Political Week In Review 4-30-2023

 

Reuters: DeSantis' tough words may come back to haunt him in Disney lawsuit -experts

Ken Paulson, a professor at Middle Tennessee State University, said the governor may come to regret his attacks on the company. "There's a very good chance that he's [Floridians are] going to pay for those in a court of law," said Paulson, the director of the school's Free Speech Center.

Legal experts said DeSantis may have sound policy reasons to reconstitute the authority formerly known as Reedy Creek Improvement District, but if Disney can show it was done as retaliation, the company has a strong case.

It Is Your Pen...

 4 Ways To Not Let Others Dim Your Light

Success does not happen by accident, but by habit.  We have to be intentional in our interactions not only with others but ourselves.  It is okay to be hard on yourself and have high expectations, but that is much different from beating yourself up.  It is normal to let others’ criticisms get to us, but do not let it stop you from doing something great [necessary]. The world needs your light to shine.

The Drag Brunch That Tennessee Wants to Ban

Tennessee wants to outlaw drag shows. It’s only made them more popular.

NEWCOMER DRAG QUEEN
VALENTINA D’ JANEIRO
 WOWS THE AUDIENCE 

By LAURA TESTINO  04/14/2023 

 In 19 Photos

Memphis, Tenn. — Offered alongside the dazzling drag performances and bubbling mimosas at Atomic Rose is a serving of Tennessee civics: How a bill becomes a law and how a federal judge can stop it, set to the tune of Céline Dion’s “That’s The Way It Is.”

During an Easter Sunday all-ages, family-friendly brunch at the Memphis bar and restaurant, host Bella DuBalle returned to the stage against a new backdrop that read “Drag is not a crime.” Attendees cheered as she proclaimed drag queens’ latest political win: A federal judge extended his order that halts a controversial law limiting drag shows.

“So as I told you a long time ago, when this thing first started: We aren’t going anywhere, y’all,” DuBalle said.

DRAG QUEENS ZOEY ADAMS

One of the first laws passed by the Tennessee General Assembly this year regulates drag show performances, criminalizing “adult cabaret entertainment” that takes place in public or in front of minors. Conservatives backing the legislation believe the performances expose minors to inappropriate sexual themes — a claim that advocates reject. Republican state Sen. Jack Johnson, who sponsored the Tennessee legislation, said the legislation was meant to “ensure that children are not present at sexually explicit performances.”

In response, Memphis-based theater company Friends of George’s filed a federal lawsuit claiming the law violates First Amendment rights. A federal judge agreed the law is “vague and overly-broad” in an order that temporarily blocked it from taking effect. Tennessee’s law has drag performers “eat the proverbial mushroom to find out whether it is poisonous,” wrote U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker in the order issued March 31, the day before the law was set to take effect.

For now, drag performances can evade the law’s scrutiny due to an extension of the order. Once that extension expires May 26, however, first-offenders would face a misdemeanor, while any subsequent violations would be a felony. Although the law doesn’t explicitly ban drag shows, its broad language could leave performers like DuBalle at risk.

And yet there is a touch of irony in the way a law attempting to quash drag has brought the art to the forefront, DuBalle said. While the law itself hasn’t packed the house — Atomic Rose is already standing-room only for brunch — it has tripled the number of youth attendees each Sunday, according to Charlie Barnett, the general manager.

Attendees gushed over the drag queens, eager to tip before performances were really underway.

Jennifer Iverson explaining why she brought her young daughter to the show Sunday:

“This is what the world needs more of, explaining why she brought her young daughter to the show Sunday. Everybody is so nice, and people are so friendly, and I can’t see anything wrong with it all, in any way, shape or form.”

Saw This Coming

Texas agency threatens to fire staff who don't dress 'consistent with their biological gender'

Story by sankel@businessinsider.com (Sophia Ankel) 426/2023

• The Texas Department of Agriculture sent employees a new dress code last week.
• It says that staff must dress "consistent with their biological gender," listing example clothes.
• The memo says non-compliance will be met with escalating punishments, including being fired.

