one of the ways in which both tech and political media fail us is their failure to point out that these guys all have views that would’ve been considered noxious and unworthy of discussion fifty years ago
Inanna Zami | Don't do the fascists' work for them! | Trans and Resisting | Mid-20s
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one of the ways in which both tech and political media fail us is their failure to point out that these guys all have views that would’ve been considered noxious and unworthy of discussion fifty years ago
This is a recurring plague in dissident (esp. but not only leftist) politics among marginalized groups, and in practice (in many different times and places, for many different groups) little more than a way for a few especially nasty busybodies to hold their group co-members down and exploit them.
Sex work is 1000% more honorable and socially beneficial than working as an ICE agent.
I don't dream of labor, I do dream of organized labor and unions, for everyone. Happy #LaborDay to all who actually support labor rights!
Okay. I just came back to this and you aren’t calling these efforts resegregation yet, you absolutely should be
Little musical interlude for @erinbiba.bsky.social
Do not forget! - it felt this way before the 2018 wave (albeit the current misconduct is worse) - polls and likely voter behavior are more resilient than vibes - the whole goal of “flood the zone” politics is for everyone to feel isolated and exhausted - simply persisting undermines that goal
This is a HUGE motivation for me to be at a public opinion research firm because simply telling ableds "eugenics is happening, it will eventually come for you" wasn't working.
JD Vance arranging the body on the oval office sofa to finally watch Hillbilly Elegy together. “It’s great JD, you’re my favorite president,” he mutters from the corners of his mouth, forcing Trump’s frail, stiffened arms to clap
Old Soviet joke for today: A man walks into a newsstand every day, looks around, and leaves. After a long time of this, the owner says “Can I help you find something?” “I’m looking for the obituaries.” “The obituaries are in the back of the newspaper, comrade.” “Not the one I’m looking for.”
"The first wave of grocery-price increases will likely hit this winter. Roberson predicted produce prices could rise 50% to 100% by early next year as inventories clear and new contracts kick in." fortune.com/2025/08/28/t...
New: The ACLU of Texas and a group of LGBTQ+ and student rights organizations are suing to block a new state law that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in K-12 public schools.
CDC scientists receive a heroes welcome after walking out today.
Yeah... it's horrible to stare into.
Rep. @jon-rosenthaltx.bsky.social is right. #SB8 would not just harm transgender Texans, but subjects ALL WOMEN to government “investigation” of their genitals. We don’t need the government in our bathrooms. #txlege
It's a little known fact that tiny bunnies are really damned cute.
Who knew this light would be so heavy? 😅
Bill passes, 86-43. And I am ending my coverage! Please note, HB 7, an anti-abortion bill, is slated to be considered some time later today. And please please take care of yourself if you watched this horror show live. Live no matter what. I love you. #sb8 #txlege
Bill passes, 86-43. And I am ending my coverage! Please note, HB 7, an anti-abortion bill, is slated to be considered some time later today. And please please take care of yourself if you watched this horror show live. Live no matter what. I love you. #sb8 #txlege
Orr is closing. She immediately invokes tradition and continues to use "common sense" language and denies the bill is at all radical, despite all arguments made otherwise.
She says Republicans are driven by homophobia and transphobia, and claims multiple GOP reps are chasers. You can read a bit on her here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jolanda...
She calls the potential use of IDs to use the bathroom "complete BS." She argues the 14th and 4th Amendments make this bill unconstitutional, as well as clauses of the Texas Constitution.
Rep. Jolanda Jones (D-147): "It's not about safety, it's about shame... #sb8 discriminates against a class of people who are constitutionally protected. It targets them. It stigmatizes them. It criminalizes them. And when we legislate hate, people get hurt."
He cites the number of murdered trans women and how it completely overshadows any example Republicans brought up to support the measure.
Rep. Moody (D-78) says the unrelenting hatred "happens on a good day," and says the bill opens up much worse. "It is personhood for some at the expense of others."
Rep. Wade Johnson (D-139) criticizes Republicans for using religion to pursue authoritarian goals as other conservatives have done to justify slavery and segregation.
Hernandez criticizes the anti-lawsuit language in the bill. "This bill tells some of our most valuable neighbors...that their dignity and identity are up for public debate."
Hernandez (D-115) is speaking against the bill again. I will be honest, this past few minutes has been emotionally painful. Virdell is hardly unique in his hatred. I may not be able to finish this thread with the final vote.
Rep. Perez (D-77) is asking questions now, about how the enforcement mechanism is identical to ones targeting gun owners. It largely goes nowhere. Virdell's time has expired.
After questioning resumes, Virdell will not share what he defines as "every reasonable action."
More shouting from the gallery by trans demonstrators, Speaker is clearing the entire gallery as warned multiple times.
