Email or call your state senator and representative telling them you oppose taking civil rights from transgender people. Unless we let them know they believe Iowans support taking away rights.
Perhaps our Legislators include no one trained as a physician or veterinarian who can take them aside and explain intersex realities? This bill is so incredibly narrow-minded….
Once again you have provided us with on the spot, live coverage for people to immediately act on. This is truly democracy in action. Thank you for your diligent reporting.
As a registered nurse, I can validate that there have been any number of patients for whom I have cared that have illnesses that make them unable to produce ova or sperm. Does that mean they are no longer male or female? Does that mean they have no right to call themselves what they were at birth? This legislative crap is not a slippery slope but a mudslide with the Republican led legislatures of Iowa and that creature in the governor’s office standing at the top opening the gates with a smile.
There is no Republican Party in the traditional sense. Just one way of thinking or advocacy, and that is the Reynolds-Trump/Musk manifesto. One mind (MAGA), two gender recognition, one newly minted branch of government, two Presidents (one elected; maybe), and apparently several million people who are superfluous and whose lives are subject to scrutiny or indifference.
Is anyone other than those complicit with this nonsense, willing to admit they voted for this?
While these Republican political identity politics do increase hate, dehumanize people, and distract from real issues, the intention is actually power. In about 5 years, very intentional political efforts moved the needle to move the majority of Americans to favor "protecting" girls (youth) from the threat of transgender girls in sports and other fear based messages to protect women and girls. The political strategy so far has been effective in maintaining and building extreme conservative Republican power. Diana Goetsch who Bob quotes has done some of the best work in the country in unpacking the intentionality of those politics. If we want to win back power from Radical Republicans in Iowa, we can't avoid the attacks on transgender Iowans. We have to lean in to the politics of inclusion and justice. The consequences of these laws is hate, discrimination, and violence. But the goal of these efforts is to maintain radical White Christian Nationalist power.
Agree- There are respectful ways to address the challenges in sports, etc
And I also love Disturbed’s version of The Sounds of Silence. I was driving home from church (small denomination, but one that recognizes the “worth of ALL persons”) when I heard their version for the first time. I had to pull over. Thank you for your voice of reason and compassion.
I heard Holt on River to River and he said the bill was aimed at stopping what he termed "toxic masculinity", his definition of trans women playing sports. In co-opting this term, he did an excellent job of demonstrating the real definition of toxic masculinity.
It’s a distraction. If they manage to occupy the public’s attention with anti-trans activities, then they are able to carry out the rollback of social provisions without people noticing or protesting.
Flood the zone with bathroom bills and no-one notices the healthcare changes.
Clever.
Per Rachel Maddow ‘watch what they do, not what they say’. She’s right.
I have long been involved with this issue due to my interest in animals including our very diverse human population. I'm not quite sure what created the fear of some present day Iowa Republicans but they are doing a good job of showing their ignorance and making me wish I could relive the 60's.
Iowans added gender identity as a protected class in 2007 ~ nearly two decades ago.
Now this is a top priority for elected officials. I don't get it.
Creating enemies and scapegoats. Sadly.
I’m good with fuck you fascists, bugger off you bigots, could probably come up with some others I shouldn’t type out here.
With apologies to Animal House - Fascist, bigoted, and transphobic is no way to go through life, legislators.
Thanks for writing this Bob.
Email or call your state senator and representative telling them you oppose taking civil rights from transgender people. Unless we let them know they believe Iowans support taking away rights.
Once gain they are wrong- https://genetic.org/variations/
Thank you.
Perhaps our Legislators include no one trained as a physician or veterinarian who can take them aside and explain intersex realities? This bill is so incredibly narrow-minded….
Thank you to those showed up and spoke up. Thank you, Bob Leonard for your coverage and your courage to speak truth. ❤️
Once again you have provided us with on the spot, live coverage for people to immediately act on. This is truly democracy in action. Thank you for your diligent reporting.
Good to see you Monday. I was so moved to chant in Solidarity with those below us, "Trans Rights Are Human Rights." Love to all who showed up,
xo,
Cynthia (Mother of a trans person who is very much loved and accepted by their family.)
As a registered nurse, I can validate that there have been any number of patients for whom I have cared that have illnesses that make them unable to produce ova or sperm. Does that mean they are no longer male or female? Does that mean they have no right to call themselves what they were at birth? This legislative crap is not a slippery slope but a mudslide with the Republican led legislatures of Iowa and that creature in the governor’s office standing at the top opening the gates with a smile.
Thanks, Tom.
There is no Republican Party in the traditional sense. Just one way of thinking or advocacy, and that is the Reynolds-Trump/Musk manifesto. One mind (MAGA), two gender recognition, one newly minted branch of government, two Presidents (one elected; maybe), and apparently several million people who are superfluous and whose lives are subject to scrutiny or indifference.
Is anyone other than those complicit with this nonsense, willing to admit they voted for this?
While these Republican political identity politics do increase hate, dehumanize people, and distract from real issues, the intention is actually power. In about 5 years, very intentional political efforts moved the needle to move the majority of Americans to favor "protecting" girls (youth) from the threat of transgender girls in sports and other fear based messages to protect women and girls. The political strategy so far has been effective in maintaining and building extreme conservative Republican power. Diana Goetsch who Bob quotes has done some of the best work in the country in unpacking the intentionality of those politics. If we want to win back power from Radical Republicans in Iowa, we can't avoid the attacks on transgender Iowans. We have to lean in to the politics of inclusion and justice. The consequences of these laws is hate, discrimination, and violence. But the goal of these efforts is to maintain radical White Christian Nationalist power.
Agree- There are respectful ways to address the challenges in sports, etc
And I also love Disturbed’s version of The Sounds of Silence. I was driving home from church (small denomination, but one that recognizes the “worth of ALL persons”) when I heard their version for the first time. I had to pull over. Thank you for your voice of reason and compassion.
Time to cut their per diem and send them home when they start making up stupid stuff to do.
I heard Holt on River to River and he said the bill was aimed at stopping what he termed "toxic masculinity", his definition of trans women playing sports. In co-opting this term, he did an excellent job of demonstrating the real definition of toxic masculinity.
Oh my.
It’s a distraction. If they manage to occupy the public’s attention with anti-trans activities, then they are able to carry out the rollback of social provisions without people noticing or protesting.
Flood the zone with bathroom bills and no-one notices the healthcare changes.
Clever.
Per Rachel Maddow ‘watch what they do, not what they say’. She’s right.
I have long been involved with this issue due to my interest in animals including our very diverse human population. I'm not quite sure what created the fear of some present day Iowa Republicans but they are doing a good job of showing their ignorance and making me wish I could relive the 60's.