AG COMMISSIONER SID MILLER’S
NEW TRANSPHOBIC DRESS CODE

The Texas Department of Agriculture threatened to fire staff who don't comply with a new dress code mandating hat people dress "in a manner consistent with their biological gender."

The full policy was in a memo distributed to employees last week. The Texas Observer first reported its existence, and the Texas Tribune later published the document.

It lays out what employees at the agency must wear to the office to "reflect the culture, dignity, and professionalism of the Texas Department of Agriculture."

It provided an extensive list of acceptable and unacceptable clothing, from a ban on Crocs, a guide to skirt length, and a thumbs-up for cowboy hats.

The clothing requirements were given on gender lines, and came with the note that staff "are expected to comply with this dress code in a manner consistent with their biological gender."

Breaking the rules would lead to "corrective action" like being sent home to change, with further sanctions "up to and including termination," it said.

Setting out dress options for men, it said "business attire includes a long-sleeved dress shirt, tie, and sport coat worn with trousers and dress shoes or boots."

"Appropriate" attire for women, as outlined in the memo, includes not showing "excessive cleavage" and skirts being "within four inches of the knee."

"For women, business attire includes tailored pantsuits, business-like dresses, coordinated dressy separates worn with or without a blazer, and conservative, closed-toe shoes or boots," it said.

"You are a professional, look like one," the memo added.

The agency did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, sent outside regular business hours.

One employee, who was not named, told the Texas Observer that the policy "feels like it threatens the safety of anyone who doesn't conform to the binary dress code."

The report came as Texas and multiple other US states are cracked down on transgender rights.

Since 2020, an a large number of anti-transgender laws have been created across the country, includes measures banning trans children from playing on sports teams to prohibiting doctors from giving trans youth treatments like hormone blockers.

There was more anti-transgender legislation filed in Texas this year than in any other state, Axios reported earlier this month.

The Texas Department of Agriculture is led by Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, a Republican first elected to his role in 2014. Miller has also been a prominent backer of former President Donald Trump since 2016.

When Trump signed a law banning transgender people from serving in the military in 2017, Miller said that he was "thrilled," according to Big Country Homepage.

_____________

See also: Washington Post - Missouri set to cut off trans care, forcing worried adults to ration drugs

April 27, an emergency order would take effect, potentially prohibiting transgender adults across Missouri from accessing hormones. The regulation was the first of its kind in the United States,

THE RISE OF FEMININITY IN MEN’S FASHION

The latest fashion news, runway looks, and opinions

6/14/2021

Katie Abson explores the rise of feminine clothing and accessories in men’s fashion.

The world is ever-changing. Gender norms and dwindiling. The rise of femininity in men’s fashion is exploding across our screens, accepted by many as an act and of empowerment. British-Somali author Diriye Osman said that donning a feminine look made him feel “sensual, beautiful, powerful,” and isn’t that what anyone longs feel? Over recent years, we’ve seen an influx of men adorning the ‘fem-boy’ look, incorporating pieces such as dangly earrings, nose rings, eyeliner, lace shirts, chains, and ruffles as staple pieces of their wardrobe.

Content makers on TikTok and Instagram are pushing the boundaries or what is percieved as predominantly masculine or feminine fashion. Men dressing in maid outfits, in particular, is spreading like wildfire across TikTok, with users such as @tristanpvaldez and @chxsley contributing to the #maidoutfit trend that has altogether received a whopping 340.4M views, with figures rising each day. It’s just one way in which men are experimenting with feminine and non gendered beauty and fashion. Similar videos receive millions of views per day, and whether viewevers like or dislike this content, the world is interested.

Curiosity sparks change. And isn’t that what we use fashion for in the first place; to challenge and express and inspire? Men are rebelling against gender-conforming behaviour for the world to see. And Generation Z is watching.

“It’s all been done before, “ you say? There’s no doubt that what goes around comes around in fashion; we’ve seen the rise ans fall of the flared trouser, ruffled shirt , and leather jacket, full circling from ‘70s culture to the current market. History is full of men who embraced clothing and accessories typically worn by the opposite sex. Influential cultural figures such as David Bowie, Boy George, and Steve Strange straddled this dichotomy for decades. They brought the Glam Rock and New Romantic movement to the forefront of culture, testing boundaries never before seen in mainstream media. But that isn’t to say these famous figures were the first. Men have been sporting flowing hemlines for aeons, from Greek togas to skirt worn as part of the Roman army uniform, worn to allow freedom of movement.

