Since I’m getting politics angry again, I want to provide some resources on how to be effective in making change and why I’m so heated on this. I don’t like criticizing something without offering alternatives and right now we really need some movement.
We are stuck with two parties, particularly in the presidency. I hate that this is the case, but that is how it goes. To win the presidency, a candidate needs to get more than half the votes, not just a majority. 40% isn’t enough, and no third party will ever win a contingent election.
This is why, right now, the best thing we can do is change the Democratic Party to reflect what we want to see. And then we commit to that party, even in less ideal cases, so that we can ensure even small progress gained builds towards that bigger goal. That’s how the Republican Tea Party has operated for years. They took every small win and built on it, backing even less ideal options, until they had enough pull to take over entirely.
This means voting in primaries. We’ve proven a number of times that organizing can overcome funding - we have to keep doing that. Join groups like progressive victory and canvass, if you can. Volunteer for local candidates you feel strongly reflect what you want to see. And then work to flip the numbers to them.
Most importantly, think of a party as a coalition and then act like it. Don’t get your ideal candidate? Well, assume others will. If you don’t live in a place where third parties are viable, go with the coalition. Trust that a less ideal Dem will at least have to listen to the more progressive wing of the party, and cooperate with them, more than a Republican. Progressive Dems are no good to us if the Democratic Party isn’t the majority.
Don’t reward poor behavior. Don’t accept less than you deserve in the primary and absolutely fight like hell to get the candidate you deserve. But, when the time comes for the general, the strategy is long term change. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of that.
The thing about Harry Potter is it just makes me fucking tired?
I don’t especially give a shit if somebody is reading the books or watching the movies in private, but if you’re being loudly, stridently, openly fannish about it you’ve got to be aware at this stage of things how that’s perceived? At the bare minimum, being perceived as transphobic wasn’t a deal breaker.
A doll forum I frequent is discussing whether or not to ban pictures of Harry Potter merch, and wow do I recognize a lot of the people going “Um, nobody cares about politics actually, sweetie” “Why does everything have to be political?” as having said some virulently transphobic shit elsewhere.
Someone asked me “:( So you want to DIVIDE people?”
Yes. You can’t UwU Let’s All Get Along about whether or not a given group of people should have human rights.
You can’t shake the devil’s hand and say you’re only kidding.
G̴͛͟OͤT̘ ̛̘̉̕͟Sͪ͏̴̠̙T́ͨǓ̳͔̆͢C̀K̘̀ ̰͈͓͟I̮̩ͮ̏N̫̫̑͢ ̧̆AΙ ̨͕̺̮̆ḺO͊O̶̥̣ͤ͒P̛ ̼͍̉͝ ^EVILHAIKU^bot^2. Most of you are welcome, friendly Human®. | PayPal | Patreon
Discussions of trans women in sports often focus on elite/professional sports which honestly I find it hard to care about but the more common scenario of “we’re going to legally ban a high school girl from playing sports with her friends because she’s trans” is just profoundly evil
i remember when utah’s (republican) governor ended up vetoing a law banning transgender students from playing high school sports when he looked at the numbers, and there were only four trans students in the state playing sports at all. he released a clumsily worded but surprisingly compassionate statement about the decision.
I must admit, I am not an expert on transgenderism. I struggle to understand so much of it, and the science is conflicting. When in doubt, however, I always try to err on the side of kindness, mercy, and compassion. I also try to get proximate, and I am learning so much from our transgender community. They are great kids who face enormous struggles. Here are the numbers that have most impacted my decision: 75,000, 4, 1, 86 and 56.
75,000 high school kids participating in high school sports in Utah.
4 transgender kids playing high school sports in Utah.
1 transgender student playing girls sports.
86% of trans youth reporting suicidality.
56% of trans youth having attempted suicide.
Four kids and only one of them playing girls sports. That’s what all of this is about. Four kids who aren’t dominating or winning trophies or taking scholarships. Four kids who are just trying to find some friends and feel like they are a part of something. Four kids trying to get through each day. Rarely has so much fear and anger been directed at so few. I don’t understand what they are going through or why they feel the way they do. But I want them to live.
of course, it didn’t amount to much. they overrode his veto. it’s just so cartoonishly evil. an entire state’s political body so desperate to terrorize this one little trans girl.
