Get Serious: Make a Call, Send an Email
We are making fun of the CRC here for their stupid sky-is-falling argument about the proposed gender-identity nondiscrimination bill, their terrible fear that men are going to start hanging around ladies rooms if the law says you can't discriminate on the basis of gender identity. The fact is, they like to discriminate against that minority, and they are using the bathroom scenario to get attention. It's so ridiculous it's funny, but I am going to ask you, the reader, to get involved a little bit. We don't do this very often, but the County needs to hear from you.
The Montgomery County Council is going to vote November 13th on a bill that you can read HERE. The bill will make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender identity in certain situations, and I would prefer if you followed the link and read the thing yourself. Don't trust me to explain it, it's easy reading, go look at it so you know what you're talking about.
Look, the argument that men will go into women's bathrooms doesn't deserve a response. That isn't going to happen. They think of the worst possible thing, and then talk as if it's certain to happen.
Go to the Task Force web site, and look at their report. More than a third of the population of the US lives with explicit transgender nondiscrimination laws. It makes sense, it's the right thing to do.
Montgomery County is not breaking any new ground here, we're doing the right thing, as many, many other communities see it.
So here's what we need to do. We have seen that the CRC is working this through their newsletters, trying to create the appearance of a controversy, and we have seen this before, you can be sure that Fox News, the Washington Post and other media will be covering the pitiful "protest" they are planning to hold.
We need our fair-minded people to contact the County Council and tell them that we support this bill. As I said, read it first, make sure you're cool with it, then email or call the Council.
Contact information is:
Listen, it's hard to support something. It's always easier to get people to call in about something they're angry about. That's why these nutty rightwing groups are able to have any effect at all -- it's not that many people agree with them, but every time one of them has an issue, they blow it out of proportion and get everybody worked up, and they can make it look like they have big support.
We don't want you to get mad. The County Council is on the right track, they fully intend to pass this bill, but they need to know that the community is behind it. It will just take you a minute to pick up the phone, call the number, tell them you support the Gender Identity Bill, Bill 23-07. If you have a story, tell it to them, tell them why you support the bill.
Remember, we're the good guys. Our county was progressive and intelligent enough to elect good people into office, and they want to do the right thing. But they need to know they have our support. So tell them.
We've done this before, and it is very effective. The people inside the government know that the other side is organized, that they have networks of web sites and email lists that span the country, they're not surprised or impressed if there's a flurry of calls. But we need to register a point, too.
So please call the County Council, send them an email, let's take the moral high road in Montgomery County.
The Montgomery County Council is going to vote November 13th on a bill that you can read HERE. The bill will make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender identity in certain situations, and I would prefer if you followed the link and read the thing yourself. Don't trust me to explain it, it's easy reading, go look at it so you know what you're talking about.
Look, the argument that men will go into women's bathrooms doesn't deserve a response. That isn't going to happen. They think of the worst possible thing, and then talk as if it's certain to happen.
Go to the Task Force web site, and look at their report. More than a third of the population of the US lives with explicit transgender nondiscrimination laws. It makes sense, it's the right thing to do.
Montgomery County is not breaking any new ground here, we're doing the right thing, as many, many other communities see it.
So here's what we need to do. We have seen that the CRC is working this through their newsletters, trying to create the appearance of a controversy, and we have seen this before, you can be sure that Fox News, the Washington Post and other media will be covering the pitiful "protest" they are planning to hold.
We need our fair-minded people to contact the County Council and tell them that we support this bill. As I said, read it first, make sure you're cool with it, then email or call the Council.
Contact information is:
Call the Montgomery County Council: 240-777-7900 during work hours
Email to councilmember.praisner@montgomerycountymd.gov will go to all the Council members
Listen, it's hard to support something. It's always easier to get people to call in about something they're angry about. That's why these nutty rightwing groups are able to have any effect at all -- it's not that many people agree with them, but every time one of them has an issue, they blow it out of proportion and get everybody worked up, and they can make it look like they have big support.
