W. VA Legislator Introduces Bill Defining Being Publicly Trans "Obscene Matter"

[Carolyn Marie]

https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/01/west-virginia-legislator-introduces-bills-classifying-transgender-people-as-obscene-matter-and-ban-gender-affirming-care-for-people-under-21/

 

Just when you think R's can't get any more ridiculous or nasty, they prove you wrong.  Case in point ^ ^

 

Carolyn Marie

[VickySGV]

Driving on those "Country Roads" of song fame evidently has an effect on the spinal columns of those who do it along with attached nerve ganglion's up further in the head.  The guy has nothing else to show in the area of leadership and public responsibility. 

[Betty K]

I am gobsmacked at the out-and-out ridiculousness of these bills. They’re getting worse and worse. 

[KatieSC]

Wow! Clearly I had no idea that the transgender THREAT was this great in West Virginia. I can only imagine they will need to post signs regarding "transgender free zone" around the schools. I can just imagine that police radio now, "respond to a reported sighting of a transgender male/female walking in vicinity of the elementary school." 

 

The more amazing thing is that some morons voted for this politician. I read this stuff, and I wonder just how this all ends. 

[KathyLauren]

2 hours ago, KatieSC said:

I wonder just how this all ends. 

 

We know how it ended in 1945.  The only question is who will the "allies" be this time? 

[Charlize]

Somehow as i live my life i simply do not feel that i am obscene.  These people live in a sick fantasy world.  

I plan to vote!

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Ivy]

8 hours ago, Carolyn Marie said:

Just when you think R's can't get any more ridiculous or nasty, they prove you wrong.

They're competing with each other to be the most anti-trans politician.  It's a badge of honor in the Republican Party now.

 

They've already said they want our complete eradication.  Nice folks.

We don't have to actually do anything.  Us simply being alive is offensive to them.  It feels like a set-up for "V for Vendetta."

[KatieSC]

3 hours ago, KathyLauren said:

 

We know how it ended in 1945.  The only question is who will the "allies" be this time? 

Yeah, but somehow, I almost wonder if there are some folks in this world that seeming admire Hitler, and want to outdo his awful deeds. Could there possibly be someone that vile...Oh, that's right...

[awkward-yet-sweet]

I think this bill can be fought on 1st Amendment grounds.  A famous case that is relevant is Tinker vs. Des Moines.  It was determined that a student had the right to political expression through dress (in this case a black anti-war armband) even at school.  Clothing can't be called "obscene" simply because somebody else doesn't like it, and obscenity usually has a specific legal definition.  I guess in these bills they want to change the definition, but there will be a pretty high bar to defending that in court. 

 

Also, the bill involves the legal concept of the "average person."  I see that idea show up in self-defense law.  How does the "average person" see a situation?  Is the "average person" likely to feel threatened?  It can be difficult to measure that, although researchers might do polling as a way of coming up with an "average" viewpoint.  I suspect that if such polling is done, the average person on the street won't be nearly as anti-trans or restrictive as these politicians.  As written, the bill is a bit vague.  Clarification could nullify much of what the bill intends. 

[awkward-yet-sweet]

On 1/13/2024 at 5:03 AM, KatieSC said:

 I can only imagine they will need to post signs regarding "transgender free zone" around the schools. I can just imagine that police radio now, "respond to a reported sighting of a transgender male/female walking in vicinity of the elementary school."

 

Let's not give them ideas...I can see that one happening.  We're already hearing about people getting harassed for "looking transgender" when they aren't.  A cis woman who looks "slightly-too-masculine" in face or build could be at risk these days.  

 

While I hate to draw too many parallels to 30s/40s Germany, I wonder when we'll see a classification system of colored patches for clothing show up.   

[Ivy]

They'll probably just go back to the 3 article rule.  

[KatieSC]

I wonder if they will form a special police unit to track us down, you know like those protection squads in Germany during WW II. I think they called them the Schutzstaffel. Then again, maybe they will be like the police unit in the movie Blade Runner, and we will be like the blade runners. An exciting future awaits. 

