Trans journalist Erin Reed has published a list of Democratic midterm candidates with anti-trans records, and the question she is forcing is one the party would rather not answer: if trans voters keep rewarding Democrats who harm them, what signal does that send? The calculation is real, the stakes are high, and there is no clean answer.

  • Sunflier@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    I just don’t get the obsession with transgender people. What did they ever do other than just wanting to be left alone? Did a bunch of them bomb a bunch orphanages with burning puppies running out of the flaming building?

    • SapphironZA@sh.itjust.works
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      3 days ago

      It’s a greatly exaggerated/manufactured culture war topic for the purpose of distracting from the very real class war.

      It’s not a coincidence that anti-trans rhetoric started around the same time the war on terror started losing its effectiveness as an excuse and the 1% narrative was starting to take root.

    • EatMyPixelDust@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      2 days ago

      It’s the classic fascist tactic of scapegoating a minority, as part of fascist strategy. Look up how fascism works, that is a big part of it.

    • hoppeduponcoffee@lemmy.zip
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      3 days ago

      Authoritarian personalities agress toward outgroups who violate traditional norms, including socially traditional gender roles. They become a scapegoat during times of capitalistic economic uncertainty.

      We’re in part of the cycle where liberal democracy decays and fascism flourishes. A core tenet of fascist ideology is the championing of the in-group with religious fervor and nationalistic pride. This is seen as a populist way to “save the country,” when the real problem is capitalism and the exploitation of workers. This is why fascists demonize socialists, communists and even liberals.

      Both the GOP (conservatives) and the far left (tankies) can reflect this personality type.

    • Kirp123@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      There is a large contingent of voters that are deeply religious and hate them. They are trying to appeal to those voters. America is still one of the most religious countries in the world.

      • Sunflier@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        There is a large contingent of voters that are deeply religious and hate them.

        This is what I am asking about. Why? What is the bug up religious people’s asses about transgender people.

        • WoodScientist@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          Because they’re devil worshipers. A large portion of so-called Christians actually worship Satan. You worship hate, you’re following the Devil, not God. Some people are just evil.

        • Kirp123@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          Their argument usually is that God doesn’t make mistakes and trying to change the gender you’re born with is just flaunting him or something. It’s not a rational argument, their book or their pastor says it’s unnatural and they follow like the little sheep their are.

        • FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca
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          3 days ago

          The claim is that transgender people are rejecting the body God gave them. It’s hypocritical though because most of them don’t have an issue with physically disabled people getting medical care to treat their disabilities. My aunt is transphobic, though too incoherent to admit it, and she is also against blood transfusions and IVF on the grounds that they’re against God’s will. She’s a hypocrite and would be dead from cancer without medical treatment.

    • BassTurd@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      They’re a pawn that bigots like to use to rile their base and distract from other issues. With enough enthusiasm, a concerted effort can make about anything the enemy to rally against. It’s mostly fear mongering, but also has a serious detrimental effect to those being targeted.

      • dirthawker0@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        Lyndon B. Johnson: “If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”

        Nonwhite, trans, gay, feminist, non-Christian, furry, etc – substitute at will for the latest boogeyman.

      • watson@sopuli.xyz
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        4 days ago

        Exactly. They’ll take any group and demonize the “other” just to have someone they can point fingers at. It’s all distraction. Sadly, trans people are the “other” of the moment. Historically, this shit doesn’t end well, and when they’re done with trans people they’ll “other” another group.

    • FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca
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      4 days ago

      They’re an easy target because they’re a small minority and it’s easy to convince people who aren’t educated in the subject that they’re doing harm by letting men into women’s spaces and making children change gender

    • Pratai@piefed.ca
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      2 days ago

      The ignorati believe that transfolk are grooming their little tax breaks. Which of course is wholly untrue. In fact, Christians are the only ones to have the god given right to groom not only their own larvae, but ALL parasites - foreign and domestic for the sole purpose to turn them into mindless and obedient hatemongers, just like their worshipped lord and savior.