We don't want you to get mad. The County Council is on the right track, they fully intend to pass this bill, but they need to know that the community is behind it. It will just take you a minute to pick up the phone, call the number, tell them you support the Gender Identity Bill, Bill 23-07. If you have a story, tell it to them, tell them why you support the bill.
Remember, we're the good guys. Our county was progressive and intelligent enough to elect good people into office, and they want to do the right thing. But they need to know they have our support. So tell them.
We've done this before, and it is very effective. The people inside the government know that the other side is organized, that they have networks of web sites and email lists that span the country, they're not surprised or impressed if there's a flurry of calls. But we need to register a point, too.
So please call the County Council, send them an email, let's take the moral high road in Montgomery County.
posted by JimK at 4:49 PM
22 Comments:
First, tell everyone why a new law needs to be passed here. Is there something wrong with the way Montgomery County residents treat transgenders now?
Yes, there's something wrong with it.
Really?
Could you explain what? Because the TTFers keep telling that MC is one of the most tolerant places in the world. Could it be that they won't be able to find a bathroom to use or a restaurant to eat in unless the county passes a special law for them?
Most businesses I know, if someone comes in with something that looks like cash, they're going to grab it.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
"Could it be that they won't be able to find a bathroom to use or a restaurant to eat in unless the county passes a special law for them?”
Ah yes, the old “special rights” canard.
__
“AN ACT to:
(1) prohibit discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, cable
television service, and taxicab service on the basis of gender identity; and
(2) generally amend County laws regarding discrimination.”
Run for your lives! Transgendered citizens will be better able to find housing, employment, public accommodations, cable television service, and taxicab service.
What’s next, special protections for religious supremacists? Oh that’s right, the county has already passed "special laws" for them:
“Montgomery County's policy is to foster equal opportunity for all without regard to race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, marital status, age, disability, presence of children, family responsibilities, source of income, sexual orientation, [gender identity], or genetic status and strictly in accord with their individual merits as human beings.”
Notice that the county policy regards citizens as human beings - not mere genitalia.
Anonymous, if you honestly believed there was no discrimination against transgendered people you wouldn't be opposing a law that merely confirms what is supposedly already taking place. The only reason for you to oppose this law is because you want to preserve the existing discrimination against us.
Discrimination laws are a tremendous burden on society because discrimination is very difficult to prove. If transgenders are so rare, and merit special government help, provide in some other way than making yet another law for everyone to worry about keeping the appearance of.
"Anonymous said...
Discrimination laws are a tremendous burden on society because discrimination is very difficult to prove."
Do you support the repeal of ALL anti-discrimination laws?
Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
“Discrimination laws are a tremendous burden on society because discrimination is very difficult to prove.”
To cut to the chase, obviously your only talking about anti-discrimination laws for LGBTQ citizens. Lie of omission. LIAR.
I discovered something even more interesting though. We’ve got two panics going on here.
First of all, the Bible doesn’t condemn being transgendered. So they can’t as easily claim “religious freedom” in this fight for the right to discriminate. Thus the need to make it all about bathrooms and locker rooms, and what a “burden on society” it will be to accommodate the genitalia of its transgendered citizens.
Not to mention that the concept of being transgendered casts a light of “born that way” onto same-gender attracted persons as well.
My yes, they’re in a dilly of a pickle with this one.
Randi writes,
The only reason for you to oppose this law is because you want to preserve the existing discrimination against us.
Huh??? Ok, let get this straight (wink, wink), you say you are bi-sexual, and you say you are also transgendered? I am confused...
This gender identity business is mischief in the making, not to mention part and parcel of the post-modernist assault upon any sense that male and female persons have or ought to have any nature whatsoever.
Truth? What is that? It is whatever each and everyone one of us decides, or so it appear to be so...
"Orin Ryssman said...
This gender identity business is mischief in the making,"
Is that your heterosexual opinion?
