14 Comments
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Stephen Robinson's avatar

This is what frustrates me whenever Democrats like Schumer and even Buttigieg/McBride will dismiss GOP attacks on trans people and “woke” as distractions, when they are consistent with a fundamental assault on freedom and democracy.

When the GOP claims that liberals are attacking freedom, they usually focus on negative aspects — the freedom to oppress, to harm, to exist without consequence — but that at least resonates with far too many people. Dems too often focus on “freedom” and “democracy” as institutions and norms. It’s bizarre to me when Democrats will act as if firing a special prosecutor is a more direct assault on democracy than banning trans people from public spaces.

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Noah Berlatsky's avatar

I was thinking about writing about schumer’s reaction but it was just too depressing.

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Kathleen Appelbaum's avatar

Sarah McBride is one example of an awesome trans person. She has a seat in Congress. I listened to an Ezra Kline interview of her and she sounds like a smart, compassionate, brave person. We could use more people like her in our legislature.

Thank you for celebrating trans people. They have a right to exist; as we all do.

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Jacqueline Klein's avatar

They need to hate people different than them to justify the belief that they are failures because “the other” is to blame. The one thing I haven’t seen anyone reporting on, whether the mainstream media or independent sources” is how the suicide rate among school age children will spike to numbers higher than they ever were. Granting people rights which help them live the life they choose and then stripping them away is worse than not having the rates to begin with. They want them pushed back into the shadow because what? They are miserable people who can’t stand people that have any joy in their life

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human being's avatar

Thank you

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Joanna Hannah's avatar

We need to say all this more often. Trans people are awesome.

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Lou Doench's avatar

I’ve met so many awesome trans kids through Camp Quest Ohio, Skepticon and the skeptical/atheist/humanist movements.

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Teresa Kaiser's avatar

Noah, I wish this one were sharable. I think a lot of people need to read it.

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Noah Berlatsky's avatar

?? It’s shareable! It’s not locked.

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Bill Flarsheim's avatar

It might only be shareable to people with a Substack account. I shared an otherwise free post with my son, who does not have a Substack account, and it came up as “Sign up for a 7 day free-trial of a paid subscription to read this essay.” No idea if that’s how it always works, but might be what is happening.

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Noah Berlatsky's avatar

shouldn’t be…you usually can just share them without any trouble…

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Lou Doench's avatar

Yeah, I don’t paywall anything, I’d be pissed if folks couldn’t see my stuff without the sales pitch

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David Perlmutter's avatar

They can at least endure until a Supreme Court and government that actually respects them arrives.

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Barbara Jacobi's avatar

Thank you Norm. Totally with you on this one! I particularly liked your characterization of the fascist supreme court.

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