About the insinuation from maga that any association with 'trans' or 'gay' or 'left' is a nefarious one

[bigtree]

...the right wing has been in virtual war with the 'left' over protecting their guns to the point that they want them in their hands when they die, insisting they need them to overthrow a government they disagree with.

But, there isn't any thread at all leading from any individual who's committed violent crimes to the trans community as a whole; their responsibility for their own actions is the same as with any individual who decides, outside of self-defense, to kill or harm others.

Moreover, republicans have never allowed anyone to claim they aren't responsible for their crimes, except the Jan. 6, Trump-supporting rioters who many claimed were misled by Trump into beating cops and trying to hang Mike Pence; or that idiot who took a gun to a march and shot and killed someone...

What happened to 'the shooter is responsible' refrain from republicans who regularly excuse guns which are inanimate until they are animated by an individual? It's a complete reversal from the 'party of personal responsibility' that's never regarded any a non-white person as a victim of circumstances.

But this coordinated effort by maga today to portray transsexualism as dangerous or inherently inclined to murder people, all for the benefit of their cynical campaign against Democrats, is the most demagogic bigotry ever waged against trans individuals.

This is a community of individuals already under withering attack:

Transgender victims of intimate partner violence have an increased rate of hospitalization, disability, and nursing home admissions, and a 300% increased risk of death (Gerontologist). The 2022 US Trans Survey found that about a quarter of respondents (24%) did not see a doctor when they needed to in the past year due to fear of mistreatment. Of those who did see a health care provider in the previous year, almost half (48%) reported having at least one negative experience because they were transgender, including being refused care, being misgendered, and having a provider use harsh or abusive language or be physically rough or abusive while treating them.

A British survey found 56% of transgender victims/survivors had mental health needs, including depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and self-harm. Only about a third of these were able to access mental health services to help support them. The 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey found that 41% of respondents reported having attempted suicide, compared to 1.6% of the general population. This rate rose even more for those who had lost a job due to bias (55%), were harassed/bullied in school (51%), had low household income, or were the victim of physical assault (61%) or sexual assault (64%).

Transgender and nonbinary victims are also often leery of seeking aid from law enforcement, reporting abuse, or attempting to gain legal protections from their abuser. Statistics show that there is bias and mistreatment of trans individuals in these areas. Per the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), more than a quarter (26.8%) of trans people reported experiencing physical force by police. 44.9% of trans respondents and 33.1% of nonbinary respondents reported experiencing insulting language by police. Almost one third of trans people (30.7%) have been arrested, compared with 13.6% of the general population. Many trans victims fear they will be blamed for domestic violence incidents or wrongfully arrested because of their gender identity or that they may be discriminated against, further victimized, or asked intrusive or offensive questions regarding their gender by the authorities from whom they seek help.

https://www.dvsn.org/transgender-nonbinary-violence/

There are no studies that evidence anything republicans are claiming about trans individuals, certainly no evidence that they are engaged in some violent vendetta against republicans.

No 'leftist' inclination or plot to harm or kill republicans, either, from people who the right regularly fights with about their aversion to guns and gun violence.

It's all bound to be very absurd to anyone who doesn't automatically regard people they know nothing personally or substantively about as inherently less moral or less responsible than their own sweet selves.

Yet, republicans today are caught up in their own delusions; afraid of their own projections, and too much in denial about their own complicity in these violent events that they're unable to do more than just be defensive and accusatory.

Some inspiration:

“Never forget that our joy, our pleasure, and the unique delight and connection we can find through our queer and trans identities are not only some of the things that will help us the most to get us through hard times, they're also some of our most powerful forms of rebellion.” —Heather Corinna (they/them) is a queer, agender author, Scarleteen founder, educator, activist and unabashed pleasure-seeker.

“Lead with compassion, for yourself, most importantly. You do not have to be on the vanguard, you do not always have to bear witness. Find the light - it is there. And remember, always, our people, our beautiful we - would not be this dangerous to them if we did not hold such power.” —Pan Ellington (they/them) is a writer, activist, outlaw and artist.

[canetoad]

1. Personally

I think they are preparing to 'undemonize' paedophillia as the worse possible crime and move their focus to trans folk. They seem to have more than their share of child molesters.

[leftstreet]

2. That's a good point

horrifying point, but that's where we are now...

[Jack Valentino]

3. .... which is why Democratic candidates ought to HAMMER the GOP for being child molesters,

and provide the LISTS in CAMPAIGN ADVERTISING!!!!


God knows, THEY would----
and DO, except they LIE and bring no evidence!

[bigtree]

6. it really is that stupid out there

...just this zeal to dominate, revealing deep insecurities.

People who are well-adjusted and personally secure don't behave the way the present day republican party has over the last decade.

[pat_k]

4. Hear! Hear! "Yet, republicans today are caught up in their own delusions; afraid of their own projections, and too..."

Yet, republicans today are caught up in their own delusions; afraid of their own projections, and too much in denial about their own complicity in these violent events

I think that a number of campaign advisors in the 2024 election cycle made a HORRIBLE mistake by advising virtual silence in response to the all out attack on trans people.

What we needed, and still desperately need, is more of our candidates and electeds to pay attention to the effective messaging set out --- and regularly updated -- in the "Freedom Over Fascism" toolkit.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s0JbXhND7-1iqABNcUNL031NQLxkLfr-USkCKGZTidI/mobilebasic

And specifically, the section on 'Freedom to Be Ourselves: Defeating MAGA’s Anti-Trans Attacks"
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g1LYqWv_DRgzEUgbQHla7NvWcPqtO64vzaNHasVJSNI/edit?tab=t.0

Here in WA, I've periodically called and emailed the offices of Pramila Jayapal, Patty Murray, and Maria Cantwell to thank them for recent statements I was proud of and to encourage them to help promote the messaging from the Freedom Over Fascism Toolkit among their colleagues in the U.S. House / U.S, Senate. (As well as some other lobbying I've posted here about, like the the desperate need for a joint House/Senate declaration listing the usurpations and abuses of our constitution being committed by the 47 regime.)

Whatever state you reside in, if your Democratic electeds at any level haven't been standing strong against the MAGA attacks on the LGBTQ people (or have been failing in any other area), Anat Shenker-Osorio's Freedom Over Fascism toolkit is a wonderful resource. Send links to the sections most relevant to the area you believe louder voices are needed. You can create a PDF of a given section and attach to an email.

[bigtree]

5. I'd guess that those folks never bothered to meet with anyone from those communities

...we need more outreach and whatever visibility these folks who are being marginalized and outright attacked and killed can afford or bear to get the message across that they ALL OF US and need our FULL AND ACTIVE support, not just for the moment, but an enduring focus and relationship.