"not to mention part and parcel of the post-modernist assault upon any sense that male and female persons have or ought to have any nature whatsoever."
Oh woe is Mother Nature’s assault on Herself, and will Mother Earth ever survive the ordeal?
"Truth? What is that? It is whatever each and everyone one of us decides, or so it appear to be so..."
How true. It’s so easy to confuse the importance of condemning gender identity, with the importance of the 40,000 people who starve to death every day – one every three seconds.
Quick, somebody tell me where my priorities should lie, because I can't tell.
"Liberalism is the art of standing on your head and telling the rest of the world it's upside down." -- Jim Quinn
Main Entry: lib·er·al·ism
Function: noun
Pronunciation: 'li-b(&-)r&-"li-z&m
1 : the quality or state of being liberal
2 a often capitalized : a movement in modern Protestantism emphasizing intellectual liberty and the spiritual and ethical content of Christianity b : a theory in economics emphasizing individual freedom from restraint and usually based on free competition, the self-regulating market, and the gold standard c : a political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties d capitalized : the principles and policies of a Liberal party.
--Merriam Webster
Orin,
I am SO disappointed in you. For a guy who speaks intelligently, even when disagreeing with some of what is posted here, your profound ignorance of human sexuality is very sad.
U suggest you go online and learn something about human sexual development and gender identity. If you can get a hold of the book by Deborah Rudacille, "The Riddle of Gender," you'll find it a very good read and quite informative.
Emproph writes,
"Orin Ryssman said...
This gender identity business is mischief in the making,"
Is that your heterosexual opinion?
LOL...no, just the collective wisdom of Judeo-Christian Western Civilization's "opinion" (as you seem to call it). Which is smarter from a civilizational standpoint? The one not intent on committing collective suicide.
"not to mention part and parcel of the post-modernist assault upon any sense that male and female persons have or ought to have any nature whatsoever."
Oh woe is Mother Nature’s assault on Herself, and will Mother Earth ever survive the ordeal?
Ah, a worshipper of Gaia? Though I do not put much stock in eco-feminist philosophy, I do believe that Mother Nature is partial to certain modes of living. For example, Mother Nature does not favor anal intercourse by anyone, though she is particularly unforgiving against those that engage in alot of it.
"Truth? What is that? It is whatever each and everyone one of us decides, or so it appear to be so..."
How true. It’s so easy to confuse the importance of condemning gender identity, with the importance of the 40,000 people who starve to death every day – one every three seconds.
Did I condemn gender identity? Please show me where I did that...truth be told, I neither condemned or praised it, and therein is the difference. I feel sorry for those confused about their gender and they should be assisted in ways that will help them clarify who they are. I just don't happen to think this is a crisis for anyone but those few that find themselves in this situation and their angst need not be everyone else's.
Is this a problem in search of a solution, or is it a solution in search of a problem? And exactly how is global hunger related to gender confusion?
Quick, somebody tell me where my priorities should lie, because I can't tell.
You can have whatever priorities you want...the contested question is whether or not they should be a matter of public deliberation and action. It appears the sexual liberationists agenda, of which TTF is a proud supporter, can't say no to any part of it. Herein we differ...
Dr. Dana writes,
Orin,
I am SO disappointed in you. For a guy who speaks intelligently, even when disagreeing with some of what is posted here, your profound ignorance of human sexuality is very sad.
I am open to learning and understanding more, but simply because I do not agree with your views or those of scientism does not make my views ignorant. As you might suspect I do have views that are at variance with our culture and adapting what the playwright (and Stalinist admirer) Lillian Hellman once said, "I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashions" And as you already know, my POV has as a point of reference that book of those so called Hebrew and Christian "myths". They were really quite revolutionary for their time, subjugating and channeling human passions for the more enduring project that Western Civilization has become, and (God willing) will remain. I see little that serves the Common Good that would be served by returning to a world like the Jews overthrew.
