Anti-trans laws have swept across the country. With them, the world feels like it is getting smaller. I ask myself... when will the borders of where it is safe get to me?
< "if a cisgender person demands that a transgender person leave a restroom corresponding to their gender identity, non-compliance will result in arrest and criminal penalties." > Jim Crow South - If a white person demands that a black person leave his seat at the lunch counter corresponding to their status as a black person, non-compliance will result in arrest and criminal penalties. This is Jim/Jane Crow.
I'm still reeling from what I saw at the Texas capitol on Tuesday. This place isn't home anymore. I'm from Missouri, originally. I don't want to spend the rest of my life just jumping from place to place staying in front of the tidal wave.
There is a further concern here. What will happen to trans people if they are arrested and placed in jail? Having spent some time in federal prison, I can tell you that the system promotes the abuse, rape and even murder of trans inmates. I can only imagine it being even worse in the Florida jail system. We should keep a close eye on our trans brothers and sisters who are incarcerated in Florida. Their lives will depend on it.
Cisgender women who support these bathroom bans are in for a rude awakening, when cis women who are much taller or larger than average, or who have a gender-nonconforming presentation, get harassed by these bans. Granted, cis women would have the appropriate ID documents and anatomy (if it comes to a physical exam) to not be “guilty” - but once you’ve been arrested and detained, the psychic damage is done. Also, what person is really going to risk a confrontation by accusing a stranger of being trans? The faulty assumption here is that you can always know what a trans person “looks like”.
It is a short step from this to making us sew a transgender symbol on the outside of our clothing. These laws are created by people who champion themselves as defenders of freedom and liberty. Freedom in America is dead. Liberty in America is dead. These are alienable rights.
I just had to turn down a high-level military job in Florida because of all this. I've developed AI-powered sonar algorithms for the Navy, and a company reached out to me to provide expertise in the creation of a new suite of Navy simulation software. Unfortunately the Navy will be missing out on talent its relied on in the past unless they can create a remote position for me. I'm not getting arrested for taking a piss at work whenever I visit Naval facilities or vessels.
Why doesn’t the Federal government intervene!? They ended up having to to end black segregation. How is this any different? It’s leading to the same end, including lynchings.
Erin, I do have a disagreement with you over the language used in both this and your tweets today. This is no longer a protracted legal battle for human rights. Eradication and genocide occur in one singular state: war. As it was with the Rohinga, the Uyghur, and countless others, it is now with us: the state is at war with it's people. Be it for resources, ideals, or even as scapegoats, they all share the same drum beat in the background, and unfortunately we can no longer be complacent nor can we, as a collective, afford the hope that one day others will come to see the value in our lives and join us as allies.
I suppose that the upswing of this state is a clarity of friend and foe, and the likelihood that others will open their doors for us as refugees. Until then, anything on the far side of the barrel is not friend.
I live in Maryland too, and it's terrifying watching all of this unfold and wondering what comes next for my friends in other states. I can't go visit some family anymore because getting there requires driving through unfriendly states. Now I can't visit Florida any time soon. I'm not always gendered correctly, and while I'm fine with that, it does make me a target.
When will the UN step in for violation of civil rights in this country? Do we literally have to start being openly beaten and murdered for them to take action?!
I expect now that Florida has done this, Texas will as well. There isn't a bill on the schedule to do this and the window is closing to get it introduced, so we could see executive action.
What of gender neutral bathrooms? Are those permitted? And with respect to airports isn't that under the jurisdiction of the FAA? They should promulgate a rule that all bathrooms must be gender neutral in states with such laws or require construction of third bathrooms. That would really piss them off. What about the ADA? That regulates inclusion of restrooms. Florida can't set up a system where travelers with Crohn's or prostate issues would affectively be denied restroom facilities.
I feel my days of working at a reasonably inclusive company for over three decades may come to an end soon. I may have to retire early or find a position at another campus located in California or go oversees to Germany. This was never in my plans but I have been starting to put together what an exit plan will look like. Even flying across the US and stops to change a plane in some of these states can become dangerous. I would expect my state to follow Florida on bills banning care for adults and preventing us from using the bathroom. The session is over for now and we already have bad bills signed into law banning care for trans youth. Banning books in libraries, and "Don't say gay bills" including outing kids to parents.
I live in Arkansas, and, speaking only for myself, I'm too afraid to travel now. There are only certain locations in my state where I am confident I can use a public restroom without fear of being accused of sexual indecency with a minor; and, while the charge wouldn't stick, the accusation and arrest would be enough to change my life forever. It's a case of the process convicting me without a formal conviction. And heaven knows what I would encounter in any of the states around mine, an airport, etc. So, I stay put. I won't even travel far within my state.
I understand the impetus to fight; but I think that, in most cases, people will do better to simply flee, even if all you can take with you is what you can carry. Take a lesson from the Jews, who have repeatedly been harrassed and driven from home after home over the centuries. Don't let foolish pride keep you from preserving your own life.
And stick together. I'm guessing that caravans are often safer.