Another worthy mention is Freddie Mercury and his legendary impact on fashion. Queen’s captiving music populated the charts across the world in the ‘70s and ‘80s making them one of the most renowed rock bands of all time. Alongside their music, Freddie’s sequin jumpsuit and eye-catching patterned leggins paired with lavish neon jackets have influenced contemporary fashion for decades. His style was ever transforming, influenced by New York’s gay club scene, his surrounding, and former girlfriend Mary Austin. Freddie incorporated women’s clothing, accessories, and makeup as part of his stages costumes, contributing to his legacy of becoming one of the most memorable performes of the ‘80s. Freddie’s expressive clothing paved the way for many present-day artists to explore more flamboyant and outgoing styles on-stage as well as off-stage. This, in turn, continues to influence fans and followers who look up to celebrity style, revolutionising the way men dress in the modern day.

Read More...

But there is hope. Harry Styles, Billy Porter, and Ezra Miller are just few examples of cultural figures in mainstream media who can inspire brands to incorporate alternative pieces into their lines and diminish that all too wide gap in the market. We still have a long way in terms of acceptance and accessibility, but fashion continues to challenge and inspire curiosity by trascending social norms, and will continue to do as long as the world is willing to listen.

Out-Of-Date Hair Styles

Lady Di's updated hair

Trends are fun to follow when they concern elements you can switch up easily—think wardrobe and makeup (blue eye shadow). But when it comes to your hair, few of us want to embrace a bold new look every season just to stay one step ahead of the sartorial game. Yet holding on an old style / wig too long can make you look old or just "out of it".   

The big hair of the 70s-80s, although super feminine, now looks dated. Not to mention required a lot of maintenance. I kept my wig on a stand at home and if a trip was required, I worried what the damage the travel case would inflict.  Wig maintenance was a must.   

Do keep in mind that styles change.  Yes there are enduring styles, that will always be in vogue, day to night, and season to season.  Although Western society typically associates beauty with long hair, the short-haired pixie cut challenged this notion in the 1960s.  Twiggy started it all off, and then Princess Diana and Demi Moore ruled this look in the 1990s. It’s now one of the most iconic looks of all time.  Still around.

Photo of a A favorite Style

 

However, like the photos of me above from the early 80's, styles do change.  It does not matter if you are wearing a wig or are blessed with natural hair.  Find photos on-line you like and take then to your stylist.  Say nothing and you will get the same style over-and -over. 

Scarf Scrunchies

As my hair has been growing, now way below my shoulders in the back, I am constantly looking for a look that is modern and will not make me look old. Gray hair can do that. I do love my silver hair and get many complements, especially from women. 

The photo in my banner is from last fall and my hair has grown longer. On most days I do not go to a lot of trouble and love the casual high pony-tail look.  I now understand why so many women love to keep their hair long; tying it up, put in a scrunchie is easy and natural.  A Hair Scarf Scrunchie can be added for just the right feminine touch.  

Hair is becoming my favorite feminine differential.  

  

.  

Ron DeSantis: "Last Week Tonight" with John Oliver (HBO)

 

John Oliver discusses Ron DeSantis, his track record as the governor of Florida, the pitfalls of comparing him to Donald Trump, and the supposed dangers of “woke math.”

At about 10 minutes there is a good definition for "WOKE" by one of DeSantis own General Counsels, He is attempting to defend anti-woke in court. You be the judge; is this a bad thing?   

Political Week in Review 4-23-2023

 

My Turn

 

Young Lady Roommates Share Girdle for Dates-Signed Irby Comic Vintage Postcard

Why Women Don’t Wear Dresses Anymore

 

November 16, 2022  By  *Kendra

From The CURATED TASTE blog

There was a time when it was considered quite normal for women to wear dresses on a daily basis. Nowadays, however, it seems like dresses are only worn on special occasions. There are a number of reasons why this change has occurred. 