U (sic) suggest you go online and learn something about human sexual development and gender identity. If you can get a hold of the book by Deborah Rudacille, "The Riddle of Gender," you'll find it a very good read and quite informative.
And that assessment would not have anything to do with this,
The hands of God : conversation with Ben Barres, M.D., Ph.D. -- Through science to justice : conversation with Susan Stryker, Ph.D. -- The bombshell : conversation with Aleshia Brevard -- Men and women, boys and girls : conversation with Chelsea Goodwin and Rusty Mae Moore, Ph.D. -- Liberating the rainbow : conversation with Tom Kennard -- Childhood, interrupted : conversation with Dana Beyer, M.D. -- Fear of a pink planet : conversation with Joanna Clark -- Answering the riddle.
would it? As luck would have it, our local library has a copy of it, so I can check it out and learn more. I like to learn...
I find this comment of yours at Amazon revealing as a review of this book,
The old medical culture of viewing sex and sexuality through the lens of Freud and the analysts is dying off, and the old-time religions are struggling mightily to once again replace the label "mentally ill" with the label "sinner." They, too, are doomed to failure, as the youth of America who have experienced sexual diversity first-hand and have found it innocuous grow into adulthood and responsibility.
"Sinner"? No, more like destructive...
It's kind of sad, Orin, that you would simply automatically leap to such conclusions. You've been commenting on this blog for, what, two years now? You've never met me but you know me pretty well. If you've made any effort, you know my story, too. That you can believe that somehow I'm "destructive" and a sinner is very sad.
I know my people's scriptures better than you do; I've studied them for decades, in the original language. I know the passages that deal with sex and gender, I know the commentaries from various countries and different ages, I know the context in which they were written.
I know that my ancestors were pretty smart -- smart enough to understand that people like me did exist, to go to the Greeks to learn more, and to be accepting. Their frame of reference was obviously very limited; their goals for their society different depending on the state of the nation at the time. My particular condition was unknown, but they came pretty close at least by Talmudic times to recognizing the reality. Interestingly, however, they were far more accepting about people like me than you are, with your automatic disdain fro what you call "scientism."
This issue, unlike the one regarding sexual orientation behind which you and your fellow travelers can more easily hide because of two sentences in the Torah, brings out the more basic philosophical difference between us. You, like many fundamentalists of any religious stripe, are simply anti-modern. You make that very clear when you talk about the civilization committing suicide. It's what we routinely hear in the rants of the Dobsonites about marriage equality somehow destroying civilization. I guess you just don't get out much these days.
Dana writes,
That you can believe that somehow I'm "destructive" and a sinner is very sad.
I did not call you a sinner (though I would not consider it an insult since it is what I am) - please read what I write, not what you would ascribe to my motives. I was less than accurate to refer to you as destructive, rather I should have said that it is the viewpoint that you, Jim and TTF advocates on behalf.
You, like many fundamentalists of any religious stripe, are simply anti-modern.
Thank you...I consider that one of the finest compliments I have received in a long time, if a somewhat narrow and somewhat inaccurate. Freedom does not mean doing whatever one wants; true freedom is found in doing what is right (as opposed to what is wrong). Put another way,
Freedom, separated from truth, ends in tyranny.
Who said that, you ask? John Paul II...and if you know his personal history at all, you know he was a quite familiar with tyranny - especially what it did to his homeland of Poland.
John Paul is a wonderful example of a complex man. Yes, he certainly knew what Nazi and Communist tyrannies were like, having lived them, but his social and sexual views were simply his attempt to impose tyrannies of another kind. So I can admire him for his work with Solidarity and the like but be appalled by his social views.
Btw, the current Pope, another bigot of the worst kind, was a member of Hitler Youth. A slightly different history from John Paul.
