Biden will address your 'gender identity' rather than your sex.

[Cailleach1]

Biden says Dr Rachel Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic — no matter their zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability — and meet the public health needs of our country in this critical moment and beyond

So, when Biden says 'woman' I assume he means your gender identity and not your sex. What about those women who cast aside crappy gender stereotypes which are detrimental to women.

TL;DR Don't know if that means it's ok not to get people through this pandemic because of their natal and immutable sex. But don't worry, if you adopt a gender identity, the new administration will get you through it.

Still ok to f*ck women over I guess, 'cos sex not as much a thing as say 'zip code'. Issues related to zip code much more important than issues because of your sex. If you don't see natal and immutable sex, then you can't see sex discrimination. Maybe it all disappears in the first hour of the new administration. Kinda Trump, really. Don't look for it or call it by it's name and hey presto, it's gone.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/rachel-levine-transgender-biden-cabinet-assistant-health-secretary-b1789420.html

I hope the huge created industry of child medicalisation doesn't get carte blanche to soar in the US?

It was important for Trump to lose. The final absolute truth of that was his behaviour after the election and particularly on 6 January. However, Trump losing means other losses for us on a number of fronts. Especially since I'm wondering whether Biden will operate as a Trojan Horse.

As EdgeOfACoin says, the focus should be court cases in the UK. They're part of a few oases of sense, including The Times, which are willing to permit discussion and use reality-based decision-making.

A contributor on BBC radio 4 now saying Joe Biden needs to back off on the identity politics, Republicans hate it and so do a lot of liberals apparently. She says it's the far left that are pushing it.

It was Megan Kelly.

Slight correction, it's Megyn Kelly, best known over here as the Fox anchor who asked Trump a difficult question which caused him to launch particularly unhinged attacks against her including a suggestion that during the questioning she had been menstruating out of her eyes.

Feeling subdued today, so glad to see the back of Trump but afraid of how far women’s rights will be lost in the US before being recovered. Seeing Harris being sworn in was emotional though.

EdgeOfACoin is right, legal cases are our best bet right now.

I agree with stumbledin.

He's not in my view an opportunist (beyond the norm for politicians), nor do I agree that his mental capacity is impaired. I think that is an incredibly offensive line to take - I have plenty of people that age in my life who are just as sharp and engaged as ever but whose long life experience often gives them an ability to judge events, developments and people in far more astute and even prescient ways than those decades younger. Furthermore, Biden has himself spoken candidly about the severe stammer he struggled with as a child. As many others who similarly struggled as children, his famous gaffes suggest that he
retains an interiorised one as an adult (ie he has developed a number of techniques to disguise his disfluency when it happens).

What US Americans need is a number of socio-economic and legal reforms, especially the adoption of moderate social-democratic policies widely followed across European countries for decades. There's a number of protections that simply do not exist, in terms of employment, maternity, food safety, standards in all areas of life - whenever there's an issue that pits corporations against ordinary people, the people lose out. This is not benefiting the country as a whole, but reforms are unlikely to happen under Biden. Because he isn't just a believer in the American Dream where hard work pays off in the end, he's lived it. No need for reforms if everyone can succeed if they just try hard enough.

These reforms are viewed and portrayed as socialist, and much argued for by left wing Americans, as is a halt and reverse of the surveillance culture that has thrived after 9/11. There've been a whole range of policies engaged in by administrations of both parties that have grave implications for the civil liberties of Americans.

However, Biden is a centrist who once voted Republican. Whose well-to-do parents lost their wealth when he was younger and who then gained it all back through hard work and business acumen. Who is a moderate on many key issues and as a senator was lauded for his ability to engage in constructive and successful bi-partisan endeavours. He is unlikely to pursue any of these reforms. But he still needs to keep the leftwingers onside somehow. Identity politics offers him the chance to look left wing and progressive. He's never been strong on women's rights, not a clue whether that's coming from disinterest or disagreement. So he's just going to embrace this as an area where being progressive costs him nothing.

That doesn't make him as bad as or worse than Trump or an enemy of women or anything else. It just makes him a typical politician. And an average man engaged in politics - everything else is more important than women's issues.

Warning: I just got a message removed where I complained that if people are kind enough not to criticize clothing/makeup/hair of male government leaders, then I expect the same curtesy for female government leaders.

Funny, people still know what a woman is (as per it's definition of an adult female human) when it comes to criticise their appearance. Special gift, as this classification so terribly complex (apparently).

Much as I want Biden to be wonderful (and he's obviously stratospheres above his predecessor in so many ways), this tweet from GLAAD did not fill me with great confidence.

twitter.com/glaad/status/1351974350853967876?s=19

Wow never thought I'd see the day that a thread on here would be so balanced when talking about Trump and Biden. Usually if you don't agree Biden is amazing your a Pro Trump, far right alt or someone paid to make comments.

