Texas Republican files bill to ban almost all gender-affirming health care for adults—yes, adults

Daily Kos Staff

Friday February 24, 2023 · 1:19 PM PST

2023/02/24 · 13:19

Trans Rights activists hold placards while taking part in the "Furies against Fascism" counter protest to the "Let Women Speak" rally in Glasgow, on February 5, 2023. - Transgender issues are in the spotlight in Scotland after its devolved government passed legislation in December to make it easier for people to self-identify their gender.Some feminist activists criticised the Scottish legislation precisely because they feared it would allow sexual predators to gain access to women-only spaces, despite provisions in the text. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP) (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Trans news continues to be overwhelmingly bleak and grim, thanks in no small part to Republicans—and the moderates who humor them. Trans folks already face disproportionate levels of violence, live with higher reported rates of depression and suicidal ideation, and are more likely to become homeless and drop out of high school without a diploma. And that’s been the case before the recent onslaught of anti-trans legislation coming out of conservatives.

The big angles are the ones most readers of Daily Kos are already familiar with: sports, health care, and bathrooms. All three are still (sadly) part of the Republican talking guide, but they’ve expanded into fresh versions of hate, like insidious book bans and Don’t Say Gay bills. It’s a scary time, and progressives need to get on board in this very real and necessary fight.

One recent example if you’re looking to get involved: We need eyes on Texas right now.

Thanks to SB 1029—filed by Republican state Sen. Bob Hall of Texas, who has a history of outrageous beliefs—there’s a considerable chance almost all forms of safe and age-appropriate gender-affirming health care will be made illegal in the state. And that includes trans adults. In fact, it not only covers both youth and adults but even nonsurgical treatments. The legislation also seeks to allow medical malpractice lawsuits for life against providers and insurers who cover gender-affirming care.

For emphasis: This anti-trans health care bill isn't seeking to only bar youth from safe, age-appropriate health care. It’s seeking to stop adults from accessing it, too.

Marissa Higgins

Daily Kos Staff

Friday February 24, 2023 · 10:42 AM PST

2023/02/24 · 10:42

Alaska Republican state Rep. David Eastman, standing, speaks on the House floor on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Juneau Alaska. Alaska House leaders have backed away from a proposal to strip committee assignments from Eastman, who has acknowledged being a member of the far-right organization Oath Keepers, and for now plan to hold at least one hearing on the group. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Republicans are always happy to reach a new low. This statement feels like an evergreen opening to most news-related articles, and I stand by it! In this case, as reported by the BBC, a Republican lawmaker serving in Alaska has been censured for asking if child abuse and neglect that result in literal death could be a “benefit to society.”

During a Monday, Feb. 20, Alaska House Judiciary Committee hearing on the long-term effects of child abuse, Republican Rep. David Eastman framed his little question by pontificating as follows:

“In the case where child abuse is fatal, obviously it’s not good for the child. But it’s actually a benefit to society because there aren’t needs for government services and whatnot over the whole course of that child’s life?”

Ghoulish! On Wednesday, his peers in the Alaska House of Representatives voted 35-1 to censure him. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Eastman—who, if you were wondering, is quite the Trump fan—was the dissenter.

Marissa Higgins

Daily Kos Staff

Thursday February 23, 2023 · 2:16 PM PST

2023/02/23 · 14:16

NORWICH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 17: A protester wearing a white unicorn's headpiece joins protesters supporting drag queen Titania Trust reading to children on August 17, 2022 in Norwich, England. The library readings have been controversial with a number of events cancelled around the country due to protests outside. (Photo by Martin Pope/Getty Images)

We know Republicans have been fighting hard to silence openly LGBTQ+ folks and allies on both the state and federal levels. Conservatives have pushed—with varying degrees of success, mind you—bills that seek to bar trans and nonbinary youth from receiving safe and age-appropriate gender-affirming health care, from playing on the sports teams that align with their gender identity, and of course, from using the damn bathroom. It’s an ongoing nightmare, and somehow, that’s not all Republicans are working with.

