Democratic candidates’ transphobia spells disaster for trans people | Xtra Magazine
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The Democratic party’s anti-trans heel turn could have drastic consequences beyond November’s midterms

Well, the Democratic party’s anti-trans heel turn that many people have long expected may finally be upon us. After years of trying to bully trans constituents and their allies on the left into accepting more anti-trans candidates—particularly in red and purple states—many major candidates broke to the right last week, coming out against a variety of trans freedoms.

  • tmyakal@infosec.pub
    114·
    2 days ago

    When Erin dropped that Guide to Anti-Trans Democrats last week, almost every bit of discourse I saw was about how trans voters should shut up and take it because the other side is worse.

    But it’s not. Maybe short-term, I guess, but long-term? If no party is opposed to transphobia, then transphobes win. The right takes more and more aggressive positions, and the left keeps moving right to attract a mythical “centrist.” Eventually, both parties will be trying to strip all my rights. Electing transphobes puts transphobes in power, regardless of if there’s a D or an R next to their name.

    The solution should not be to tell me to vote blue no matter who like I’m a toddler who won’t eat their vegetables. The solution is to go to these candidates and tell them you disagree with their rhetoric and their positions. Tell them that you support the trans people in your community and don’t appreciate seeing them thrown under the bus to attract a few votes. Even if you vote for them anyway, at least make sure they’re hearing the displeasure.

    I’m advocating for myself. I’ve called and written my congressman many times over the years. But I’m just one person advocating for a very small minority. The best way to help trans people is to step up for them, not to get mad at them for pointing out a serious, looming threat to their rights, health, and safety.

    • Arcanepotato@crazypeople.onlineEnglish
      9·
      2 days ago

      The article talks about this a bit too.

      In Iowa, a spokesperson for Josh Turek, the Dem candidate for Senate, made a statement to the New York Times, which stated, “Josh opposes taxpayer-funded sex changes, and anyone who says otherwise is lying.” The statement was in response to questions about a multimillion-dollar ad campaign by Elon Musk targeting Turek over trans rights. Presumably this would include Medicare and Medicaid, meaning Turek would support a Hyde Amendment-style (the federal law forbidding federal U.S. tax dollars to be used to fund abortions) ban for gender-affirming care.

      …

      With the state of the midterms right now, this will likely end up being the biggest Democratic midterm sweep in a generation. I think that at least one deep red state will shockingly elect a Democrat to the Senate this fall. But I keep coming back to Turek’s promise to ban federal dollars from being spent on any transition care.

      I have an idea for my american comrades who think criticism of the Dems is support for Trump: how about you give details on the grassroots support networks ($$$) you have established to mitigate harm when the lesser of two evils gets elected? What’s that? It’s not fair to ask you to sacrifice so the lesser evil can win?