Virdell is an intensely hateful bastard, considers trans children to be a result of child abuse.
Rep. Virdell (R-53) says the bill is simple, refuses to elaborate. A trans demonstrator yells "No!" multiple times and is silenced by the Speaker. Virdell is now taking questions. Zwiener asks about if worse suicidality among trans youth is acceptable, and Virdell answers he does not care.
"This bill is cruel, it is unnecessary, and it is beneath us. We have real work to do." She does call this bill a distraction, which has not been viewed as appropriate language by a lot of trans advocates, including myself.
Rep. Cole (D-46) says the business community, including multiple Chambers of Commerce, are still opposed to this bill.
She also calls Democrats fake Christians. Rep. Garcia (D-107) expresses outrage over this bill being a priority, and says she has had to correct multiple members over her son's gender over his long hair.
Rep. Hickland (R-55) asks why a crime needs to be committed for the state to take action. "Why is there such an obsession with allowing men in women's spaces?" The framing is constantly insisting that trans women are inherent threats to cis women.
He admonishes the GOP for using "protect women" to persecute a minority instead of helping victims of violence.
"Texans believe in minding our own business. Texans believe in fairness. Texans believe that government shouldn't be sticking it's nose into the most private corners of our lives. But this bill does exactly that."
He says people are already experiencing harassment in states that have passed this type of law, and that the bill causes more danger, not less.
Rep. Rosenthal: "It deputizes people to police other people's bodies."
"There are authoritarians in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia, that are looking at our good ole U.S. of A. laws, and they're glee, because now they have a new way to massacre and kill a whole other set of people."
He says Republicans went after trans people because we're an easy target and they thought no one would care, but that he and other Democrats do care.
"You are creating a law because you hate people." He then immediately turned around and criticized Republicans for trying to profit off the Minneapolis shooting after their policies got five of Rep. Manuel's constituents shot.
Rep. Manuel (D-22) calls Republicans identical to Islamist extremists. Frankly I'm not sure he's doing a good job with this debate. He's clearly trying to tie this effort back to the old discriminatory policies that Nazi Germany copied from the U.S.
Rep. Troxclair (R-19) tried to ask a question, presumably about how the Minneapolis shooter was trans, but Jones' time ran out and she didn't get to answer. Rep. Gonzalez (D-75) says the 400k women experiencing sexual assault this year deserve more attention than trans people.
"To every LGBTQ Texas...we see you, we got you, and we will continue to fight for you." The solidarity expressed by the rest of the LGBTQ+ community towards transgender Texans is absolutely necessary right now.
Jones is talking about how Passion Star was repeatedly sexually assaulted, because #sb8 also would force trans women in men's prisons. She was "beaten, raped, and threatened with death." "And members laugh."
Rep. Jones (D-100) is back, saying no one asked them to vote for this. "Is it worth it to continue to deny the will of this state for a score card vote?" "This is part of a coordinated campaign to erase LGBTQ Texans from public life."
He argues that focusing on this is a way for Republicans to avoid tackling actual problems. "All SB 8 does is pick on people, who really just wanna be left the hell alone."
"I urge you to vote hell no on SB 8." Rep. Turner (D-101) says "we're supposed to be the state of freedom, of liberty, of limited government. This bill violates the principles so many of you hold dear."
She specifically says this is going to negatively impact tourism and every industry touching it because of how blatantly discriminatory it is.
Rep. Bowers (D-113) says the business community is opposed to this bill "because it is bad for people, bad for business, and bad for Texas."
Rep. Campos (D-119) is speaking against the whole bill now. "What this bill really says is that fear and cruelty have more value in this chamber in this chamber than compassion and understanding."
The point of order was withdrawn. Amendment offered by Rep. Toth (R-15) would increase each penalty by 5x, raising the first day's fine from $5k to $25k. Amendment passes, 84-41. Clearly meant to punish Democrats both for the walkout and resisting this legislation.
The representative filing this point of order is Rep. Mary Gonzalez (D-75), not the Gonzales who has spoken previously today.
Lawfare is incredible.
Moody's point of order is withdrawn, another representative immediately files another one saying the caption of the bill does not inform legislators appropriately and should be removed from further consideration.
Rep. Moody is back at the Speaker's desk to debate his point of order ending all movement on #sb8 in the #txlege, claiming the bill is too broad.
Still nothing. This bill has reminded me just how much I hate the GA GOP and I am going to do my best to see them humiliated in the 2026 midterms.
After about 20 minutes of debate, Rep. Moody has walked away from the Speaker's desk. No word on a decision yet.
They have been debating this claim for over ten minutes, and frankly I'm not sure whether it's because it's that difficult a question or half the chamber needs some fresh air before going on. This has been debated for nearly four hours now.