Daily Kos continues to cover the ongoing efforts to pull books by and about people of color and LGBTQ+ folks from public school classrooms and libraries, usually under the vague guise of “parental consent” and “parental rights.” The idea that queer folks are inherently “inappropriate” or “obscene” is rooted in the notion that queer people are uniquely and intrinsically sexual and predatory, which is (obviously) not the case. But that logic is part of the reason Tennessee Republicans are making headway with bills that seek to ban drag shows from not only public spaces but anywhere that could be viewed by a minor.

(Yes, really.)

RELATED: Teacher in favor of book bans faces allegations of homophobic and racist remarks from past students

Marissa Higgins

Daily Kos Staff

Thursday February 23, 2023 · 12:29 PM PST

2023/02/23 · 12:29

CLEARWATER, FL - NOVEMBER 05: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gives a campaign speech during the Unite & Win Rally at the OCC Roadhouse & Museum on November 5, 2022 in Clearwater, Florida. DeSantis continues campaigning against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist ahead of the midterm elections on November 8th. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is building his campaign in curious ways. He loves parental rights and parental consent when it comes to controlling LGBTQ+ people (and especially youth) but not when it comes to, say, wearing masks to protect against COVID-19. From the outside looking in, it seems safe to say he’s well aware of how popular and effective anti-LGBTQ+ platforms are within his party; we’ve seen enough copycat hate bills popping up around the country to recognize a pattern.

The DeSantis administration is perhaps more than anything excited to diminish the presence of LGBTQ+ people in schools and public places in general, whether it’s trans girls playing sports, trans folks accessing safe and age-appropriate health care at all, or youth attending family-friendly drag shows with their parents. And that doesn’t even address his efforts to derail Advanced Placement courses and the SAT/ACT college admission exams in order to *squints* take a jab at the College Board.

If there’s a party that should know intimately well what constitutes a hoax—say, furries getting littterboxes in classrooms, for example—it’s Republicans. And yet DeSantis seems intent on misusing the word. Let’s look at his recent spiel about book bans and media “hoaxes,” and narrow in on his language. It’s, as always, revealing!

Marissa Higgins

Daily Kos Staff

Wednesday February 22, 2023 · 11:12 AM PST

2023/02/22 · 11:12

This photo taken on March 21, 2014 shows a boy reading a book during a visit to the "neighbourhood library" along a street in the financial district of Manila. In a lower-middle class neighbourhood of the country's financial district lies a public library run by Hernando Guanlao, a pensioner and former accountant for a government agency. AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE / AFP / TED ALJIBE (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images)

Republicans are going after books just in time for the 2024 presidential election, because of course they are. Conservatives are trying to see what issue gets their constituents the most riled up and have (unfortunately) seen some considerable movement with their anti-trans and anti-queer bills across the country. As Daily Kos continues to cover, we’re seeing anti-trans sports bills and health care bills be signed into law (or come dangerously close) and some families are already trying to relocate so their trans and nonbinary youth can have the best possible quality of life and resources. But not everyone can afford or access that kind of change, and frankly, no one should have to.

Book ban efforts are absolutely hand in hand with other anti-queer legislations, even if they appear a little different on the surface. Conservatives have been decrying books by and about LGBTQ+ folks and people of color with a fresh gusto, including via groups like Moms for Liberty and local school councils and elections. Some governors, like Republican Ron DeSantis of Florida, have made it extremely clear they’re happy to get these allegedly “inappropriate” and “obscene” books out of public school classrooms and libraries, but the reality is there’s nothing inappropriate or innately sexual about simply being queer.

Speaking of Florida, we have a fresh insight into how book bans are going in what DeSantis is trying to turn into a state of hate. As reported by LGBTQ Nation, Vickie Bagget—a high school English teacher who has taught for several decades—has submitted 148 out of 150 book challenges being reviewed by the school district this year alone. And former students are alleging Bagget has made racist and anti-queer statements in the past, even prior to book ban discourse taking hold of the nation.

