#gender politics cw

[reasonableapproximation]

Funny but untrue. The code says that "the union of the flag" shall be those stars in white on blue, and in context the union is the upper left bit (usually called the canton)

I think the colors are fine though. There are extra rules that apply to flags bought for government agencies, but those aren't part of the code and don't apply to civilians

[reasonsforhope]

LGBTQ+ organizations and allies are celebrating Michigan for becoming the first state in three years to pass comprehensive anti-discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. The legislation, which now heads to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) to be signed into law, finally passed after decades of court battles and hold-ups from Republican legislators.

The bill passed in a 64-45 vote in the Democrat-led House on Wednesday. It amends the state’s 1976 Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to include LGBTQ+ people among its protected groups. The law forbids discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodation within businesses, government buildings, and educational facilities on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, marital status — and now, LGBTQ+ identity.

Democrats had tried introducing various LGBTQ+ non-discrimination measures over the last 40 years, according to the bill’s gay sponsor Sen. Jeremy Moss (D). However, the attempts were repeatedly voted down by Republican-led legislatures. Last January, Democrats took control of the full legislature for the first time in nearly 40 years, finally giving them the chance to pass the protections.

In July 2022, Michigan’s Supreme Court issued a landmark 5–2 ruling that ELCRA already forbade discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as forms of discrimination based on sex and gender. This followed a 2020 Michigan Court of Claims ruling that said ELCRA didn’t ban anti-gay discrimination as well as a 2018 vote by Michigan’s Civil Rights Commission interpreting ELCRA as protecting LGBTQ+ people from religious-based discrimination...

When the House voted to pass the historic bill on Wednesday, a crowd in the House gallery broke into applause, Bridge Michigan reported. Republican House members had tried adding amendments that would’ve carved out exceptions for religious people to continue discriminating against LGBTQ+ people. None of these amendments passed into the final bill.

Gov. [Whitmer] has signaled that she will soon sign the bill into law. In a Wednesday tweet, she noted the observation of International Women’s Day and wrote, “I’m celebrating trans women who have continuously led the way, despite constant threats to their lives and liberty. I’m proud that we’re finally in a position to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to protect LGBTQ+ Michiganders. Let’s get it done!”

-via LGBTQ Nation, 3/9/23

Note: If it's not clear from the language, this is basically a done deal--the bill signing IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO HAPPEN.

As scary as things are right now, there are so many of us fighting to protect ourselves, our communities, and the queer and trans people around us.

This comes only a day after Minnesota's governor signed a landmark executive order that guarantees the right to gender-affirming care and prevents the state from complying with any other states' attempts to interfere. via them.us, 3/9/23

There is hope, and there are so many people fighting for us.

[anghraine]

Oh, btw, if you feel like you absolutely must blame entire demographics for the election results, I'd advise at least checking the exit poll breakdowns before jumping to a hot take.

PS. Fellow white progressives, feel free to shut up about Black Trump voters forever.

[Image ID: a screenshot of CNN's exit poll breakdown, showing Trump winning white men 60-37 and white women 45-53, while losing Black men 21-77 and Black women 7-91. /end ID]

[yu-huuuu]

"Your body, my choice"

"Your microdick, my knife🥰🔪"

[caricature-of-a-witch]

Germany: makes it easier for trans*, inter*, and nonbinary people to change their name/gender

People online, immediately:

"we are doomed" bc I guess this guy's existence depends on my given name

"that's it for Germany" / "it's over for Germany" bc in fact the whole country is dangling on a thread formed by its people's agab

my personal favourite "and thus women have been officially abolished" ah yes the law does indeed *squints at writing* prohibit the existence of women

[olivia-is-not-a-slut]

you can absolutely be mistaken for a trans women and tme. tma does not mean "percieved as a trans woman" it means subject to structural transmisogyny. closeted trans women are more subject to transmisogyny as a structure than any non transfem person who gets mistaken as a trans woman once

Sure! Transwomen absolutely suffer more from transmisogyny! Doesn't mean it can't impact some cis women! Intersectionalism! We're all in this together comrade 💕

[your-moms-ex-husband]

Hi im Bug I’m agender transmasc, The tv glows inspired ‘poetry’ in light of the recent election.

“And the tv will still glow, from the back of the attic, in the box, in that storage unit. But tonight he is in my arms and I am in his, and by god is he beautiful.”

“I never saw the tv glow till I met someone who saw it first hand. I listened to them talk and suddenly, in the small darkness within my closet I sit with her, cradled to my chest as we weep and I ask her for her name.”

