2020 Democratic presidential candidates’ positions on sex-based rights

Sigh. Here we go again:

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio

Today’s guidance lists several ways employers, landlords, and business owners could violate the Law on the basis of gender identity and expression, including:

Intentionally failing to use an individual’s preferred name, pronoun or title. For example, repeatedly calling a transgender woman “him” or “Mr.” when she has made it clear that she prefers female pronouns and a female title.
Refusing to allow individuals to use single-sex facilities, such as bathrooms or locker rooms, and participate in single-sex programs, consistent with their gender identity. For example, barring a transgender woman from a women’s restroom out of concern that she will make others uncomfortable.
Enforcing dress codes, uniforms, and grooming standards that impose different requirements based on sex or gender. For example, enforcing a policy that requires men to wear ties or women to wear skirts.
Failing to providing employee health benefits that cover gender-affirming care or failing to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals undergoing gender transition, including medical appointments and recovery, where such reasonable accommodations are provided to other employees. (Federal and New York laws already require certain types of insurance to cover medically-necessary transition-related care.)
Violations of the New York City Human Rights Law could result in civil penalties of up to $125,000 for violations, and up to $250,000 for violations that are the result of willful, wanton, or malicious conduct. There is no limit to the amount of compensatory damages the Commission may award to a victim of discrimination.
www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/961-15/nyc-commission-human-rights-strong-protections-city-s-transgender-gender

www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/501-18/mayor-de-blasio-signs-historic-legislation-adding-third-gender-category-birth-certificates#/0

twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/834905472008339456 (supportive retweet of city public schools guidelines allowing student self-ID for bathroom/changing facilities)

Lots of catching up to do here, sorry I have been negligent (DH and I are trying to buy a house and it's been madness!)

Today's big news is the announcement by

former Vice-President Joe Biden.

The Biden Foundation has made the promotion of gender ideology a top priority, launching the "Advancing Acceptance" campaign with the Movement Advancement Project and Gender Spectrum.

"Founded in 2006, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) is an independent, nonprofit think tank that provides rigorous research, insight and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all."

Gender Spectrum "provide[s] an array of services designed to help families, schools, professionals, and organizations understand and address concepts of Gender identity and expression." Diane Ehrensaft (she who claims that a toddler tearing barrettes from her hair is making a statement about her gender identity) sits on the board of directors.

In addition, Biden counts as a family friend Sarah McBride, the National Press Secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, a major player in pushing the Equality Act and other gender identity legislation in the US. (Some will remember the harsh criticism Posie Parker and Julia Long received for confronting McBride after a meeting in Congress).

Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15)

From his House site:

Everyone should be treated equally under the law. Love is love and I’m thrilled the Supreme Court agrees. We should all have the same chance to live up to our given potential. Discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity simply has no place in modern society, and we must do all we can to stamp it out.

What I am Doing for You

I'm an original cosponsor of H.R. 2282, the Equality Act, a bipartisan bill that would ensure the same protections already extended to other protected classes are equally available to LGBT Americans. It would amend existing federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in education, employment, housing, credit, Federal jury service, public accommodations, and the use of Federal funds.

I’m an original cosponsor of H.R. 5374, the Student Non-Discrimination Act, to prohibit discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools, protect students from intimidation and violence, and create learning environments in which each and every child can learn and thrive. (I co-sponsored this as H.R. 846 in the 114th Congress.)

Representative Tim Ryan (OH-13)

From his House site:

Although we now have marriage equality, there is still institutionalized discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in public accommodations, housing, employment, and other core areas of daily life. That is why I am an original cosponsor of the Equality Act, which bars discrimination against LGBTQ Americans in public accommodations, education, federal financial assistance, employment, housing, credit, and federal jury service.

Representative Seth Moulton (MA-6)

From his House site:

As a member of the Equality Caucus, I am working with colleagues to implement reforms that would ensure greater equality in our schools and in the workplace. I recently joined several of my colleagues in writing a letter to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan that commends the Department of Education for its work to address the bullying of LGBT youth while encouraging the agency to issue a final guidance outlining the obligations to protect LGBT students from discrimination.

OK I think I've covered it! With a field this crowded, though, some minor players may slip through the cracks. Sorry.

Just realized I left out Hickenlooper (afraid that reveals my bias as to his chances!) Oops.

Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado:

"If my public support for trans individuals being able to have every right, every privilege, every access, if that provokes so much response, it’s a reflection of how vicious and accusatory the world is to people who are different.
www.outfrontmagazine.com/inthemag/a-legacy-of-inclusivity-gov-hickenlooper-gets-an-ally-award/

RedToothBrush I think you are right about this issue depressing some potential voters. It is worrisome.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana.

www.out.com/news/2019/3/12/pete-buttigieg-calls-war-trans-americans-end

Pete Buttigieg has once again called on federal lawmakers to pass the Equality Act.

