I don’t want them “defending trans rights” though.

I want them enforcing the protection of trans rights through legislative action and enforcement of those laws.

“Defending trans rights” is when Republicans go on the offensive about transgender issues so we have to go from being on the offensive on issues like affordability, healthcare and a strong working class to “defending” trans rights. Look at the pamphlets in Texas, they’re no longer talking about gas and grocery prices in Texas, it’s all about who sent the pamphlets.

To be fair, Trump is intentionally doing this at this time to try to distract from the high gas prices, grocery prices, etc, his war caused. Immigration is, sadly, the thing he polls the best on, especially in red states. Republicans are desperately defending senate seats in red states like Texas, Alaska, Nebraska, and more. The more we talk about immigration, the less gas prices will be on past Republican voters minds, the more likely they will be to go out and vote for Republicans.

Schumer would love to have Democrats or Independents that caucus with Democrats in states like Texas, Alaska and Nebraska. Remember it will be 6 years before they are up for election again, that’s a long time to have these seats. This also may be a once and a lifetime chance for Democrats to get seats in states like these, unless Trump is stupid enough to keep the Iran War going through another couple of election cycles.

This is like the 2006 midterms under Bush. 2006 flipped a bunch of Senate seats, then 2008 flipped even more, and the Democrats ended up with 59 seats, and a Republican flipped to give Democrats 60 which enabled them to override the filibuster without completely ending the filibuster.

If I recall correctly, approximately 95% of breast removal surgery (a form of gender affirming treatment) performed on minors is done on cisgender boys who have gynecomastia and experience severe social distress because of it.

Isn’t this an example of a “false flag”?

I don’t think anyone in this thread would disagree with the principle that the legitimacy of a human right isn’t dependent on the size of a group.

And you are correct that what happens to one group can happen to all. I would take it a step further and say that this is already happening with transphobic laws. Cisgender people are becoming victims of them too. https://www.advocate.com/news/lesbian-mistaken-transgender-arizona-walmart

Exactly. It doesn’t even have to be that complex, spending some time educating self and then sharing that education with friends and family can make a huge difference.

If you are referring to the commenter, I think their point is that the fear is irrational in large part because it’s such a small group of people.

I would add to that, there’s no evidence that being trans itself has caused anyone any harm. Even studies of gender affirming treatment shows that an overwhelming number of people treated see an increased quality of life afterwards (98% or more, with the reduce quality being attributed mainly to increased transphobia from others, not regret of the treatment itself).

“I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage” - Barack Obama, 2008

The same Barack Obama that helped achieve the following during his time as President of the United States:

Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act adding perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability to the existing hate crime law.

Lifted the ban on travel to the United States by those infected with HIV

Signed into law the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010

Under his presidency, the Pentagon ended the policy that barred transgender people from serving openly in the military.

I was certainly disappointed when I heard him say what he said, but I also could read between the lines. I was disappointed it took him so long to finally become a vocal advocate of marriage equality (thank you Joe Biden for opening your big mouth, I mean this sincerely), but I none-the-less voted for him and in the end I am so glad he was in that office instead of McCain or Romney.

Can we please not fall for the bait. Look at not only their actions but also the situation they are in. Yes, Bill Clinton signed DOMA into law, but it also passed with veto-proof majorities, making a vote against it only performative. Yes, Clinton instituted Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, but this was a time when homophobia was absolutely ingrained throughout the US. My own parents said some pretty horrible things about queer people, and now they are (mostly) accepting of the multiple queer people we have in our family.

If you’re going to be upset at anyone, be upset at your family, friends and neighbors not doing shit (even I could be doing more). Supporting trans rights arguably is less risk to us than someone vying for political office who could end up extending protections for trans people. It took a wave of challenging conversations within families as well as increased positive visibility in the media (and arguably the passing on of a generation) to get to a situation where politicians could openly support any kind of queer family without facing immense backlash.

I don’t understand. Do you consider Sayed to not be “a leftist”?