Posts on this blog do not usually start with a video, but this particular clip is so powerful that it does a better job of serving as a lead for a news story than any written words.
The newest thing the extreme Republican right in this country has taken to doing in its bigoted culture wars is identifying anyone who does not agree with its fascist rhetoric against gays, trans individuals or anyone who is different, for that matter, as pro-pedophile.
Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow is the latest victim of this as she was accused of grooming and "sexualizing Kindergarteners" by Republican Lana Theis in a campaign email. Of course, like any Republican claim, Theis had nothing to support this claim other than her own misguided and sinister imagination.
Why would Theis make such an insane and unsubstantiated claim? The answer is that she wants to raise money by scaring parents into believing that public education teachers are grooming children and sexualizing them. That's right, public education teachers who went into teaching because they love children. God knows it was not for the money. And that if the GOP (American Fascist Party) does nothing about this, they will certainly indoctrinate kids into being gay or trans. FRAUDULENT on all accounts.
I have a news update from the 1970s and 1980s, kids are not TURNED gay!!!!!!
The right has been passing laws in state after state that prevent teachers from discussing LGBTQ issues in class. And many parents around the country are falling for it hook, line and sinker.
Example, the "don't say gay bill" in Florida recently passed by Governor Ron Desantis and his Brownshirts in the Florida State House in Tallahassee. Republicans claim that this is a parent's rights bill, but that's bull. They also claim that is just prevents teachers from discussing sex in grades K thru third. Another lie.
What the bill does is actually ban teachers from discussing "issues that are age 'inappropriate' in the classroom" in all public schools, meaning through senior year in high school. Who decides what is age inappropriate in Florida? Is it Governor DeSantis? His book-burning thugs in the Florida state house? They left the law vague, so the extremists on the right, who also happen to be parents, and who still believe you can turn a child gay, could sue teachers at the drop of a hat.
What happens when you are learning about the Supreme Court and it's Gay Marriage decision in U.S. History class or the Pulse night club shooting. Is the teacher not allowed to discuss same-sex marriage in relation to that case? What if the kids ask about it? The bill is not limited to grades K-3, it is not allowed in public schools, meaning thru grade 12, if it is considered age inappropriate.
If this was not enough, other states have been passing laws preventing trans kids from competing in sports in the gender that they identify. That's right, the people on the right who constantly cry about a society in which everyone receives a trophy and where the Washington Redskins are being forced to change the team name, are now whimpering about kids getting to play sports in the gender in which they identify.
NEWS FLASH #2: That's been happening for decades!!!!!
Boys having been playing girls sports on organized teams and girls on boy's teams for years, but the problem here is that they do not want trans kids doing it. You know, because!
Examples: In my high school we had a girl's gymnastics team but no boy's team. If a boy, straight or otherwise, wanted to compete in gymnastics, he could. We only had a girl's field hockey team, but if boys, straight or otherwise, wanted to compete, they could because there was no equivalent team in the other gender.
This applies to girls as well. I've known girls who wrestled on a boy's wrestling team and who played ice hockey on a boy's ice hockey team because there was no equivalent girl's team. Where is the outrage and vitriol? That's right, it's not about kids playing sports with the opposite gender, it's about kids that are "different" playing sports with "normal" kids.
One can't help but wonder if these bigots ever get tired of being disingenuous.
These are the lies being sold to parents as if they are facts, and it is incumbent on people like Senator McMorrow to stand up and call their lies bulls***.
It is imperative, if you do not want to live in a world like the 1950s where gays and kids of other races were targeted for just being who they are, that you get out and vote in this next midterm election. And then after you have voted, drive 10 or 20 of your like-minded friends out to the polls so they can vote.
Just because the orange monster is not on the ballot in 2022, does not mean the threat is gone. The right is loaded with orange monsters, some (and I do only mean some) are just better at hiding it.
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