulsively law-abiding citizen, should care about prison policies. And I tell them that completely innocent people get arrested, convicted, and incarcerated all the time, particularly if they come from marginalized communities like ours.
If I were to wait long enough in the US, I wouldn't have to do anything other than to exist, to eventually run afoul of the law, because the GOP is relentlessly passing laws to restrict and eliminate our very existence. And that is indeed the end-goal expressed in the Project 2025 manifesto - to put all of us in prison - trans, intersex, LGB, everyone who doesn't conform to the "Leave it to Beaver" binary model of society from the 1950's.
THIS - the prison issue - is the #1 reason why I left the US, after 4 centuries and roughly 15 generations of family history in North America. And ironically, I left for the same reason many of my ancestors migrated to Plymouth Colony - to escape religious persecution (in a different sort of way).
Suspect the NDAA surgery prohibition was easy for GOP to give up since most, if not all, ADSM will be discharged by end of the month or Jan at latest.
👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼
Truly a sign of the times that "it's not as bad as it 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 have been" is what we have to take as a win these days.
Nah, we don't have to settle for anything less than full equality. Fuck their sacrifices of trans lives to the MAGA gods! I'll continue to hold Democrats' feet to the fire, and I hope you will too.
Small victories! Always take the small victories!
There was also that unexpected and little noticed letter that the house Democrats sent to speaker Johnson telling him to stop demonizing trans people. Still not clear what specifically prompted that. Or how it was receive. And what how it will be followed up on, and responded to.
http://lgbtqnation.com/2025/11/house-dems-unite-to-tell-gop-to-stop-demonizing-trans-people-with-dehumanizing-slurs/
Impressed by both parties dialing back - Republicans on their cruelty, and Democrats on their spinelessness. I doubt it's the sign of things to come, but even the small wins matter.
Can anyone confirm Mace's amendment banning trans people from restrooms at military facilities has been removed from the bill? I can't find it in its exact wording.
Take the wins where we get them.