Dem
51
GOP
49
To provide a foundation for the reader comments on Trans Hate, we're writing up the many and varied news stories on the subject. The idea is to build a list of the various sources and purposes of trans hate, with some evidence. We will definitely do a wrap-up at the end.
Today, it's time to belabor an obvious point, namely that one of the things that is fueling trans hate is conscious efforts by politicians to use trans people as a wedge issue. We've seen plenty of this on the state level, of course, but now it's going national. Specifically, Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) has introduced H.R. 734, which he calls the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023. That pretty much tells the story, but in case you would like it spelled out, the legislation would amend Title IX to say that a person's sex is based solely on their reproductive organs at birth.
There is, of course, no chance this bill becomes law. It won't come up for a vote in the Senate, nor could it pass that body if it did. And if we were somehow mistaken about that (we aren't), there's no way it would ever get Joe Biden's signature. His administration has already announced plans for guidelines that would tell schools to do the exact opposite of what the new GOP bill would dictate.
Still, the House Education and Workforce Committee took up H.R. 734, and engaged in 16 hours of markup. So, it's going to come to the floor of the House for a vote. And the purpose of that vote, of course, is to force vulnerable Democrats to take a position on the subject. Hence, wedge issue. It's a shame that so many House Republicans seem to be interested in posturing and staging show votes, and that there are so few members like Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and Blaine Luetkemeyer, who seem to be interested in, you know, actually governing. (Z)