You are viewing a single comment thread. Show all comments.

ElizabelchUnpopular Opinions, LLCMarch 20, 2025

Here's local coverage too, for those who don't want to read LGBTQ Nation:

https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/arkansas-lawmakers-debate-gender-affirming-care-bill/91-bbab840e-2530-4055-b926-2c1e58e82e56

According to the bill, the definition of social transitioning is “by which a minor adopts a gender identity different from their biological sex that can include changes in clothing, pronouns, hairstyle, and name."

"Things like haircut, clothing, or even the use of pronouns; those are all free speech and so our concern there is when you're criminalizing or in this case providing a civil cause of action that has to pass a very high constitutional bar," a representative from the Attorney General's office explained.

I don't know how much our current federal government, at the highest levels, cares about free speech or constitutionality any more. I'm glad to see some people running Arkansas do. Destroying gender nonconformity and forcing traditional, stereotyped appearance is NOT the answer to trans.

pennygadgetMarch 20, 2025

Thanks for the alternative

According to the bill, the definition of social transitioning is “by which a minor adopts a gender identity different from their biological sex that can include changes in clothing, pronouns, hairstyle, and name."

"Things like haircut, clothing, or even the use of pronouns; those are all free speech and so our concern there is when you're criminalizing or in this case providing a civil cause of action that has to pass a very high constitutional bar," a representative from the Attorney General's office explained.

I don't like that rules about haircuts are bundled into a bill that also criminalizes actual abuse like medical transition for minors. Like, how would one even enforce the clothing and hair rule? Who determines what clothes and hair are meant to be "trans"? Does it account for cultural differences? Will every Samantha who goes by "Sam" get questioned about her nickname?

In addition to simply being wrong, this rule would be a nightmare to enforce

Shot_DunyunMarch 20, 2025

I don't know how much our current federal government, at the highest levels, cares about free speech

They care enough about it to want to eliminate compelled speech through "pronouns" for transgender people. I didn't vote for Trump and don't want to endorse him, but if you're going to look at one American political party that is pro-free-speech and one which is not, the answer might surprise you.

FutureBreedMachineMarch 20, 2025

I didn't vote for Trump and don't want to endorse him, but if you're going to look at one American political party that is pro-free-speech and one which is not, the answer might surprise you.

Huh? What does this mean? Neither party is actually for free speech. They both want to compel speech in their own way.