“I heard the bill author say they weren’t sure if they were here to protect trans rights, but we are. I don’t want anyone to go home today thinking that they are not wanted or loved. Because that is not where we stand. Not in Texas.” Thank you, Rep. Nicole Collier. #txlege #SB8
That being said, as a trans Southerner, that's the right political play for Democrats: presenting a unified opposition to the bill. For all I know, the absented reps were actually sick or doing district work or handling their families. I would need to do a deeper dive on that.
despite internal strife within the Democratic party about whether these bills are worth opposing. I have noticed this same debate in GA, and it was one of the more consistently frustrating things about doing the advocacy work.
It's worth noting about a dozen or so people were excused from the start of this floor session for one reason or another. D votes have fairly consistently been mid-40s while there are 62 D House reps. I think that was done to show a united front by Democrats against this legislation...
Orr says "this amendment is unnecessary and I move to table," yet again refusing to debate any portion of the bill. Amendment is tabled, 83-44. Red. Moody (D-78), the Speaker pro tempore has raised a point of order against further consideration due to the bill being too broad.
Amendment is tabled, 83-47. Rep. Gonzalez (D-104) returns with an amendment disincentivizing people from filing frivolous cases based on an individual's appearance.
Orr says "I am not advised" on whether gender non-conforming women will be discriminated against on the basis of sex and moves to table. She refused to answer concerns as to whether this bill would encourage sex discrimination under Bostock v. Clayton County.
Orr finally yields to questions. Zwiener asks if she will support this amendment, and Orr immediately says "I will move to table" and "it is not necessary."
Rep. Rose's amendment would ban sex discrimination in the enforcement of this law. She filed it on behalf of two transgender constituents who were murdered.
The amendment is allowed to go to a floor debate after the point of order is withdrawn.
Amendment is tabled, 84-44. Rep. Rose (D-11) submits an amendment, it is immediately challenged as "not germane." On a personal note, I would like to point out there's a lot of debate I haven't been able to quote, but Democrats are very opposed to this bill.
Orr has moved to table, refusing to take questions *again*. She knows exactly what she wants, and she knows it's despicable. Zwiener invokes Marbury v. Madison to ask whether this part of the bill was even constitutional, and Hernandez "there's been no ability to do that in the past."
Republicans are trampling on basic governmental procedures to target trans people. #txlege #sb8
Rep. Howard (D-48): "This fee-shifting thing: it's not a normal thing, is it?" Hernandez: "No, it's not."
"If the state can pass a law today and no one can challenge it in court...if it can punish lawyers for representing people whose rights are affected, then what can't it do?"
Hernandez says the right to sue if your rights are violated are crushed by this bill. "It is designed to silence legal descent."
Amendment is tabled, 85-44. Rep. Cass Hernandez (D-115) offers an amendment that would strike all the "can't find me unconstitutional" language in the bill.
Orr says "this amendment undermines the enforcement of this bill; I move to table." Collier says that phrasing is an admission of trying to discriminate against trans people.
Rosenthal asks whether the bill will be weaponized against gender non-conforming individuals. Collier says it would and that the amount of litigation for these cases would clog up the courts.
Collier is moving to strike the private right of action because she believes it will encourage out of state bounty hunters launching frivolous claims against political subdivisions and state agencies in order to make a living.
“Do trans women and trans men not deserve the same privacy and protection as cis women and girls do?” “I am not advised and I move to table.” #SB8 #txlege
She directly says the majority are copying the attacks against Black women and applying them to trans women without any evidence.
Collier compares banning trans women from women's restrooms to Jim Crow segregation. "Where are you going to stop?"
Rep. Collier (D-95) offers an amendment striking the private right of action from the bill entirely.
Simmons said "C'mon, let's do it" in response to the challenge. The challenge and amendment are withdrawn.
Amendment is tabled, 86-48. Simmons offers another amendment; a Republican rep challenges it as "not germane."
Orr doesn't even bother arguing against the amendment and moves to table. Simmons pounces on this, saying the majority abandons their fiscal conservative and pro-cop beliefs by opposing the amendment.
The rep. questioning Simmons asks if taxes would have to be raised at the local level to pay out fines from frivolous claims.
Amendment is tabled, 85-46. Rep. Simmons offers an amendment ensuring the complaint filer be an eyewitness and not just watching social media.
Rep. Simmons says Republicans are trying to force trans people out of existing in public and says passing a bill that would cause Black trans women more harm is deeply irresponsible.
Zwiener: "Do trans women and trans men deserve the same privacy protections as everyone else?" Orr: "I am not advised and I move to table." Utter bigot.
Zwiener asks why Orr would oppose the amendment because of higher sexual assault rates against trans people, says it's "a costly bandaid." This after pushing for such high fines against state agencies and political subdivisions in the first place.