One reason why women don’t wear dresses as often as they used to is because of the increased emphasis on casual dress. In the past, it was more common for people to dress up for work, social occasions, and even everyday errands. Nowadays, however, it’s much more common to dress in casual clothes. This change is likely due to a number of factors, including the increased comfort of casual clothing and the decreased formality of many workplaces and social settings. 

Another reason why women may be less likely to wear dresses is because of the increased popularity of pants. In the past, pants were largely considered to be men’s clothing. However, over the past few decades, pants have become increasingly popular for women as well. This change is likely due to the increased comfort and practicality of pants, as well as the fact that they can be easily dressed up or down.

 Finally, another reason why women may be less likely to wear dresses is because of the increased emphasis on fitness and health. In the past, it was considered quite normal for women to be a bit heavier than they are today. Nowadays, however, many women are trying to achieve a more fit and healthy look. This change is likely due to the increased awareness of the importance of health and fitness, as well as the increased availability of workout clothes and athleisure wear.

No women wear dresses to work in a typical semi-professional setting. What percentage of women in dresses do you see anymore? Has it become a thing of the past? You are not supposed to wear heels. The heel of the shoe should not even be audible while using tiles. This is where I am currently in Thailand. I have seen some pretty, light-weight summer skirts, and the pic you posted above is more of a woman’s business suit.

I find them sexy as well. The other items on there are a nice pair of hose and a pair of gloves. Combat boots and high heels are just a few of the items in my closet. With a few sneakers thrown in for good measure. This is a woman’s cross-dresser’s outfit; you’re either a cross-dresser or a woman. It’s disgusting to see hot Latin women dressed in dental floss bikinis on a daily basis. The combination of shoes can reveal a lot about a woman’s personality.

A casual shirt can be dressy or dressy. I’m glad it’s working out well. We have plenty of spice in our lives. Jules’ closet is jam-packed with combat boots and high heels. Whenever I go near heels, I get blisters. They are cute, especially the peek-a-boo toe ones. I am always excited to see retro/1960s look trends come back… I think there weren’t many big girls then, but I guess there were.

Some girls like wearing dresses because they feel pretty or feminine in them. Others might like the way they look or the way they feel when they wear a dress. Some girls might even like wearing dresses because it makes them feel unique or different from other people.

...

A skirt is a way for women to feel powerful, attractive, and in control of their bodies. The dresses are frequently used to represent femininity, and they can be a way for girls to stand out from the boys. Girls’ presence in these settings can help them feel more confident, as well as be more self-assured.

________________

*My name is Kendra and I’m a fashion obsessed, city lovin’ girl. I am a freelance writer and contributing writer for typeF, MTV FORA, Huffington Post Style, Golden Girl Finance, and frockOn. I love pancakes, New York City, thrifting, and bulldogs.

//

DeSantis' Assault on Freedom

'Don't Say Gay' Expansion Requested By Gov. DeSantis Approved

The Florida Board of Education has approved a ban on classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades. [K-12]

See Update 4/20/23: ‘Deeply frustrated': Florida legislators worn out by DeSantis

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ iron-clad grip on the Republican-controlled Legislature may be slipping amid growing frustration among GOP legislators.

Anthony Izaguirre

Apr 19, 2023, 01:10 PM EDT

A new billboard welcoming visitors to
"Florida: The Sunshine 'Don't Say Gay or Trans' State.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Board of Education on Wednesday approved a ban on classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the law critics call “Don’t Say Gay” at the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis as he gears up for an expected presidential run.

The proposal will take effect after a procedural notice period that lasts about a month, according to an education department spokesman.

The rule change would ban lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity from grades 4-12, unless required by existing state standards or as part of reproductive health instruction that students can choose not to take. Florida currently bans such lessons in kindergarten through third grade.

The DeSantis administration put forward the proposal last month as part of the Republican’s aggressive conservative agenda, with the governor leaning heavily into cultural divides ahead of his looming White House candidacy.

DeSantis has not commented on the proposal. He previously directed questions to Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., who said it was meant to clarify confusion around the existing law and reinforce that teachers should not deviate from existing curriculums.