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Arkansas Republican asks openly trans doctor about her genitals during committee hearing

Marissa Higgins

Daily Kos Staff

Tuesday February 21, 2023 · 12:56 PM PST

2023/02/21 · 12:56

A placard is pictured during the "Furies against Fascism" counter protest to the "Let Women Speak" rally in Glasgow, on February 5, 2023. - Transgender issues are in the spotlight in Scotland after its devolved government passed legislation in December to make it easier for people to self-identify their gender.Some feminist activists criticised the Scottish legislation precisely because they feared it would allow sexual predators to gain access to women-only spaces, despite provisions in the text. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP) (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

As anyone who follows the LGBTQ+ news beat knows well, it’s … grim out here. Republicans are wasting no time pushing hateful and discriminatory anti-queer and anti-trans legislations across the nation, and while some are thankfully fading out in committees, others are moving along just fine. And that includes making their way to the desks of Republican governors, some of whom are clearly eying a certain presidential campaign in 2024. (Hi, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.)

Unfortunately, not all of these bills get enough national mainstream media coverage. Even worse, the coverage tends to go into the “both sides” territory that ultimately amplifies harmful right-wing talking points and debunked conspiracy theories. The media is not without fault or guilt here—when we treat everyone’s “opinion” like it’s based on anything but hate, we’re quietly giving the okay for others to repeat the same.

I cringe watching Gwendolyn Herzig, an openly trans doctor of pharmacy and pharmacy owner, be rudely questioned about her genitals while testifying against SB 199 in the state Senate Judiciary Committee in Arkansas. Arkansas State Sen. Matt McKee, a Republican, decided to try to humiliate her and derail her testimony by focusing on her genitals, and while she handled the situation with grace, it’s still incredibly dehumanizing and disturbing.

It’s painful, humiliating, and should have never happened. We should have never let it get this far. And this isn’t even the only anti-trans health care bill hanging in the balance; in fact, it’s far from it.

RELATED STORY: Florida substitute fired after video of empty bookshelves goes viral—and gets Republican attention

Marissa Higgins

Daily Kos Staff

Monday February 20, 2023 · 4:03 PM PST

2023/02/20 · 16:03

Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis waves to supporters at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 19, 2022. (Photo by Wade Vandervort / AFP) (Photo by WADE VANDERVORT/AFP via Getty Images)

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is once again spending his time stomping down on vulnerable folks. In this instance, as reported by The Washington Post, the substitute teacher who went viral for posting a video of empty bookshelves in a middle school library has been fired. Why? Brian Covey, a substitute teacher at Mandarin Middle School, says he has been fired over violating a cellphone and social media policy. What’s notable here is that DeSantis referred to the same viral video as a “fake narrative” during a recent press conference.

“That video, that was a fake narrative, that was not true,” DeSantis said at the press conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Seemingly without clarifying who “they” refers to, DeSantis said, “they’re trying to act like somehow we don’t want books.”

Given that the DeSantis administration is pushing book bans and anti-LGBTQ+ laws under the guise of “parental rights” and “parental consent,” it’s actually totally logical why people are acting like he doesn’t want books. (Because that’s how he is acting: like he doesn’t want books, or at least, not certain kinds of books.)

The Duval County Public School district confirmed to local outlet First Coast News in a statement that Covey had been let go because of his social media. It took about three weeks between Covey posting the video on Jan. 27 and his termination.

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DeSantis considers replacing SAT exams with 'Christian' alternative that focuses on white guys

Marissa Higgins

Daily Kos Staff

Monday February 20, 2023 · 10:21 AM PST

2023/02/20 · 10:21

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 20: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis waves as he speaks to police officers about protecting law and order at Prive catering hall on February 20, 2023 in the Staten Island borough of New York City. DeSantis, a Republican, is expected by many to announce his candidacy for president in the coming weeks or months. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

If you ever told yourself that Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis would stop with his insidious Don’t Say Gay legislation, I’m sorry to report that he certainly has not stopped, and in fact shows no signs of slowing down his brigade of hate. And that’s part of why it’s so important to cover each and every anti-queer and anti-trans bit of legislation Republicans put forward; they seem outrageous and impossible to become reality until they don’t. And then more and more far-reaching bills and plans pop up.

What’s next? As reported by the Miami Herald, the Department of Education for the state of Florida has met with the folks who created the Classical Learning Test (CLT) with an eye toward switching public school students from the SAT and ACT to the CLT. The CLT, which is mostly used by homeschoolers and some private schools, is a standardized test aimed at middle and high schoolers. The SAT and ACT are college entrance exams often (but not always) required for college admission.