< "if a cisgender person demands that a transgender person leave a restroom corresponding to their gender identity, non-compliance will result in arrest and criminal penalties." > Jim Crow South - If a white person demands that a black person leave his seat at the lunch counter corresponding to their status as a black person, non-compliance will result in arrest and criminal penalties. This is Jim/Jane Crow.
I'm still reeling from what I saw at the Texas capitol on Tuesday. This place isn't home anymore. I'm from Missouri, originally. I don't want to spend the rest of my life just jumping from place to place staying in front of the tidal wave.
There is a further concern here. What will happen to trans people if they are arrested and placed in jail? Having spent some time in federal prison, I can tell you that the system promotes the abuse, rape and even murder of trans inmates. I can only imagine it being even worse in the Florida jail system. We should keep a close eye on our trans brothers and sisters who are incarcerated in Florida. Their lives will depend on it.
I was doing okay reading this until I got to "a Montana law now... dictates that they be buried under their assigned sex at birth."
We don't even get dignity in death.
Cisgender women who support these bathroom bans are in for a rude awakening, when cis women who are much taller or larger than average, or who have a gender-nonconforming presentation, get harassed by these bans. Granted, cis women would have the appropriate ID documents and anatomy (if it comes to a physical exam) to not be “guilty” - but once you’ve been arrested and detained, the psychic damage is done. Also, what person is really going to risk a confrontation by accusing a stranger of being trans? The faulty assumption here is that you can always know what a trans person “looks like”.
It is a short step from this to making us sew a transgender symbol on the outside of our clothing. These laws are created by people who champion themselves as defenders of freedom and liberty. Freedom in America is dead. Liberty in America is dead. These are alienable rights.
I just had to turn down a high-level military job in Florida because of all this. I've developed AI-powered sonar algorithms for the Navy, and a company reached out to me to provide expertise in the creation of a new suite of Navy simulation software. Unfortunately the Navy will be missing out on talent its relied on in the past unless they can create a remote position for me. I'm not getting arrested for taking a piss at work whenever I visit Naval facilities or vessels.
Why doesn’t the Federal government intervene!? They ended up having to to end black segregation. How is this any different? It’s leading to the same end, including lynchings.
Erin, I do have a disagreement with you over the language used in both this and your tweets today. This is no longer a protracted legal battle for human rights. Eradication and genocide occur in one singular state: war. As it was with the Rohinga, the Uyghur, and countless others, it is now with us: the state is at war with it's people. Be it for resources, ideals, or even as scapegoats, they all share the same drum beat in the background, and unfortunately we can no longer be complacent nor can we, as a collective, afford the hope that one day others will come to see the value in our lives and join us as allies.
I suppose that the upswing of this state is a clarity of friend and foe, and the likelihood that others will open their doors for us as refugees. Until then, anything on the far side of the barrel is not friend.
I live in Maryland too, and it's terrifying watching all of this unfold and wondering what comes next for my friends in other states. I can't go visit some family anymore because getting there requires driving through unfriendly states. Now I can't visit Florida any time soon. I'm not always gendered correctly, and while I'm fine with that, it does make me a target.
When will the UN step in for violation of civil rights in this country? Do we literally have to start being openly beaten and murdered for them to take action?!
I expect now that Florida has done this, Texas will as well. There isn't a bill on the schedule to do this and the window is closing to get it introduced, so we could see executive action.
What of gender neutral bathrooms? Are those permitted? And with respect to airports isn't that under the jurisdiction of the FAA? They should promulgate a rule that all bathrooms must be gender neutral in states with such laws or require construction of third bathrooms. That would really piss them off. What about the ADA? That regulates inclusion of restrooms. Florida can't set up a system where travelers with Crohn's or prostate issues would affectively be denied restroom facilities.
I feel my days of working at a reasonably inclusive company for over three decades may come to an end soon. I may have to retire early or find a position at another campus located in California or go oversees to Germany. This was never in my plans but I have been starting to put together what an exit plan will look like. Even flying across the US and stops to change a plane in some of these states can become dangerous. I would expect my state to follow Florida on bills banning care for adults and preventing us from using the bathroom. The session is over for now and we already have bad bills signed into law banning care for trans youth. Banning books in libraries, and "Don't say gay bills" including outing kids to parents.
I live in Arkansas, and, speaking only for myself, I'm too afraid to travel now. There are only certain locations in my state where I am confident I can use a public restroom without fear of being accused of sexual indecency with a minor; and, while the charge wouldn't stick, the accusation and arrest would be enough to change my life forever. It's a case of the process convicting me without a formal conviction. And heaven knows what I would encounter in any of the states around mine, an airport, etc. So, I stay put. I won't even travel far within my state.
I understand the impetus to fight; but I think that, in most cases, people will do better to simply flee, even if all you can take with you is what you can carry. Take a lesson from the Jews, who have repeatedly been harrassed and driven from home after home over the centuries. Don't let foolish pride keep you from preserving your own life.
And stick together. I'm guessing that caravans are often safer.
If I do go to Florida and am assaulted by potty police Ronnie won’t need to hide all his travels that will come out in the data breach