“We’re not removing anything here,” Diaz Jr. said on Wednesday. “All we are doing is we are setting the expectations so our teachers are clear: that they are to teach to the standards.”

The prohibition, which began last year with the law banning sexual orientation and gender identity lessons in kindergarten through third grade, has drawn intense backlash from critics who argue it marginalizes LGBTQ+ people and has vague terms that result in self-censorship from teachers. Democratic President Joe Biden has called it “hateful.”

The current law is also the root of an ongoing feud with Disney, one of the state’s largest employers and political donors.

“Let’s put it plainly: This is part of the governor’s assault on freedom,” Joe Saunders, senior political director of the LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Florida, said in a statement, adding the policy will “further stigmatize and isolate a population of young people who need our support now more than ever.”

The entertainment giant publicly opposed the legislation last year, and as punishment, DeSantis pushed lawmakers to give him control of a self-governing district that Disney oversees in its theme park properties.

Before a set of new DeSantis appointees could assume control of the district, Disney’s board passed restrictive covenants that strip the incoming members of most of their powers, blunting the governor’s retaliation.

DeSantis has directed the chief inspector general to investigate the Disney board’s move and vowed to take additional revenge against the company through legislation.

The Night 20,000 Books Were Burned

Some of Them Rare Copies That Had Helped Provide A Historiography for Nonconforming People.

By Brandy Schillace

The Forgotten History of the World’s First Trans Clinic

Late one night on the cusp of the 20th century, Magnus Hirschfeld, a young doctor, found a soldier on the doorstep of his practice in Germany. Distraught and agitated, the man had come to confess himself an Urning—a word used to refer to homosexual men. It explained the cover of darkness; to speak of such things was dangerous business. The infamous “Paragraph 175” in the German criminal code made homosexuality illegal; a man so accused could be stripped of his ranks and titles and thrown in jail.

Hirschfeld understood the soldier’s plight—he was himself both homosexual and Jewish—and did his best to comfort his patient. But the soldier had already made up his mind. It was the eve of his wedding, an event he could not face. Shortly after, he shot himself.

Magnus Hirschfeld,
director of the Institute for Sexual Research

[This began Hirschfeld research] He sought to specialize in sexual health, an area of growing interest. Many of his predecessors and colleagues believed that homosexuality was pathological, using new theories from psychology to suggest it was a sign of mental ill health. Hirschfeld, in contrast, argued that a person may be born with characteristics that did not fit into heterosexual or binary categories and supported the idea that a “third sex” (or Geschlecht) existed naturally. Hirschfeld proposed the term “sexual intermediaries” for nonconforming individuals. Included under this umbrella were what he considered “situational” and “constitutional” homosexuals—a recognition that there is often a spectrum of bisexual practice—as well as what he termed “transvestites.” 

See my post: Transgender Experiences in Weimar and Nazi Germany

... Read More 

Adolf Hitler was named chancellor on January 30, 1933, and enacted policies to rid Germany of Lebensunwertes Leben, or “lives unworthy of living.” What began as a sterilization program ultimately led to the extermination of millions of Jews, Roma, Soviet and Polish citizens—and homosexuals and transgender people.

One of the first and largest
Nazi book burnings destroyed
 the library at the Institute for Sexual Research. 

When the Nazis came for the institute on May 6, 1933, Hirschfeld was out of the country. Giese fled with what little he could. Troops swarmed the building, carrying off a bronze bust of Hirschfeld and all his precious books, which they piled in the street. Soon a towerlike bonfire engulfed more than 20,000 books, some of them rare copies that had helped provide a historiography for nonconforming people.

What future might have been built from a platform where “sexual intermediaries” were indeed thought of in “more just terms”? Still, these pioneers and their heroic sacrifices help to deepen a sense of pride—and of legacy—for LGBTQ+ communities worldwide. As we confront oppressive legislation today, may we find hope in the history of the institute and a cautionary tale in the Nazis who were bent on erasing it.

Why do men want to wear high heels?

Published: 14 November 2021

Mens Heels Revolution

 

It's a good question and not as stereotypical an answer as you might expect...