Why the possible change? Well, DeSantis is apparently worried the College Board is too woke … and the College Board is frustrated by the “slander” coming from the state’s Department of Education that suggested the AP African studies course doesn’t have enough educational value, per a statement released on Feb. 11. So, of course, DeSantis is seemingly responding by going to war with the people who administer college entrance tests, because why not?

He seemingly has no problem toppling Florida’s education system if it means getting him a better chance at the 2024 presidential run.

Marissa Higgins

Daily Kos Staff

Thursday February 16, 2023 · 1:14 PM PST

2023/02/16 · 13:14

Pennsylvania Democratic Senatorial candidate John Fetterman waves as he arrives onstage at a watch party during the midterm elections at Stage AE in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 8, 2022. - President Joe Biden's party picked up a first seat in the upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday as Democrat John Fetterman defeated celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania, media projections showed. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Mental health is (unfortunately) an extremely stigmatized subject here in the United States. For far too long, folks have written off serious health conditions like depression and anxiety as people being whiny or lazy. In reality, mental health can be—and is—just as debilitating as physical health. It’s just as important when it comes to quality of life. And that can be especially true if you live with marginalized identities or barriers to accessible and affordable mental health care and treatment.

With this in mind, it really is brave and inspiring of Democratic Sen. John Fetterman to share the reason he’s voluntarily checked himself into the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, as of Wednesday night, as reported by CNN.

According to a statement from his Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson, Fetterman, who is a freshman senator for Pennsylvania, checked himself into the facility in order to “receive treatment for clinical depression.”

RELATED STORY: J.K. Rowling is the last person who needs a defense in The New York Times, and yet here we are

Marissa Higgins

Daily Kos Staff

Thursday February 16, 2023 · 10:19 AM PST

2023/02/16 · 10:19

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 29: J.K. Rowling arrives at the "Fantastic Beasts: The Secret of Dumbledore" world premiere at The Royal Festival Hall on March 29, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

As Daily Kos covered on Wednesday, contributors, subscribers, and general readers of The New York Times were invited to sign an open letter calling upon the paper to do better by and for the trans community. This doesn’t mean turning into an overtly pro-trans rights outlet (though, boy, do I ever wish that were the case!) but simply doing better and more accurate coverage and hiring more openly trans writers and editors. The Times has come under fire again and again for publishing op-eds on trans rights that are heavily biased or missing important information or context… which, for the Times, is an especially glaring issue.

Why? Because The Times is quite literally referenced by lawmakers weighing these anti-trans bills we’ve continued to cover here, when it comes to access to health care and sports, among other issues. The Times has long cultivated its reputation for being non-partisan, based on facts, and without opinion bleeding into reporting. And yet when it comes to trans rights, the paper has continued to publish work that—compared to its otherwise strict guidelines—isn’t up to snuff, even with the mindset that it’s an op-ed.

The research is messy, folks in marginalized communities aren’t getting the same space on the page, and frankly, it’s not clear what they’re gaining if they’re not pushing an unofficial agenda. Rage clicks? Well, okay. But people’s lives are on the line here, literally.

So, bumping us back up to the latest news. The open letter got some major traction with signatories including authors, journalists, celebrities, and folks like little old me (proud NewsGuild member!) adding our names. The letter went viral on Wednesday. And on Thursday…. we have yet another hideously anti-trans piece in defense of J.K. Rowling written by op-ed columnist Pamela Paul. Yes, really.

There are many layers here, so let’s dig in below to get at Rowling’s history on trans issues (hint: not good!), as well as the Times’ coverage, and the very real violence against trans folks that should be central to these conversations.

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Hundreds of contributors are calling out The New York Times for its transphobia in an open letter

Marissa Higgins

Daily Kos Staff

Wednesday February 15, 2023 · 9:21 AM PST

2023/02/15 · 09:21

CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Trans Rights protesters march through the city centre one holding a sign saying More Trans Kids Less Dead Kids on January 28, 2023 in Cambridge, England. The government at Westminster has intervened and decided to use section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 to veto the Gender Recognition (Scotland) Bill and stop it proceeding to Royal Assent. The Act aimed to make it simpler for people to change their legal gender. (Photo by Martin Pope/Getty Images)

Here at Daily Kos, we do our very best to cover trans issues with a progressive lens that ultimately centers trans and nonbinary voices, especially when it comes to research, debates, and activism movements. Unfortunately, not all media outlets make it clear they’re writing from a place of progress and solidarity—the dreaded “both sides” framing comes up again and again, even though trans rights are literal human rights.

