Ha. I would rather debate SEC football rankings, whatever those are, than social justice issues, too. Count me in with Alabama. If you are being tongue-in-cheek, fine, don’t take that as a criticism. I liked your article and support your point of view while being myself straight as they come. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that more than a few totalitarian Democrats actually want to hear about “social justice” as construed by progressive leftists. It’s not what normal people, in or out of Alabama, want to talk about. Sometimes real social justice, as opposed to the DEI kind, just requires the right to put its foot down and pass a law through the legislature, and stick with it though Court challenges from leftist activists, as Alabama is doing..
I don’t take it as criticism at all. Just tried to use a humorous tone bc I have been laughing at the irony since the day I read the amicus brief. As far as football power rankings just say a good War Eagle for me!
I’m as Yankee as a person could be, and also a lesbian. I agree with your observation. The term “social justice” had a ring to it once upon a time that was meaningful to me. But what it has morphed into, i.e.,self-righteous posturing and identitarian blather that reduces people to racial, sexual, class-based and cartoonish “gender” stereotypes, is not something I admire.
Since I’m not from Alabama, I can’t comment from authority. But I did come out over 50 years ago in a working class, industrial, Northern city which was extremely homophobic toward its gay residents, so I’m familiar with the totalizing, oppressive norms that homophobia fosters.
I admire this article for its research and relevance. The irony and bitterness it expresses simultaneously no doubt come from lots of experience. But I can’t swallow “social justice” as its antidote.
This summary is so great. Spot on. Thanks for putting thoughts onto paper. Now, how to share with my daughter, the ally to her confused and brainwashed sister.
Good news! And I like: "We need to stop treating childhood gender nonconformity as a medical emergency and start treating it as what it is: a natural variation in how people express themselves."
So true. I have been thinking the same thing about Trump - although it remains to be seen what he will actually do to stop the harm to vulnerable children, teens and young adults, as it is unlikely that he is truly kept up at night by this issue - but he at least said all the right things about ending this regressive, tortuous, criminal treatment of those who don’t conform to stereotypes, and those with vulnerabilities. Let’s hope something good comes out of this election and the accidental allyship of states like Alabama!
Has Alabama banned pediatric gender-affirming care, I hope?
Not all sissy boys grow up to be fabulous gay men. I was a huge sissy as a little boy in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. The high-water mark was when I put on a runway show on the dining table with my Barbie doll. I was about eight.
Thankfully, neither parent played sex-role cop and neither did the kids at school.
And yes, like all the studies say, I was same-sex attracted. I didn’t want to be Barbie. I just loved her outfits.
But just as I didn’t fit the classic boy stereotypes of the era, I’m not a fabulous gay guy either. Anyone expecting me to hold the room with my razor-sharp quips and dramatic gestures will be disappointed. I’d rather vacation in Peru than Provincetown or Palm Springs.
To each his own, no? What matters is making sure that the next generation of gays gets to grow up to be the person they were meant to be instead of being put through the trans meat grinder. That would be a fate worse than death.
Loved reading this, made my morning—as a lesbian whose grandpa and grandma made their home for a long time in Alabama (after which they moved to deep red rural Texas)—I sure do know something of what you speak! (Not keen on social justice as it is currently configured, but in the context of this piece, it’s a detail.) Enjoy your sweet tea!
I appreciate hearing about this development but I kept waiting to read that there were actual arguments saying most (many) of the kids presenting were gender non-conforming, likely to end up homosexual? If so, kudos but … was there a mention of this? Or was it mostly about the harm of medicalization to kids? Are the words homosexual or gay or lesbian found in any of the arguments?
Like the broke clock right twice a day they accidentally did us a serious solid!
Ha. I would rather debate SEC football rankings, whatever those are, than social justice issues, too. Count me in with Alabama. If you are being tongue-in-cheek, fine, don’t take that as a criticism. I liked your article and support your point of view while being myself straight as they come. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that more than a few totalitarian Democrats actually want to hear about “social justice” as construed by progressive leftists. It’s not what normal people, in or out of Alabama, want to talk about. Sometimes real social justice, as opposed to the DEI kind, just requires the right to put its foot down and pass a law through the legislature, and stick with it though Court challenges from leftist activists, as Alabama is doing..