 

I wonder what the other states will enact in order to outperform WV?

[Charleigh Dakota]

Makes me wonder what these bitter old rich men/women (to keep this PG rated) will do not if...but when...someone in their own families, maybe even their own children come out as part of the LGBTQ+ community,  but especially as Trans. Whether politicians like it or not, we are here, we are staying and we will not be swayed by their ignorance and imagined threat to their own masculinity/femininity.

 

We are humans like everyone else and we have the same rights as everyone else. Trans people have existed since the beginning of time and will exist at the end of time. But here is the thing, like any law, they are only as good as the police officers that choose to or not to enforce them. Politicians have authority but they do not have power....police officers hold more power than any other governmental position in America......because regardless of what law is passed, if the police do not actually agree with/enforce it than that law is as worthless as the politician that supported it.

 

In terms of schools and children...this is what my wife and I decided about our own children...when I came fully out at home, within about a week, my wife and I revisited the question of what am I teaching our 8 yr old son? Are we teaching our son the right life lesson? And we decided that if I were to stop transition, lay down at the feet of the world and just continue sacrificing my own happiness for the "sake" of others....we would not be teaching our child that it is okay to be himself, to be authentic, to be strong and to be courageous in this evil world...but rather to submit and lay quietly and obediently by his masters (mostly politicians) feet and learn to obey like a mindless robot. We would be teaching him that its okay to quit when things get difficult or someone challenges you...we would be teaching him that being different is not a beautiful and liberating thing that brings true happiness to the one life we have, but rather a defect, an obscenity, a mental illness, a sickness....what we would teach him is to be weak and unhappy.

 

This is a matter of human rights....not American rights, not constitutional rights....HUMAN RIGHTS. Would be no different if suddenly the government was full of Trans people and we passed laws making it illegal to be "normal" and denied "normal" people the health care they are entitled to...as HUMANS.

 

Like the late, great MLK...."I have a dream"....and what I just said above...would be my dream!!

[Ivy]

2 hours ago, Charlie Dakota said:

government was full of Trans people and we passed laws making it illegal to be "normal"

They act like this is what is happening.  It's absurd.

But then, our mere existence is an affront to them.

 

3 hours ago, KatieSC said:

I wonder what the other states will enact in order to outperform WV?

This

[Charleigh Dakota]

I hate (Not Really) to be the bearer of bad news to the ignorant bigots but I can say with almost 100% certainty that they are sitting beside or near someone or even related to someone that is either secretly part of the LGBTQ community themselves or a secret ally of the community. Just nobody knows it...just like nobody knew I was a girl for 48 years (except me of course)

[Ivy]

[Charleigh Dakota]

7 minutes ago, Ivy said:

Amen Sister

[KatieSC]

Just remember this wonderful Southern phrase about those who develop these insane laws: Bless their heart...

[Charleigh Dakota]

1 minute ago, KatieSC said:

Just remember this wonderful Southern phrase about those who develop these insane laws: Bless their heart...

IKR....Shhh....thou shall not break Southern Girl Code

[Davie]

After we trans folk take over the world we'll ban stupidity.

[Charleigh Dakota]

1 hour ago, Davie said:

After we trans folk take over the world we'll ban stupidity.

Well....that should bring the worlds population down by what....umm, at least 1.2 BILLION???? I told my wife I wish a U.S. President would like get into office and then once nice and cozy in the Oval Office....they come out as trans and take it all the way to include full top and bottom surgeries etc etc.....that would be like kickass...and funny asf!!

[Ivy]

11 hours ago, Charlie Dakota said:

.that would be like kickass...and funny asf!!

Especially if they were a Republican.

[VickySGV]

13 hours ago, Charlie Dakota said:

a U.S. President would like get into office and then once nice and cozy in the Oval Office....they come out as trans and take it all the way to include full top and bottom surgeries etc etc.....that would be like kickass...and funny asf!!

 

Frankenfurter (Rocky Horror Picture Show) Goes To Washington!!     Can't say I would be a big fan, but I it is a picture to think about.