Perspectives

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Gender policing does not ‘protect’ butch women and lesbians

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When the Supreme Court issued its 88-page long judgement that the legal definition of ‘sex’ is based on ‘biology’, gender critical lobbying group and controversially registered charity LGB Alliance declared it was a “landmark for lesbian rights in the UK”.  “This matters greatly to LGB people,” CEO Kate Barker said of the ruling. “It is especially important to lesbians, because the definition of lesbian is directly linked to the definition of woman.”  Barker – who once claimed a singular drag queen carrying the Olympic torch demonstrated the “erasure of woman in all spheres of public life” – went on to say the ruling “marks a watershed […]

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The importance of finding queer belonging in America’s historic sites

Like most Americans, I love visiting old places, whether Savannah, Seattle, or Santa Fe. I love historic architecture, gardens, and sacred sites. I like nothing better than hearing music in an old church, eating at a legacy restaurant, or staying at an old Airbnb. But until a few years ago, I didn’t see myself in the historic sites I toured—not in the grand mansions built by the robber barons in the 19th century from Newport to the Coast of California, nor even in the homes of the founding fathers, from George Washington to John Adams. Though I enjoyed visiting and learned a lot, […]

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Poll: Most Americans oppose trans women competing in female sports, including 2 of 3 in Gen Z

For 22-year-old Alex Ann, conversations about transgender women are black and white. “Trans women are women,” said Ann, who identifies as a nonbinary trans person. And when it comes to trans women competing in female sports — an issue that the Trump administration has made part of its policy agenda since Inauguration Day — Ann said that trans women should have all the same rights as cisgender women. “When you are talking about what a woman is, well now you’re talking about checking to see if you’re really a woman,” said Ann, a South Florida resident. “And the kind of violation that in and […]

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The inconvenient paradox of the war on trans rights that the GOP hopes we don’t notice

Central to heteronormativity is a presupposition that people are “naturally” cisgender and heterosexual, and that values, laws, and institutions should be organized accordingly. Within this framework, gender and sexual nonconformity are framed as medical or psychological disorders and immoral perversions of religious teachings. Power structures are organized in ways that favor people who identify as cisgender and heterosexual (especially men) and marginalize people who identify with differing sexual and/or gender categories, or who otherwise fall outside of heteronormative standards. Perhaps the most impressive feat of heteronormativity is its clever obfuscation of the fact that it, in and of itself, is a gender ideology, […]

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Minnesota sues Trump over “shameful bullying” of trans kids in sports

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During a press conference on April 22, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced his filing of a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The suit challenges the president’s anti-trans executive order directing agencies to withhold federal funding from educational programs that allow transgender girls to compete on women’s sports teams, under the claim that it violates both constitutional rights and Title IX of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. On February 20, Ellison issued a formal legal opinion expressing concerns that complying with the executive order entitled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” would violate the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA). […]

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Bill Maher falls for Trump’s charm offensive and ends up as the real sphincter

I run hot and cold with Bill Maher. Personally, I prefer John Oliver or Stephen Colbert. Yes, Maher has his moments reveling in provocation, and sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. I remember when he tangled with National Review Editor Rich Lowry about January 6 last fall before the election and the fact that Lowry was voting for Donald Trump. It dumbfounded me, and still does, that people can condemn Trump for January 6, trash him as undemocratic, and then go out on Election Day and pull the lever for him. Maher called out Lowry’s hypocrisy. But last week Maher proved his hypocrisy and his […]

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Instead of Addressing Child Abuse Prevention, Trump Attacks Trans Youth

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In his proclamation for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, rather than addressing real threats to children like the federal government should do, United States President Donald J. Trump focused almost exclusively on attacking supporters of transgender youth. He declared broadly defined “gender ideology” as “one of the most prevalent forms of child abuse” and labeled gender-affirming care as “evil”. Gender-affirming care is recognized as the gold standard of medical care for transgender youth by major medical associations. This care consists of social practices (changes to one’s name, wardrobe, etc.) to mental health counseling to medical interventions, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapies. In all, the care […]

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Trans athletes are under more scrutiny than ever. Some have found a safe space in gymnastics.

Raiden Hung, of Jurassic Gymnastics in Boston, relaxes after competing on the uneven bars at the NAIGC national competition in Pittsburgh on Friday.Gene J. Puskar / AP PITTSBURGH — Raiden Hung can’t imagine a life without gymnastics. And to be honest, he doesn’t want to. There’s always been something about the sport that’s called to him. Something about flipping. Something about the discipline it requires. Something about the mixture of joy and calm he feels whenever he steps onto a mat. “It keeps me sane, I guess,” the 21-year-old student at Northeastern University in Boston said. “Gymnastics is the love […]

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USA Fencing disqualifies female fencer for refusing to fight trans opponent

USA Fencing said on Thursday its decision to disqualify a female fencer from a recent event in Maryland after she refused to compete against a transgender opponent was in line with rules established by the sport’s governing body. The incident occurred on March 30 during a USA Fencing-sanctioned regional tournament that was not an NCAA event. At the tournament, Stephanie Turner discarded her mask and took a knee in protest ahead of her bout against transgender opponent Redmond Sullivan and was then issued a black card by the referee, resulting in her expulsion from the event. USA Fencing said its […]

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Super Bowl champ will host an LGBTQ-inclusive youth football camp this summer

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (50) with cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (34) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images  NFL player and two-time Super Bowl champion Khalen Saunders has announced he will host an LGBTQ inclusive football camp this summer.  Saunders made the announcement at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles Thursday night. He took the stage with RK Russell, an out bisexual athlete who played in the NFL regular season for the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills.  “The opposing team is going down because we are the champions,” Russell said […]

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