We as members of the larger LGBTQ community are living in dangerous times. Prepare for the McCarthy era "Lavender Scare" all over again. The republicans in congress are proposing insidious bills to make us and our authentic lives illegal once again. Even if this bill does not pass, the animus behind it is palpable and real. These haters are NOT going away and they will not stop their hateful rhetoric and attempts to make LGBTQ lives a living hell.
Thanks to Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters for the alert:
Be aware that Congressperson Mike Johnson (La.) has/or will introduce a bill that is so broad as to make any LGBTQ discussion, dipiction or activity illegal. The definition of "sexually oriented material" (see highlighted) is all encompassing. This bill is ostensibly aimed at "drag queens" reading to children in public libraries, but is really a version of the Russian anti-LGBTQ law that has terrorized people in Russia and Chechnya.
I'm not sure if congressperson Johnson is aware that his bill can be used to target and repress heterosexuals as well as LGBTQs, but, while not its intent, it can perhaps be turned against them as well.
From Holy Bullies Blog: "Alejandra Caraballo, clinical instructor at the Harvard Law Cyberlaw Clinic, breaks down the damage Johnson's bill can do in a Twitter thread. According to her, should Johnson's bill become law:
"Universities, public schools, hospitals, medical clinics, etc. could all be defunded if they host any event discussing LGBTQ people and children could be present. The way they define "sexually oriented material" simply includes anything about LGBTQ people...
I can't overstate how radical the private right of action portion is. The bill is so broadly defined that a pediatric hospital could be sued for having a pride flag or a medical pamphlet about gender dysphoria. It deputizes anti-LGBTQ bigots to engage in bounty lawsuits."
These are the Co-sponsors of the bill:
5 comments:
"Don't say gay" society wide.
The GOP, after SCOTUS overturning Roe, is now emboldened to come for us.
Vote Blue as if your life depended on it, because it just might.
Republicans have gone from people I disagree with to people I don’t understand to people I loathe. The new Republican is lethal.
I've been saying ever since I started my blog back in the Bush era that the Republican Party is unfit to govern. In that time, they have gone from unfit to reprehensible to toxic. The current far right is a mass of foaming fanatics, a perversion of democracy and of religion: pure tribalism and hate, determined to rule by force.
They have gerrymandered the election districts in many red states to ensure a permanent legislative majority; they are actively seeking to take over local governments, school boards, and sheriff's offices with their candidates. They are slowly seizing power high and low, a slow-motion coup. These are Nazi tactics, communist tactics, dictatorial tactics, that the world has seen before in other places. Now it's happening in America.
How to stop this silent takeover? Nobody knows. I pray for President Biden every day - but he is too old to serve another term. Who is there on the Dem side who could be elected to lead? Who would command the support and respect of the whole country? I don't see anyone.
To be fair, I will say that there are some few Republicans who have not lost all sense and love of country over party. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger are two that come to mind. Perhaps the best thing that could happen is for the moderate, intelligent Republicans to split off from the insanity and start a new center-right party that appeals to the moderate middle of American voters. But who knows what will happen next. Scary times, and not just for gays!
P. S. - Forgot to say, I really don't think this bill can pass the Congress, it's just a publicity stunt.
But then, I didn't think shithead could possibly be elected in 2016. So what do I know.
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