“It was never about the Tv for me, it just clicked one day. Middle school I think, realized the tv wasn’t glowing but god was I, leaking through my skin like water through porcelain. We stared, never asked their name, but said they liked mine”

“I see the tv glow constantly, first time I saw it I prayed to god it was wrong; that it chose me by accident. It wasn’t, next time you open a Bible or any script; look for the tv glow. We’ve always been here. We always will be.”

There is still time.

I see you, and you’re radiant, and god is it beautiful.

[badpoliticaltakes]

A woman is a human with xx chromosomes. The argument "a woman is anyone who identifies as a woman" doesn't awnser what a woman is, "a woman is a woman" is circular. If you can't even define what you're fighting for, you don't know what you're fighting for.

3/10 on the rage scale bc this would make me angry if this take didn't exist. literally everywhere.

[jiangshinigami]

Every time I walk downstairs I see my father sitting on the couch with right wing political bullshit on the tv, every fucking day, give me a fucking break

[lazy-toad]

The thing about being trans in the UK is just accepting the fact that I may just straight up never be able to medically transition

[dumbdomb]

brown marxist feminist here, you are seriously brainwashed if you think critique of gender is comparable to naziism, an ideology which killed millions IRL.

putting a naziism aside, here's a quote that explains the difference between feminist critiques of gender and the far rights insistence on traditional gender roles:

gender critical feminist: "sex is a material reality. gender is constructed to oppress and control females. there is no requirement for a link between male and female and masculine and feminine. indeed, gender should be eliminated."

far right, conservative: "strict association between sex and gender. men are masculine, women are feminine. departures from this are morally deviant expressions. inferior gender roles for females inevitable."

many gender critical feminists were trans identified at one point, including myself. hope this helps!

do i need to add "feminists dni" to my pinned? as a black, queer, womanist who has received much harassment from "gender critical feminists" who don't recognize intersex people and nonbinary genders, or even non-western gender roles for men and women... this ask is only adding more affirmation and positivity to conservatives. being trans doesn't mean you are incapable of being transphobic. we all have our own personal journey with unlearning the misinformation and propaganda we've been taught, just like we have to relearn Our history from HIStory. if you think being gender critical is not in alignment with actual third reich research and conservative ideology, please expand your approach to learning about eugenics, hegemony in society, and the benefits of functional gender criticism. learn intersex history. broaden your studies on queer history among non-white people. can you explain how this ask moves away from serving, or aiding, conservative goals and intentions of actual nazis throughout history? what is your intention in sending a message like this to a fellow trans person?

i'm tired of seeing gender critical, transphobic, feminists recruiting teens and young women into this hatred fueled culture of discourse. i don't send hate to anyone. i don't send messages like this to people who may think differently than me. why are you actively contacting me? for what purpose?

are you upset that many feminists are in complete agreement with nazi ideology? why is this a matter to message Me about??? do you think fascist leaning feminism will not take away all of our rights? do you think feminism, in all it's white-washed conservative glory, is not responsible for contributing to the loss of many people who would still be here otherwise?

because this sounds exactly like the hate and harassment i get from conservatives, yet you claim to believe in the rights of all women- including women like me.

if you wanted to have a serious and honest conversation, you wouldn't have opened with name-calling me "brainwashed". you began with a level of immaturity and disrespect, showing your narrow mindedness in discussing big topics in a healthy, responsible, and mature way. if people have approached you and said things to make you feel bad about certain issues, please go to a public library and ask for someone there to help you learn more about how political propaganda and recruitment for their movements to push an agenda works. this is not how adults speak to each other.

[brick-van-dyke]

Unfortunately, I am thinking again and am reminded again how heterosexual TERF women continually steal shit from lesbians and try to erase butches because they hate them so goddamn much. ESPECIALLY he/him butches and queer women and non binary dykes. Hell, even bisexual women, non binary people and he/him folks who are dykes in some way or another.

In fact, as a bisexual bigender trans man dyke, this'd be me. For real, we were here before you all decided to be offended by lesbians who dare to even use a strap because that scares you! Or call themselves men! And no not "because of safety reasons" but because we've always done it and still do it regardless. Because it's part of who some of us are. We have loved tits, pussy, straps (plastic or bio) way before you all decided to use lesbian to mean "we hate men". It's the "we fucking love women and wanna kiss women" club. It's not hard, lesbian means we kissy kissy women in a way the hettys don't like.

Because they think only gender roles abiding men can kiss gender roles abiding women and anything that's different is a sin or yucky, that's what offends them! That's why when lesbians are a femme that looks very feminine and womanly and such OR a butch that looks like a man people get pissed. That's why a woman with a beard makes people pissed. That's why a man who has breasts who kisses women makes people pissed. Because it denies all the gender roles that are defied here. It doesn't matter if a woman has a pussy or a dick, because it's already against the damn rules if she kisses girls and no one's gonna care when they call her a sinner like the rest of us.

