First they came for the transgenders, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not transgender.
Then they came for the drag queens, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a drag queen.
Then they came for gay marriages, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not in a gay marriage.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
The Republican/MAGA/Evangelical gang are hell-bent on cleansing the USA of all vestiges of LGBQT+. You do not have to look far to see they are passing laws and issuing rules and regulations against transgender kids, transgender adults and drag queens and they are counting on the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the decision that legalized gay marriage.
Who’s next?
Do you know that crossdressing was illegal in most jurisdictions of the USA in the past?
According to Wikipedia:
...from 1840 forward, United States saw state and city laws forbidding people from appearing in public while dressed in clothes that do not associate with their assigned sex. The goal of this wave of policies was to create a tool that would enforce a normative gender narrative, targeting multiple gender identities across the gender spectrum. With the progression of time, styles, and societal trends, it became even more difficult to draw the line between what was cross-dressing or not. Only recently have these laws changed. As recently as 2011, it was still possible for a man to get arrested for “impersonating a woman” — a vestige of the 19th century laws. Even with this, legal issues surrounding cross-dressing perpetuated all throughout the mid 20th century. During this time period, police would often reference laws that did not exist or laws that have been repealed in order to target the LGBTQ+ community.
Although those laws have been repealed in many jurisdictions, they may still be on the books in other jurisdictions. In either case, in the current political/social climate, it would not be hard to reenact those laws or begin enforcing those laws that are still on the books.
The bathroom laws that have been passed in some jurisdictions are just the tip of the bucket that is full of potential anti-crossdressing legislation that the Republican/MAGA/Evangelical gang have ready when they decide to go after us.
Be scared, very scared! And don't just sit on your hands while they go after our LGBTQ+ sisters and brothers. Speak up and vote that gang out of office.
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| Wearing Nanette Lepore |
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| A ladies’ room selfie |
A great post!!!!! So needed!!!!! Thanks
ReplyDeleteThe words of Martin Niemoller a German Lutheran pastor who resisted Hitler immediately came to mind when I heard of DeSantis latest expression of bigotry. Thanks for giving them an unfortunate modern turn
ReplyDeleteI must have missed something, what was DeSantis latest expression of bigotry?
DeleteScary times indeed. It is getting to the point where one needs to live in a state that aligns with your own political views.
ReplyDeleteI have often said people need to research their state and municipal laws when it relates to sexual minorities. Laws may not protect a person from an individual's hate, but the legal outcome may be somewhat different for the aggressor. Now parents of trans kids can join with Pro-Choice women in seeking health care out of their oppressive states.
DeleteWe live in a world where we are told to fear THE OTHER, someone who we can see is not like us. Instead of trying to know the person who is different than we are, we are give a message that if we try to understand them, they will make us like them. Confusing? Sure, it takes a little effort to know or understand why a person is the person they are but it is easy to think if not like me they have to be wrong or even worse, bad. Please continue to point out or at least make known why some who choose to be "different" Education is the opposite of fear, acceptance is the opposite of rejecting. It's too bad those that do not understand the various issues you raise do not read or come to know the articles you write. Still let those that do, know there is a safe place to find acceptance in who they are. As they maybe THE OTHER there is a voice listening to who they are and accept them without fear.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that the Evangelical herd has choosen to reject the words of their own religion: Matthew 7:1-3 "Judge not, that ye be not judged."
ReplyDeleteYou can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time.
Yep. Don't you dare tell those hard-core conservatives what to do. They have their rights! But put them in charge and what do they do? They not only tell "those others" what to do, they pass laws to make what we do illegal! Hypocrites? Yes indeed! Those evangelicals aren't "turn the other cheek" people, they're aggressive and are armed and ready to "smite"..
ReplyDeleteThey weren't able to keep the blacks down, but they sure tried. Then they worked hard at keeping the gays down, but eventually weren't able to do that either. But trans and crossdressing people are a small minority with very little overall support, which makes us a good target for the conservative/evangelical crowd -- and they're working it hard. Like Stana says, we have to stay focused and fight back against their aggression. If they're successful against us, there's the opening they want to go after the whole LGBTQ community. And don't forget, Associate Justice Thomas has signaled he wants the chance to overturn the Gay Marriage decision!
Boy that femulator looks a lot like me. She's not, but the similarity is striking.
ReplyDeleteBet you didn't know you have a doppelganger!
DeleteRemember it was the NYC Police enforcing these very laws against cross dressing that started the Stonewall riots, which kicked off the LGBT fightback in the USA.
ReplyDeleteWe are also feeling very much under attack here in the UK, but mercifully it's quite hard to enact fresh restrictive laws.
I’ve ventured into the Ladies room one time and that was during my one public crossdressing adventure. I’d built up enough courage to attend a Tri-Ess gathering. I rented a hotel room at the venue so that I could transform in private. I spent an hour and a half turning myself into a woman. On that blustery January night I wore a black wool skirt, pantyhose, slip, and lovely gray turtle necked sweater. I savored being completely dressed up as a girl!
ReplyDeleteAt the meeting I tried to see how I fit in with the other ladies. Some appeared to be similar to me in that we were new to being in public and timid about it, and almost embarrassed to be there. Others struck me as militant and presented an “in your face” attitude that I could not relate to. I remember one who said to me, “F my wife. She can stick it if she doesn’t approve.”
That wasn’t how I felt.
I did wander into the ladies room, but was too intimidated to use the facilities because I was so afraid I wouldn’t bunch up my skirt enough to keep it clean.
I stayed for about two and half hours and quietly exited to return to my room to transform myself back into a man and drove home. While I felt exhilarated for having had the nerve to appear in that safe public environment I couldn’t help feeling as though I’d disappointed my wife who did not know that that was where I was that evening.
That was the only time I have ever voluntarily dressed up as a woman in public and went into a ladies room.