2020 Democratic presidential candidates’ positions on sex-based rights

[GrinitchSpinach]

As the 2020 election circus gets underway (God help us) I wanted to make a thread to collect information on the declared or potential candidates’ positions on sex-based rights.

I am very concerned that uncritical support for the erasure of sex-based rights may have become the new Democratic orthodoxy while no one was paying much attention, and that this will be wielded as an effective wedge by the GOP to divide the left and center just when our entire democracy needs urgently to focus on expelling Trump and his enablers.

I hope it’s ok to put this here. There are other more US-heavy forums, but Mumsnet feels like my spiritual home, and I know there are at least a few other Americans here.

The cultural war raging in the US atm means no democratic candidate will have anything other than a woke mantra declaring their credentials of having a 'liberal identity' in order to win the Dem nomination. It's competitive wokeness.

Ironically the way to the white House probably lies with being more gender critical as those with a Liberal identity will always vote Dem but someone who is able to add nuance and understand critical voices of more conservative 'soccer moms' will win more votes in more crucial states.

And therein lies the problem for the democratic party.

They will select someone who appeals to their own but won't connect with more moderates. And the trans stuff will actively alienate or depress some potential voters.

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.

I'm feeling more and more certain that thanks to American third wave feminism and postmodernism, women in the US are going to lose everything Second Wavers fought for.

Already even Ocasio-Cortez speaks of an economy without actual employment, so many are going to lose jobs to automation. This is supposed to be a wonderful thing, freeing people up for creative work, etc. But what it actually does is remove people from having any say in the social relations around the processes that actually shape society all that will be decided by corporate execs while everyone else is paid pittances to go off and live their "creative lives." Or just to smoke legal weed while binge-watching Netflix either way, away from the places of decision-making.

Well, we all know who loses jobs when there aren't enough to go around, and who loses voice when only so many voices are permitted platforms.

I believe this is why "sex work is work" is being shoved down our throats. Women, in the coming scarcity, will have two options, both of which depend on getting money from men. It's Gilead, but from the left it coming without the Christian fundamentalists, who are also pushing their version from the right -- in their version, falling white birth rates are global calamity and white women must be yoked to childbirth.

Postmodernism has erased all politics. No one on the left knows any damn thing about political or economic theory. There's atually no political theory of governance at work here at all. Only reactive reponse to changing circumstance, and work to position a response that can be sold. That's why it's all, one way or the other, reactionary.

Democracy, in the old-fashioned sense of the word rising from the Greek "demos", it ain't.

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.

Like I said basically on the Biden thread I can't bring myself to vote for someone who's willing to erase my sex-based rights (i.e. TWAW).

I do not think voting for someone that believes TWAW is a good move when zero risk assessment has been carried out. I think Dem candidates that tow the TWAW line have an irresponsible and ignorant perspective on gender identity and its implications.

It blows my mind that some voices are ignored when they don't tow the line of the left even in the face of voting for TWAW declared politicians; how can feminists willfully disregard that a politician declaring TWAW poses significant danger to our sex-based rights? Dem politicians towing the TWAW line don't give a fuck about you any more than the Rep politicians do. Dems/Reps are more interested in image and appealing to their base and gaining new votes than serving the citizens. They both are willing to sell women and girls out for power along the path.

We have some Dem candidates in front of us that could be good (impressive even) if we can get them to see the light and denounce TWAW or at the very least acknowledge and promise to act to protect sex as a protected class.

I am currently drafting letters to our '20 Dem candidates. Regardless of who I like for the race and who I don't I'm more than willing to participate in getting all of them to see the light.

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)

Hope that someone is fined in NY and sues. This has first amendment implications and is akin to compelled speech. At least the USA has the first amendment and ironically by Trump being elected the Supreme court has a conservative majority who at least know what sex is.