They don't care that I'm a dude who looks cis, because I act too feminine, yet dress masculine and androgynous, and I have breasts and a pussy and like people with breast and a pussy as well to boot plus I like men and that's all against the bloody rules so I'm a freak of nature them who they want to legislate against. Hell, even in the community (esp among people who refuse to learn what older queers have lived through or anything about our history) being non binary to the point you aren't able to fit cleanly in any single clean label makes you really easy to hate. It doesn't matter that my love of women and my love of men makes me hated as a man who loves men and a woman-like person who likes women, because god forbid I call myself a dyke because my gender relates deeply to being a he/him butch. And the thing is, we've always been around since always but people get pissed when things aren't neat, tidy and easy to digest for their convenience and personal ease. When our existence is actually broad and vague, that makes people puzzled and scared, despite us all being fluid as people. It's our species whole thing to not be consistent or always the same or easy to understand. We're complex. But I digress...

There's just so much to this I could delve into but the biggest thing here is that regardless of what TERFs think, so much of it is borrowed from queers. So much is just stolen shit they rebranded and repurposed but made for hets. So much of feminism was built from queers, hell, from gay men. So much of feminism was built from lesbians and bisexuals and trans people. So much of the terms that TERFs use and the rights they have were built off our backs and now we're the fucking enemy? Lmao okay. Who do you think helped you all fight against abusive cis men? Not cis men saying you all need to join up with their anti trans groups that for sure. It was the gay men who look down on and lesbians you all call predatory and the drag queens who pushed to normalise the idea that femininity isn't just for women but men and, for you all, that it doesn't define a woman. Who stood by you all this entire time? And now we're all expendable, us queers.

And hey, we don't want you in feminist circles either since you've all proven yourselves to be sexist as hell. But I'm still pissed that so much of queer culture and our efforts have been used, borrowed, taken for granted and repeated as if it came from you all when a lot of it came from us. Like, sweetie, no. You all really think heterosexual women built feminism without us? You all think when you say "all men are gross perverts to women" you're not realising you're forgetting the gay men who aren't fucking attracted to women and have been treated like shit for being attracted to men? You think banning drag queens are some sort of thanks to all the times they've pushed against the idea that dresses must only be worn by women and pants can only be worn by men? Are you all fucking kidding me?

Everything about TERFs are borrowed and stolen, but hey, can't be surprised. It's the same for all bigots, they're never original aren't they?

[anghraine]

Erin Reed of "Erin in the Morning" heard from various movers and shakers in the Democratic Party about the two Congressmen and various pundits saying the real culprit here is ... trans rights. She also compiled quotes from a few other influential Democrats quoted elsewhere as well. I thought it might be worthwhile to share while so many people are justifiably terrified, so here's the link to her newsletter, and some of the quotes in question—

Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon):

In the 1990s I became the first Senate candidate to support gay marriage. After the 2004 election a lot of pundits said it was time for Democrats to stop standing up for gay people. They were wrong, and history showed we could stand up for what’s right and still win elections. This is not the time to abandon our values and principles, we must double down and fight for what is just and right – and that includes making sure that transgender people can live their lives without fear of discrimination. Our coalition is made stronger when we fight for all people and refuse to scapegoat vulnerable people.

A spokesperson for Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont):

The Senator will continue to stand up for the rights and personal freedoms of all Vermonters, including trans and LGBTQ Vermonters. The Democratic party fights to level the playing field—whether that’s creating jobs and lowering costs, protecting rights and personal freedoms, or making it easier to access health care. What news pundits say won’t change our core values.

Senator Alex Padilla (D-California):

Now more than ever, I remain committed to supporting the LGBTQ+ community and ensuring that trans people are treated with dignity and respect. The fight to defend the rights and freedoms of trans individuals continues, regardless of who occupies the White House.

Andy Beshear, governor of Kentucky:

None of this means we abandon important values and principles. As governor, I have vetoed numerous anti-L.G.B.T.Q. and anti-choice bills, yet I still beat Mr. Trump’s handpicked candidate last fall. [...] Earning trust and showing people you care about them also requires that we talk to people like normal human beings. And that we are not afraid to share our “why.” For me, my why is my faith, and I share it proudly. I vetoed anti-L.G.B.T.Q. legislation last year because I believe all children are children of God. And whether people agree with my decision, they know why I’m making it. They know where I am coming from. So while others are talking about political strategy and messaging, the way forward is really about focus and about action.

Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington):

Democrats absolutely do not need to sacrifice trans people’s rights—or anyone else’s rights for that matter—to win elections. Most Americans believe in freedom, including the freedom to make your own health care decisions and live your life as you see fit. Frankly, the GOP’s intense focus on attacking the freedoms of such a tiny segment of the American population is nothing short of disturbing and no doubt deeply unproductive given the wide range of serious challenges facing our country.

Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois):

Unlike political pundits, my duty as a United States Senator, my literal oath of office, is to support and defend the Constitution—and one of the most important constitutional principles is equal protection under the law. Election results have no bearing on that sacred oath, nor the reality that our nation was founded on the ideal that every individual is endowed with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Denying Americans basic freedoms because of who they love or who they are is a betrayal of our founding ideals, period.

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon):

Every American deserves the freedom to fully participate in every aspect of our national life. No one should ever be excluded from this vision. As MAGA extremists continue their attacks on members of the LGBTQ+ community to score cheap political points, I will push to end discrimination and expand freedom for all.

[autistic-katara]

when i’m in an explaining something u don’t understand to someone who’s directly experienced it contest and my opponent is the mother of a trans guy

[an-sceal]

I got a haircut the other day, which was awesome. I've spent the past 48 hours looking at a stranger in the mirror when I pass one. I don't ever have a firm picture or solid understanding of "that is me in my body" when I look at myself anyway, just a vaguely recognized set of individual features (my ear with the elf point, my nose that is either too big or okay depending on the day, but is always the same shape, my eyebrows that are psychotic, my tattoo that is art.) Now my hair is short but still too long, which I will fix when I get home.

Before the haircut I was having a third or fourth day of feeling like nothing I was doing with or for my body was sitting correctly. Nausea from meds that are supposed to help my autoimmune disease, and bloating from meds that are supposed to help my stomach deal with the meds that help the arthritis, and fatigue from... everything? Anything? Breathing? (Possibly breathing, because allergens, and thus inflammation triggers, are high.) Clothes and hair and posture and voice were all clashing in this thing that contains me but doesn't fit. And I have had this body for many decades now, minus a part here or there, so I am very used to not feeling at home in it. Not feeling like my body is any sort of representation of who I am, or even a reliably identifiable placeholder for the spaces marked "ME".

It took me over 40 years to figure out that I wasn't a failure as a girl, as a woman, as a "female", even after I knew there were options well beyond the two I'd been given, or the notion of others thought I understood. Part of that was down to assuming I wasn't *____* enough to count. I didn't know what, but I knew I didn't hate my body, so I couldn't be trans, or even not-a-woman in some other way. Sometimes I clung to that as a defense, firm in reminding myself that I didn't, so I wasn't. Sometimes it just was, existing, a fact like my body, which is obvious to everyone else but a mystery to me at the best of times. In my mind, even though I've rarely felt at peace or in sync with "woman", I'd never had a moment where I explicitly felt that I wasn't a woman, much less one where I hated the idea. How would I have hated something that people told me I was, when I literally need to rely on the vague shape of myself and the labels people I trust have given me just to find myself in a mirror?

I was pretty clear for a long time on how I'd never felt any sort of gender dysphoria. Quite the opposite-- the things I held on to, got familiar with like the extra bump of my ear or the round tip of my nose, were all times I'd felt the MOST grounded and at home in this alien ecosystem I keep my consciousness in. Times I felt GOOD about how my hair fell or my clothes sat or my insides settled into my outsides. No dysphoria for me, no, no! Euphoria!

And that’s true! I have felt gender euphoria, lots of it, and bodily euphoria as I have moments where I'm seated and perfect inside my little squishy home. It never occurred to me that those opposite times, when I would have given ANYTHING to step outside my horrible hovel of a skin prison, might be... not how everyone feels. I'm not talking about self-harm or suicidal ideation-- the escape only counts if the me I know and am is intact when I emerge. I'm talking days where every part of me I recognized felt so disconnected and WRONG in relation to who I believed my body made me that I couldn't find any response but intense anxiety and eventual dissociation to cope with it.

I am not drift-compatible with my own body.

[dogin8]

I have thoughts about how queer people choosing to be open and loudly Disgusted by men and the idea of loving one stems from the patriarchy and heteronormativity in how being 'appealing' or 'beautiful' were always attributed to women and were seen as feminine qualities.

I think it is the same set of ideas that contribute to the brand of homophobia that has no problem with fetishizing lesbians. The idea of a man loving another man being seen as intensely disgusting and sinful whereas the idea of a woman loving another woman is seen as attractive and desirable.

And I feel like the new brand of "Men are disgusting why would you ever love / choose to be one" really feels like it just contributes to the already pretty severe internalised homophobia surrounding gay men.