I don’t take it as criticism at all. Just tried to use a humorous tone bc I have been laughing at the irony since the day I read the amicus brief. As far as football power rankings just say a good War Eagle for me!
I’m as Yankee as a person could be, and also a lesbian. I agree with your observation. The term “social justice” had a ring to it once upon a time that was meaningful to me. But what it has morphed into, i.e.,self-righteous posturing and identitarian blather that reduces people to racial, sexual, class-based and cartoonish “gender” stereotypes, is not something I admire.
Since I’m not from Alabama, I can’t comment from authority. But I did come out over 50 years ago in a working class, industrial, Northern city which was extremely homophobic toward its gay residents, so I’m familiar with the totalizing, oppressive norms that homophobia fosters.
I admire this article for its research and relevance. The irony and bitterness it expresses simultaneously no doubt come from lots of experience. But I can’t swallow “social justice” as its antidote.
Thank you so much, kind words like yours keeps me writing!
Go Alabama! If one blue state, just one blue state had the guts to do the same...
This summary is so great. Spot on. Thanks for putting thoughts onto paper. Now, how to share with my daughter, the ally to her confused and brainwashed sister.
Good news! And I like: "We need to stop treating childhood gender nonconformity as a medical emergency and start treating it as what it is: a natural variation in how people express themselves."
Perfect line!
So true. I have been thinking the same thing about Trump - although it remains to be seen what he will actually do to stop the harm to vulnerable children, teens and young adults, as it is unlikely that he is truly kept up at night by this issue - but he at least said all the right things about ending this regressive, tortuous, criminal treatment of those who don’t conform to stereotypes, and those with vulnerabilities. Let’s hope something good comes out of this election and the accidental allyship of states like Alabama!
Sorta like Trump becoming an accidental feminist by promising to keep men out of women’s sports and spaces. We shall see if he follows through.
Trump, “the accidental feminist”. Love this!
What great news!
well said
Even as a New Zealander, the irony of Alabama defending gay rights isn’t lost on me. But the Alabama Skremetti amicus brief is a work of art!
Thank you
One of the first. Out discovery is what gave up all the gems about the 💩 show which is WPATH. Boe V Marshall
Has Alabama banned pediatric gender-affirming care, I hope?
Not all sissy boys grow up to be fabulous gay men. I was a huge sissy as a little boy in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. The high-water mark was when I put on a runway show on the dining table with my Barbie doll. I was about eight.
Thankfully, neither parent played sex-role cop and neither did the kids at school.
And yes, like all the studies say, I was same-sex attracted. I didn’t want to be Barbie. I just loved her outfits.
But just as I didn’t fit the classic boy stereotypes of the era, I’m not a fabulous gay guy either. Anyone expecting me to hold the room with my razor-sharp quips and dramatic gestures will be disappointed. I’d rather vacation in Peru than Provincetown or Palm Springs.
To each his own, no? What matters is making sure that the next generation of gays gets to grow up to be the person they were meant to be instead of being put through the trans meat grinder. That would be a fate worse than death.
Loved reading this, made my morning—as a lesbian whose grandpa and grandma made their home for a long time in Alabama (after which they moved to deep red rural Texas)—I sure do know something of what you speak! (Not keen on social justice as it is currently configured, but in the context of this piece, it’s a detail.) Enjoy your sweet tea!
I appreciate hearing about this development but I kept waiting to read that there were actual arguments saying most (many) of the kids presenting were gender non-conforming, likely to end up homosexual? If so, kudos but … was there a mention of this? Or was it mostly about the harm of medicalization to kids? Are the words homosexual or gay or lesbian found in any of the arguments?
I encourage you to write an article on this and submit it to us or publish it yourself. We need more voices who care.