Speaking at one of the back-to-back town halls CNN organized at the South by Southwest festival in Austin on Sunday, the South Bend, Indiana mayor-turned-Democratic presidential hopeful reaffirmed his support for the Equality Act, which, if passed by Congress and signed into law, would extend existing federal nondiscrimination protections for women and people of color to LGBTQ+ people, as well. He also spoke out against what he calls “the war on trans Americans” that terrorizes trans children, even in their own schools.

Governor Jay Inslee of Washington state.

www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/statement-inslee-trump-administration-removing-protections-transgender-students

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/gov-jay-inslee-signs-ban-on-sexual-orientation-conversion-therapy/

Washington is one of the wokest states, and Inslee has been all aboard for banning "conversion therapy" for "trans kids" i.e. making it illegal for therapists to ask questions about trauma, homosexuality, and other possible causes for cross-gender identification in children.

Representative Beto O'Rourke of El Paso, TX.

Senate Candidate Beto O’Rourke received thunderous applause for his answer poised by a trans youth during the packed Dallas town hall held on March 29th.

Beto answered by specifically condemning SB6, one of many transgender bathroom bills introduced in 2017 by Republican Texas extremists targeting the most vulnerable, transgender children.
planettransgender.com/beto-orourke-tdov/?cn-reloaded=1

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont (declared):

Co-sponsor of the Equality Act. Had this to tweet when Trump administration reverted to original interpretation of "sex" in Title IX to mean "sex" rather than "gender identity":

We are lost here, lost. It's a horrible position to be in
Agreed, Oldermum. It is really bleak.

More info on what Gillibrand said:

www.cbsnews.com/news/kirsten-gillibrand-2020-democratic-contender-backs-third-gender-classification-at-federal-level/

So the question was about birth certificates as well as driver's licenses, and the X would replace birth sex notation rather than supplement it.

SignMeUp I like Warren and think she is more sincere than most politicians. However she has very much swallowed the transactivist line that genderism is "the right side of history."

I think she feels very guilty for having dealt with the Native American heritage stuff in the wrong way in the past, and is determined to listen to others to find out what the "right way" is on this issue. Too bad, since she does actually have experience of living in our society as a woman (but not as a Native American), and as a reportedly brilliant law professor should be able to see the consequences of eliminating women and girls as a sex class for civil rights under the law.

T news sources were somewhat disappointed in Harris' response to their recent questions on gender identity ideology. I think she is most likely to try to walk the line between not pissing them off and not making their demands a priority. (Of course this won't work; they are professionally pissed-off, but this hasn't yet played out in the real national spotlight).

I never understood why Biden was so popular with many Dems. I was just a kid during the Thomas hearings and I still remember how awful he was to Anita Hill. Add in all the photos of him touching women who are clearly uncomfortable, and the general sort of slick politician manner...he would be near the bottom of my list. Shudder.

Looks like Pete Buttigieg will announce this week. He is gay and 37 and seems to be a fully onboard with current genderist orthodoxy.

Gillibrand going all in for genderism:

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) reportedly said she would support for federal recognition of a third gender Friday at a campaign event in New Hampshire.

The senator, who is running for president in 2020, told a room of LGBTQ activists that she would support a third designation of "X" at the federal level for those not identifying as a man or woman, according to CBS News.

"Yes," Gillibrand said when asked if she would support such a designation at the federal level, according to CBS, which noted that she received applause from activists for her quick answer.

www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gillibrand-backs-federal-classification-of-third-gender-report/ar-BBTGOY8?ocid=spartanntp

Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota (declared):

A leader for LGBTQ equality in the U.S. Senate, Senator Klobuchar is an original cosponsor of the Equality Act, crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit, permanent protections for LGBTQ people under our nation's existing civil rights laws. She also recently spoke out against the Trump-Pence discriminatory ban on transgender troops.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-endorses-mn-senator-amy-klobuchar-for-re-election

Original cosponsor, eh?

Sorry SMU, I must have misread. Can't go back to check now.

On topic, it looks like Amy Klobuchar is going to announce this weekend. I almost hesitate to go looking for what she's said on the topic. It's getting depressing to see candidate after candidate embrace gender identity ideology blithely, without regard to the effect on female people [and Monitors, I include female people who identify as trans in that number.]

Have we covered Ilhan Omar's thing this week yet? I'll have to go search.

Thanks, SignMeUp! I appreciate that.

Caucho it was SMU's characterization of AOC as a "Congresswoman dumbass" to which I objected.

It doesn't matter in the end because it's not on-topic. If you would like to create a thread about AOC or Hillary or Bill Clinton, I encourage you to do so. None of them is running for president in 2020.

I’m a bloke. Shouldn’t be so invested as it doesn’t impact me much in reality. Men have kids though. They have daughters. I don’t currently but still horrified about the state of affairs.
DH and I do have young daughters, so this stuff is very personal for me. I am glad to see men taking an interest. Everyone's mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters will be affected by the proposed legislation in both the UK and the US.