I'm glad you appreciate the compliment. I didn't mean it as such, but if made your day, fine. The day individuals with your anti-scientific beliefs give up your medications and surgeries and computers and cars and the like will be the day I respect your anti-scientific worldview. I especially love those (not you) who rely on modern medicine but don't believe in evolution. Stupidity of the highest degree
“Orin Ryssman said...
LOL...no, just the collective wisdom of Judeo-Christian Western Civilization's "opinion" (as you seem to call it).”
Ah, so the difference between fact and opinion comes down to the number of people who believe it? So it’s a popularity contest for you. Fair enough, just say so.
“For example, Mother Nature does not favor anal intercourse by anyone, though she is particularly unforgiving against those that engage in alot of it.”
So you’re saying that the being Earth, “is particularly unforgiving against” certain human cells of her own being, because they like to poke or get poked in the rear? Can you personally attest to this “unforgiving” nature? If not, where does your evidence come from?
“Nature does not favor anal intercourse by anyone, though she is particularly unforgiving against those that engage in alot of it.”
WOW. Tell me, what does nature do to heterosexuals who engage in a lot of it, as opposed to heterosexuals who engage in it only moderately or slightly?
“Did I condemn gender identity? Please show me where I did that...truth be told, I neither condemned or praised it, and therein is the difference. I feel sorry for those confused about their gender and they should be assisted in ways that will help them clarify who they are. I just don't happen to think this is a crisis for anyone but those few that find themselves in this situation and their angst need not be everyone else's.”
“Did I condemn gender identity? Please show me where I did that...”
Re-read your statement above. (I know it’s a cop out, but at this point, with that statement, it doesn’t matter).
You can have whatever priorities you want...the contested question is whether or not they should be a matter of public deliberation and action.
Interesting. So I can have “whatever priorities” I want, but if those priorities require public deliberation and action, I should consult you first to personally approve of them.
If that’s how you feel about it, ok. But why should I do that? Other than for the "reason" that you’ve “won” the popularity contest on the matter?
“It appears the sexual liberationists agenda, of which TTF is a proud supporter, can't say no to any part of it. Herein we differ...”
Actually, we differ on your characterization of the liberal agenda as being one that is based on promoting sex.
It’s the accusation of sexualization that I’m getting rather tired of. As usual of your ilk, you’ve equated every GLBT person on the planet with anal sex.
Lesbians = anal sex
Celibate Gay men = anal sex
Heterosexuals who actually are obsessed with anal sex = PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE.
And you have the self-righteous gall to complain that you didn’t condemn gender identity outright? Can you understand how the insult bled over?
"I am open to learning and understanding more, but simply because I do not agree with your views or those of scientism does not make my views ignorant."
"I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashions"
So be it, but don’t lie. At least admit that you’re NOT willing to learn and understand more, UNLESS it already supports your position. That’s all I ask, honesty.
Could you tell me something please? As opposed to sins like theft an murder, which any atheist could tell you is morally wrong, what problem would you have with homosexuality (same gender attraction, in and of itself) if it were not a sin? I realize you may not have said as much outright, but I’m asking – specifically.
“Freedom, separated from truth, ends in tyranny.”
Sounds like common sense to me. So I would also ask, how should one define truth?
(or sin for that matter)
Orin Ryssman said...
“Freedom, separated from truth, ends in tyranny.”
“Who said that, you ask? John Paul II...and if you know his personal history at all, you know he was a quite familiar with tyranny - especially what it did to his homeland of Poland.”
Yes, of course. The World’s religious authority on the rape of children to demonstrate your point.
“Dana Beyer, M.D. said...
Btw, the current Pope, another bigot of the worst kind, was a member of Hitler Youth. A slightly different history from John Paul.”
(Perhaps not so slight.)
His predilection for the protection of child rapists:
“ROME - The U.S. Justice Department has told a Texas court that a lawsuit accusing Pope Benedict XVI of conspiring to cover up the sexual molestation of three boys by a seminarian should be dismissed because the pontiff enjoys immunity as head of state of the Holy See.”
