Edit: This was “fixed” around 17:00 EST. Maybe it was an error? Or maybe too many people saw the attempt? Who knows?
Congress has started pretending parts of the US Constitution don’t exist. Presumably they did this to make the “Mad King” a bit happier. No, this is not sarcasm. Sections 8, 9, and 10 of Article 1 have been partially or completely deleted. You can find the altered version on the Congressional website here.
Half of section 8, governing Congressional power over the military is removed.
Section 9 had, among other things:
Habeas Corpus the right to get a court hearing instead of arbitrary imprisonment a ban on foreign emoluments for the US officials (eg: payments from foreign governments)
Section 10 reserved foreign policy for the federal government instead of the states.
The full original text of the founding document of this nation is still available, at least for now, at the National Constitution Center. I personally have saved a copy of that page. It’s come to this. If we want to preserve our history as a nation, we have to do so individually. Each and every one of use should make a copy.
For now, the journey (as a nation) continues. How long that will be true, no one can truly predict.
A federal judge in Massachusetts on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from refusing to process and issue passport applications for transgender and nonbinary people in accordance with their gender identity.
This is the first paragraph of a story today from Chris Geidner, known online as the LawDork. This is huge if it holds. Trump immediately attacked transgender rights in his second term. One of his first actions was reversing the prior administration’s policy of self-determination of gender on US passports. This court order reinstates the self-determination policy that was in place before Trump’s executive order. It includes the recognition of X markers for non-binary people.
Of course, it is highly likely that the Trump administration will appeal this order. For now though, the issuance of passports with correct gender marker is once again policy. Will the Trump administration obey this court order? That remains to be seen. This federal government has been making a habit of ignoring court orders. If I hadn’t gotten my passport with the correct gender already, I would certainly be applying now.
The journey continues. Today, we see a glimmer of hope.
I would encourage you to check out this post from Tilly Bridges. Her analyses of trans allegory in popular media are always fascinating! This one is absolutely spot on. For anyone not in the know: ‘Per aspera ad astra is a Latin phrase that translates literally as “through asperities (hardships, adversities, rigours) to the stars.”‘ (Wikipedia) Thus, Ad astra per aspera would roughly translate to “To the stars through adversity.”
Tilly promises a three-part series on the topic of this episode of Strange New Worlds. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
ICE is a rogue police agency that’s been given license to literally detain anyone they choose. Being a citizen is no protection. Carry your papers. Who knows when some armed thug in jeans and a face mask will come up on you and demand them.
Even the Nazis wore uniforms.
Due Process applies to everyone, or it applies to no one. If they can do this to American citizens of Latino descent, what stops them from doing the same to you? Are you cis-het, white, and male? No? Then you could be next.
The wife of a dear friend has begun a project to bring attention to the plight of trans people worldwide, and help cis people be better allies. Check it out.
I personally have remained active in the community since my transition back in late 2010. But I know many of the “elders” have gone stealth, and I understand that desire. I agree with Moriel though. Our community needs us. And we need them, especially now.
Excerpt from the post:
Today, though, there is an international movement to oppress us through the law and we are attacked nearly every day by transphobic politicians and activists. Today’s generation of people just coming to terms with their gender face a very hostile environment and have difficult obstacles to overcome. That is why I got back in touch with the trans community a few years ago after being absent from it for two decades.
News from Assigned Media: Odessa Texas “has now declared the [bathroom bounty] ordinance unenforceable, a step taken after voters ousted the council members and mayor who had pushed it through.”
Today I read an article about the increase in hate crimes against transgender people in LA county. One of the most progressive states in the nation, and yet, hate crimes in that county are up 125% in 2023 over the previous year. That’s a staggering number, and that was before people like me were used by Trump and his surrogates as a political football.
I am a well educated woman, a lesbian, and an eclectic Pagan. I am loving and giving. I am a caretaker type, who often fails miserably at self care. I have fibromyalgia, seizure disorder, and AFib.
I am complex, complicated, and worth the effort.
An Aging Trans Woman 