There may be a number of reasons why men would want to wear high heels. To many women who regularly wear high heels and endure pain and discomfort from wearing heels, the idea may seem absurd, until you also consider the many women who still endure that pain and discomfort for the obvious attractions that heels bring. Many men have similar reasons for wanting to wear heels as women do.

A growing number of people believe that clothes and shoes should not dictate a persons sexual orientation or gender and for that reason alone they will wear whatever they want, regardless of which (usually binary) gender label has been attached to the clothing or shoes. It's a refreshing idea if you've always stuck to social norms around gender stereotypes. It ultimately means, if you like it, wear it and for many men, dressing like this is liberating and provides an outlet for self expression. More recently this idea has been expressed by high profile stars such as Harry Styles and Justin Bieber, though it has been the case for many years with stars such as Prince and David Bowie wearing clothes labelled for different genders.

For some men an extra height boost is one reason. This can bring additional confidence and especially when your partner is also wearing heels it can restore the height differential which male and female partners often desire.

For more fashion conscious men, the reason may be to be just be different from the crowd, more fashion forward, and they will often be more adventurous with the rest of their clothing choices, seeking more distinctive fabrics, colours, textures and patterns. Many men are simply bored with the same old re-cycled options on offer in the mens section and want something different. With this dissatisfaction often comes a desire to change the aesthetic of their outfits by mixing and matching from all the options on offer and higher heels can instantly change the look of an outfit.

Some men want to express outwardly how they feel about their gender. More recent publicity of gender and how it's expressed in almost limitless terms when you consider gender as non-binary, can help some men feel like they have way of explaining why they want to wear heels.

Sometimes men are simply just curious about what it's like to walk in heels and may capitalise on any suitable opportunity to try it out. We've often heard the expression "to walk a mile in someone else's shoes" as a metaphor for understanding someone's experience, however in literal terms, men can also fully experience a flavour of what it's like for a woman to wear heels.

Diversion is another reason why men wear heels. Some men enjoy playing with that taboo that comes with gender boundaries and the experience can either be a form of mockery or great reverence for women or social constructs around gender standards.

A more stereotypical view of a man in heels is the practice of cross-dressing. Where a man, typically heterosexual, will dress entirely in women's clothing. The same term also applies to women who dress in men's clothes, though the term is seldom used when women cross-dress. Cross-dressers may derive a sense of peace or euphoria from dressing entirely in women's clothing, some may also derive sexual pleasure from it. Synonymous with "cross-dresser" is the term "Transvestite" although this is outdated and often viewed as offensive, as is the "Tranny" slang version.

Transgender people may wear high heels for any of the reasons above, though more usually to help affirm their gender identity. Most transgender people seek to bring their bodies into alignment with their gender identity. This is called transition. Some men realise that their biological sex and gender are fundamentally misaligned and for them, this is a way for them to express their true gender. Like all people, many transgender women will want to wear high heels, though this is not always the case. Their gender is every bit as valid as everyone else's and is often reflected in how they express themselves.

In conclusion, there are many reasons why a man would want to wear high heels, or anything else for that matter. All are valid reasons and are perfectly fine. As awareness of this trend increases, you're likely to see more men expressing themselves in this way. For men's fashion, breaking these long-standing gender stereotypes is perhaps long over-due!

Read the Comments on the site Men Heels Revolution.

My Favorite:

"I wear high heels 👠 and women’s clothes despite being 6’2” for a few reasons. One is because men’s clothes are (for the most part) boring and pedestrian. I’m a little different from a lot of Xdressers in that I don’t desire to be or impersonate a woman. I have no desire to appear female. I’m a straight man who is into fashion, and I look hot as hell in a miniskirt and heels. And lastly, there’s some internal drive, be it a past life remnant or a genetic punctuation, or anything, that gifts me the super power to live life outside the box. I exercise this super power to help other men learn that they too can grow this super power. As I say on my page, the first time a “Dude Bro” sees a man in heels and a skirt, he sees a gay alien 👽 who has come to abduct and convert him. By the third time he sees this, he sees a human being. That’s why I do it. It only takes three times to normalize it."

Media Mocks Prayers

'Subtle smears' against Christianity marks coverage of Nashville massacre

By Kendall Tietz | Fox News
Published Thursday March 29, 2023

Despite the tragedy and loss of life, many public figures have criticized conservatives and Christians for their faith and prayer.