One outlet continues to face criticism for its ongoing coverage of trans issues, and in my opinion, for good reason. Which one? The good old New York Times. The Times has faced (valid) backlash again and again for publishing op-eds filled to the brim with transphobia and misinformation, and because the Times does have considerable public sway via name recognition alone, the repeated centering of anti-trans voices (even if opinion pieces) unfortunately carries a lot of weight.

But people are really joining together to make a unified stand. On Wednesday, more than 180 contributors to the Times published an open letter calling out the problems with the Times’ coverage, as covered at BuzzFeed News. Signers of the letter include cis, trans, and nonbinary folks who are activists, writers, past and former contributors to the Times, and some major celebrities. The Freelance Solidarity Project (a group of freelance writers) helped write the letter.

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Republican governor signs anti-queer bill into law, banning gender-affirming care for trans youth

Marissa Higgins

Daily Kos Staff

Tuesday February 14, 2023 · 8:37 AM PST

2023/02/14 · 08:37

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Members of the public counterprotest against a Standing for Women event attended by anti-transgender-rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen on February 05, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. Keen, also known as Posie Parker, is the founder of Standing for Women, which opposes gender-recognition policies like the one recently passed by Scottish parliament. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

It’s a sad, sad day in South Dakota, thanks to Republican Gov. Kristi Noem signing a regressive, restrictive anti-queer and anti-trans bill into law. On Monday, Noem signed HB 1080 (misleadingly titled the “Help Not Harm” bill, which we’ll dig into shortly) into law, a bill that bans safe and age-appropriate gender-affirming health care for trans and nonbinary youth. It specifically bars surgeries related to gender transition (relatively rare, if given at all, under 18) in addition to puberty blockers and hormonal therapies. The law, like others like it, also threatens health care providers who try to do the right thing by threatening them with losing their medical licenses and facing civil lawsuits if they provide the care anyway.

And here’s the thing: As Daily Kos continues to cover, gender-affirming care is health care. It is lifesaving care. All major medical associations back age-appropriate gender-affirming care—and the “age-appropriate” bit matters, because unlike what Republicans are yelling about, little kids are not waltzing in anywhere and getting surgeries at the drop of the hat. It’s simply not happening. Gender-affirming care can include things like puberty blockers, but can also be as noninvasive physically as encouraging the use of pronouns that differ from those assigned at birth. Gender-affirming care can be mental health care and social support, too!

With that in mind, unfortunately the bill has still been signed into law. First, the state House voted to advance the bill in a 60-10 vote, and then the state Senate voted 30-4 last week to send it to Noem’s desk. Noem’s support of the law isn’t at all surprising as she’s long been an anti-trans supporter of “fairness” in girls and women's sports, and, in fact, already signed SB 46 into law back in 2022, which bans trans girls from participating in girls’ sports teams.

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Texas Republican files bill to ban almost all gender-affirming health care for adults—yes, adults

Trump-loving Republican said something awful enough that his peers actually voted to censure him

Tennessee governor to weigh anti-queer bill that seeks to ban drag shows from public spaces

Florida Man rants about media crafting a 'narrative' about a 'book ban hoax'

Teacher in favor of book bans faces allegations of homophobic and racist remarks from past students

Arkansas Republican asks openly trans doctor about her genitals during committee hearing

Florida substitute fired after video of empty bookshelves goes viral—and gets Republican attention

DeSantis considers replacing SAT exams with 'Christian' alternative that focuses on white guys

Sen. John Fetterman checks himself into Walter Reed for clinical depression treatment

J.K. Rowling is the last person who needs a defense in The New York Times, and yet here we are

Hundreds of contributors are calling out The New York Times for its transphobia in an open letter

Republican governor signs anti-queer bill into law, banning gender-affirming care for trans youth