Thread by @TheHeartlandPOD

The anti-trans & anti-gay legislation & attitudes showing up are troubling for many reasons.

1. Bigotry and hate are rarely developed“overnight” - this stuff has been discussed behind closed doors for a long time. It wouldn’t be making an appearance now unless -🧵 1/11

the people behind it had data to make them think it is useful for votes.

2. Plenty of reasonable folks will chalk up the transition from things like the nonsensical #CRT and banning books to open attacks on human existence as merely “politics” and not sinister. 2/11

That is flat wrong. This is way deeper than just political gamesmanship. It’s about control and shaping society to fit a particular cultural mold. It’s about the refusal for a section of American society to differentiate between their religious beliefs and public policy. 3/11

3. If - and hopefully we don’t find out - If bills like what’s in Texas (and soon to be all over just wait) pass it will be another thing to add to an already overburdened system of child protection. It will detract from REAL cases of abuse and neglect. 4/11

It will divert case workers away from homes with violence to homes with parents who are simply trying to help their child be themselves - and in an unfortunate number of cases avoid suicide. 5/11

It will put teachers in a place where even talking to a student could be dangerous to their job and even to their own safety and lead to potential criminal charges.

Imagine that. 6/11

Imagine a child who comes to a realization that they are gay. Imagine that child is living in a home where being gay is considered immoral, where coming out isn’t an option, where they are told over and over that being gay means you are deviant, less than, worthless. 7/11

Imagine that child approaches a teacher they think is a possible ally, what for some kids may be the only adult they trust and are not afraid to talk to about how they feel. The child discloses they have come to understand that they are gay, and that they are scared. 8/11

Imagine that instead of listening to this child, instead of making them feel accepted, instead of being able to direct them to the counselor to make sure their mental health is ok - that teacher has to HOTLINE the parents, and trigger an investigation in that child’s home. 9/11

4. These policies are more than political red meat. They are value statements. They are declarations of hate, intolerance, and a tacit approval of every young person who takes their own life because they are scared to tell the truth about how they feel. 10/11

The stories of men taking over women’s sports, the fear mongering, it’s calculated. It is designed to ratchet up the anger while defining what it means to be “acceptable” to society.

It is disgusting. It is wrong. It is flatly un-American. 11/11

@threadreaderapp please if you could