President Biden said during a speech addressing the shooting Tuesday:

As a nation, we owe these families more than our prayers. We owe them action."

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R), tweeted that he was "closely monitoring" the tragic situation at Covenant on Monday, asking people to "please join us in praying for the school, congregation & Nashville community."

Tenn Congressman Thomas Massie’s - Nashville District,
Christmas family photo. 
"Merry Christmas! PS: Santa, please bring ammo.”
 

Associated Press reporter Kimberlee Kruesi criticized Lee, who in 2019 "said he believed if Tennesseans prayed to God to favor the state - specifically mentioning school shootings - God would answer those prayers. Ever since, Lee has resisted calls to strengthen gun control laws - a common theme in TN."

"If thoughts and prayers alone worked to stop gun violence, there wouldn't have been a shooting at a Christian elementary school," It's your actions - including weakening the state's gun laws - that's killing kids in Tennessee. SHAME ON YOU. Covenant School," Gun control activist Shannon Watts of Moms Demand Action tweeted in response to Lee's call for prayers.

... others slammed the state for banning drag shows and gender-affirming care for children instead of guns.

"Drag shows and gender-affirming care for minors were banned in Tennessee this month, while assault weapons remain legal," Newsweek tweeted.

"Thank god Tennessee protected the children from the so-called horrors of drag and gender affirming care so they can be shot up at school by an AR-15 instead," civil rights attorney and Harvard law clinical instructor Alejandra Caraballo said in a since limited tweet.

Houck said "subtle smears" had marked the press coverage, such as ABC's Terry Moran noting the "state of Tennessee earlier this month passed and the governor signed a bill that banned transgender medical care for minors."

______________

The Fox News post ended with this:

The Covenant School issued a statement on Monday asking for "privacy as our community grapples with this terrible tragedy- for our students, parents, faculty and staff."

"Our community is heartbroken," the statement said. "We are grieving tremendous loss and are in shock coming out of the terror that shattered our school and church. We are focused on loving our students, our families, our faculty and staff and beginning the process of healing."

Ahmen!

Political Week in Review 4-16-2023

 

Solving Problems...

 

Déjà Vu

 The GOP’s 2020s Culture War Is A Throwback To The 1970s

Conservatives are lifting their culture-war playbook
straight from the '70s in pursuit of a new national majority.

By Paul Blumenthal
Mar 25, 2023

Déjà vu - The face of Modern Authoritarianism

Déjà vu, pronounced day-zhaa voo, is French for “already seen.” It describes the fascinating and strange experience where you feel that something is very familiar but you also know that this feeling of familiarity should not be as strong as it is. (Google)

____________

The Huffpost article mentioned in the title link is long.  Please read at least part of it as a history lesson. We are feeling the hateful repeat of these sad political actions "all over again" as Yogi Berra put it. 

Some of us will remember the vicious attacks on the gay community in the 70's and the labels used.  Florida singer, turned-political activist, Anita Bryant, called gays "human garbage" in her 1977 campaign against the Miami-Dade anti-discrimination ordinance.   

At this year’s (2023) Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the culture war reigned supreme again.  “When our schools teach kids to be ashamed of America, when they teach the 1619 Project instead of our founding, we’re at risk,” said former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a potential 2024 [GOP] presidential candidate.

“All this woke, transgender athletes, CRT, 1619, they don’t teach reading, writing or arithmetic,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said, perhaps less artfully.  The most incendiary comments came from Daily Wire podcast host Michael Knowles, who called for “transgenderism” to be “eradicated from public life entirely.”

_________________________

I am going to leave this powerful history lesson to you to read.  It is enlightening and puts a spotlight on this vengeful hate.  There is an agenda and we are being used.  

Here is the concluding paragraph from the "The GOP’s 2020s Culture War Is A Throwback To The 1970s".

With the GOP having lost the popular vote in eight out of the last nine presidential elections, their hope is that they can resurrect the fears of the 1970s under the brand of anti-“wokeness” to build a new majority coalition. Instead, it increasingly looks like a desperate effort to hold together the party’s divergent voting and donor bases.