Anyway I came to say its appalling but hardly surprising given this was known about Biden and we can only hope he serves the full term because he is not as extreme left as Kamala is

Did the deleted post ask if the distinguished gentlemen could be persuaded to identify themselves for each other by wearing a flash of pretty colour? It was so confusing watching the inaugration with so many white-haired men in dark coats and face masks. Could not even see their lovely smiles on a winter's day. Pity.

I think the difference is in USA UK they don't have equality laws universally the same as in UK.

So you can be discriminated against for being gay/ trans when it comes to jobs and housing.

It's a different environment with different laws and the fact that it's ok to discriminate on important things (which it isn't here) makes people just generically say any 'discrimination' is wrong ie prisons etc.

Of course as we've seen a lot of people don't give a stuff about women and girls, as well.

@cateycloggs

Did the deleted post ask if the distinguished gentlemen could be persuaded to identify themselves for each other by wearing a flash of pretty colour? It was so confusing watching the inaugration with so many white-haired men in dark coats and face masks. Could not even see their lovely smiles on a winter's day. Pity.

Ahh...I had not added that, but I agree that the more white middle age men experiment with color and pattern, the more distinctive they will be. Like that species of ducks where the males have such colorful plumage yet the females are just a dull brown (probs evolutionary to help them hide into the background and escape the leers from the male dicks ducks).

I think the difference is in USA UK they don't have equality laws universally the same as in UK.

Correct. We have few sex-based rights. We have sex-based sports rights for girls (Title IX) and some abortion rights (vary by state regulations and interpretations of Roe v Wade).

Men in the past got very done up.

And certain subtle modes of dress were used even homosexuality was illegal in UK.

Thanks delphinium.

The situation is just very different.

While we do should keep an eye on the USA etc in the end they are a very different country, culture, history.

We need to focus on the UK.

(I know you all know that :))

Do you think Biden will run into real problems when someone or group decides to take on the Catholic Church? I don't know what the situation is if a consecrated Catholic (correct term?) decides priest comes out as mtf transexual. Or if a ftm transexual found a vocation to enter a seminary and train as a priest. Is the Catholic priesthood still entirely reserved for males? I know other denominations allow a variety of people to serve as pastors/leaders.

The previous poster wrote about the lack of emploment rights in the USA, would the rules of the Catholic church have the same exception?

Multiracial whiteness must be the most racist thing I've ever heard in my fucking life, are you fucking kidding me?!?! "If you think like this, you're no longer the actual race you were born into, you're actual whitey in disguise."

@NiceGerbil

Men in the past got very done up.

And certain subtle modes of dress were used even homosexuality was illegal in UK.

Yes I know, Nice Gerbil, that's why I am expressing disappointment in their dullness, I genuinely think it is a pity and also confusing. The women looked great especially Lady GAGA. I don't know what your reference to homosexuality is referring to?

In Ireland the priest and nun roles are exemptions.

USA has massive leeway for religions- see sects of all sorts over the years.

That isn't going to come up.

And in the end it's down to the Vatican.

Loads of hosps in USA are RC which has led to excess deaths of women and babies due to beliefs.

Also see abortion issues.

I really doubt the tra will go for that. Too troublesome.

Eg here there's primogeniture for the lords etc which has a trans exemption (transitioned female to male cannot inherit ahead of male sibling) and zero noise about that.

They know which side their bread is buttered.

Why are you disappointed? That's what men in power in the West look like. Their garb isn't important because their thoughts and words are. It's power, not to have to grab attention through dress.

On the other bit. Gay men in the UK had subtle signs in their dress. When it was illegal.

Maybe I misunderstood you?

@NiceGerbil

Why are you disappointed? That's what men in power in the West look like. Their garb isn't important because their thoughts and words are. It's power, not to have to grab attention through dress.

On the other bit. Gay men in the UK had subtle signs in their dress. When it was illegal.

Maybe I misunderstood you?

I was trying to jest about how normally so much obsessive attention is paid to females appearing in public and yet here was a whole host of indetikit men and no-one commented on that. Yeah I know it's male power dressing - black= I am a very serious man here. Came in in the 19th Century. And I have heard about gay men signalling with handkerchiefs, types of jeans, facial hair etc. In a funny way Trump was more distinctive because of his make up. I always wondered if Melania was not being just at touch subversive by not offering him any tips when she is an expert at make up. I was also trying to imagine the scene had trump supprters succeeded . Would they have shown up in their filthy 'combat' outfits, old sweat clothes, weird dress up outfits? That would've been fun.

Oh for God's sake.

I was going to mention primogeniture and the British House of Lords but I was going on too long. Do you mean tra won't go there because its too much trouble when other targets are easier? Maybe they could be infiltrated and a push made to put the cat amongst the pigeons. I never thought the CofE would have women priests but now they do despite the most conservative opponents trying to resist on grounds that women priests are transvestites for wearing long gowns. Not what Jesus intended obviousl. Sorry more sarciness.

Bernie Sanders' outfit is under discussion:

www.fox9.com/news/bernie-sanders-mittens-vermont-senators-inauguration-day-outfit-lights-up-social-media

Perhaps a bit off-topic...