And the other one’s “similar” status:
“A 1994 lawsuit against Pope John Paul II, also filed in Texas, was dismissed after the U.S. government filed a similar motion.”
And this is Fox News. It would be a sin not to believe it.
Orin said " you say you are bi-sexual, and you say you are also transgendered? I am confused...".
What's so hard to understand? I am attracted to both genders, I was born male but feel I am female inside.
Orin said "This gender identity business is mischief in the making, not to mention part and parcel of the post-modernist assault upon any sense that male and female persons have or ought to have any nature whatsoever.".
Don't be absurd, it has nothing to do with mischief, it is solely about the fact that some of us feel we are the opposite gender of the body we were born with, or have a mix of characteristics typical of both male and female. No transgendered person denies the fact that most men and women have stereotypical feelings about who they are and no one is trying to deny them those roles.
Orin said "...collective wisdom of Judeo-Christian Western Civilization's "opinion" (as you seem to call it). Which is smarter from a civilizational standpoint? The one not intent on committing collective suicide.".
You don't speak for the Jews, stop this "Judeo-Christian" lie. And there isn't much wisdom in Christianity, the idea that people deserve to be eternally tortured for thought crimes isn't very wise. And this civilization certaily isn't intent on committing collective suicide, that's wishful thinking on your part.
Orin said "Mother Nature does not favor anal intercourse by anyone, though she is particularly unforgiving against those that engage in alot of it.".
And nor does mother nature disfavour anal intercourse, as long as you're in a committed relationship mother nature doesn't care at all how much anal intercourse you have. Why don't you stop obsessing over something that doesn't affect you in anyway and leave the worrying about anal sex up to those involved in it - what's it to you, anyway?
Orin said "I feel sorry for those confused about their gender and they should be assisted in ways that will help them clarify who they are.".
We know who we are and attempts to convince us differently have failed miserably. What works is transition to the gender we feel we are inside, once again, what's it to you if your neighbour transitions from male to female? Who are you to attempt to dictate their lives out of a trivial selfish thought that you'd like it better if they didn't?
Orin said "I just don't happen to think this is a crisis for anyone but those few that find themselves in this situation and their angst need not be everyone else's.".
No one's asked you to think its a crisis for you or for you to feel angst over it. Asking you not to discriminate against the transgendered certaily doesn't amount to any sort of crisis in your life. According to your rationale no one should accomodate the physically handicapped with accessible bathrooms either because the vast majority doesn't have a handicap and shouldn't be forced to make accomodations for a minority. The fact is that in a wealthy society that already takes care of the majority we can and should also make life as good as possible for the minority as well.
Orin said "...those so called Hebrew and Christian "myths". They were really quite revolutionary for their time, subjugating and channeling human passions for the more enduring project that Western Civilization has become.".
LOL! Revolutionary?! They were typical of religion, made up, preposterous stories that placed one group of people at the centre of the universe deserving of favours granted to no one else. Your myths glorify genocide and the eternal torture of people merely for the thought crime of being of a different religion - hardly something to venerate and be proud of.
Orin said he wouldn't refer to transgendered people as "sinners" but "more like destructive...".
The ugly truth of your hate shows through once again. Transgendereds like myself don't destroy anything, we contribute just as much to society's well being as anyone else. That you lie and characterize us in this way shows your desire to hurt us although we've done nothing of harm to you. And you've got the nerve to claim to be interested in doing what's right and good - shame on you.
Orin said "Freedom does not mean doing whatever one wants; true freedom is found in doing what is right (as opposed to what is wrong).".
Stop with the silliness Orin and get a dictionary. Freedom precisely means doing whatever you want, good or bad. Unmitigated freedom is a bad thing and your freedom must end where it infringes on my freedom and vice versa. You have the right to do whatever you want as long as you don't harm others, and its time you learned that simple lesson of morality. It is immoral of you to stir up hate against transgendereds by falsely claiming we are destructive. Obviously your Christian "morality" falls severely short.
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