Please read and comment.... 

How Do Cults Treat Transgender Members

Understanding the plight of Trans Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses

 Mar 23, 2023

Trent Coleman and Hayley Polykarpos share their experience of exiting Jehovah's Witnesses while braving insensitivity and derision for taking positive steps to address their gender dysphoria by transitioning.

This video contains a good discussion on transgender history and how we have been demonized in movies, and TV.   

Lloyd Evans is an X-JW that provides help to those who have left the cult and inside information on the inner working of the organization. Also understanding to those "studying", to understand the danger this cult poses to family, friends, and livelihood. 

Sorry to go negative with this info, but this provides understanding on cult thinking.  

 

I love A Success Story - Shawn Skelly

 DoD’s highest-ranking trans official: ‘Ostracizing anybody’ will hurt military readiness

Shawn Skelly left the military in 2008, thinking she’d never return; now she’s in charge of getting U.S. forces ready for battle

By LARA SELIGMAN 
04/09/2023 07:00 AM EDT

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness Shawn Skelly is seen in her office at the Pentagon.

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness Shawn Skelly sits for an interview in her office at the Pentagon on April 3. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

Shawn Skelly was a Navy commander working to help fend off roadside bomb attacks when she came to a realization about herself — one that meant her career in the military was over.

It was 2006, and “don’t ask, don’t tell,” which permitted gay and lesbian Americans to serve in the military as long as they kept their sexual identity under wraps, was still in effect. Skelly had identified as a man up until that point and — now that she felt she could no longer do so — decided to retire from military service as soon as possible.

Skelly, then stationed at a Marine Corps base in Virginia, told her commanding general she was out.

Skelly speaks during the Center for a
 New American Security Mission Brief
at the Pentagon on Feb. 15, 2022. |
 Brittany A. Chase/U.S. Air Force

“I had fear at that time,” Skelly said in an interview. “I determined quickly that I needed to get out, get out safely, because I understood what I needed to do to be the best, healthiest version of myself.” It took two years for her to make the leap, and she left in 2008.

Now she’s back at the Pentagon, this time as a civilian. As assistant secretary of defense for readiness, Skelly oversees military preparedness for warfighting, including training programs, equipment safety and munitions supplies.

And Skelly has a message for Republicans accusing the Department of Defense of promoting diversity and inclusion in the armed forces at the expense of military readiness: their campaign is what’s hurting the military’s warfighting capabilities.

Skelly, speaking at the Pentagon in her first in-depth interview since taking the job in 2021.:

“If you want to be ready, then you have to ensure that everybody that is in your force can be their best selves and contribute as a member of a team and be seen as valuable,” 

 

She is the DoD’s highest-ranking openly transgender official, and the second to hold an office that requires Senate confirmation. The first was Rachel Levine, who serves as assistant secretary of health.

Skelly’s appointment was welcomed as a powerful signal of support by transgender troops now serving openly since President Joe Biden overturned a Trump-era ban on trans service members.

But Republicans in Congress are looking to roll back those changes through proposed legislation to ban transgender people from serving in the military.

It’s part of a larger push by some Republican lawmakers who argue that personnel policies like diversity trainings, racial justice education and events like a recent drag show on a military base alienate some potential recruits and distract from the forces’ main mission: fighting wars and protecting the homefront.

“When I talk to people and say, ‘Well, why aren’t you looking to join the military?’ A lot of them say, ‘Well, the military has been over-politicized. Well, the military has gone woke,’ said Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) during a March 9 hearing with the military’s senior enlisted leadership. “We’re saying that this new focus, this new shift, this new kind of woke ideology is not impacting recruitment and not impacting our readiness and lethality? I have a hard time believing that.”

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Skelly said she regularly speaks with members of “Gen Z” who express reservations about serving in the military because they fear they or their friends won’t be treated with respect.

“I don’t know what ‘wokeism’ is, it’s not a defined term,” she said. But “If people understand that they’re not going to get a fair shake, because they come from a specific ethnic origin, or based on their identity, or based on who they love, we are going to be worse off because not enough Americans are going to want to be a part of the U.S. military.”