“The New York Times is featuring writers debating whether trans people should even exist and scapegoating this already-marginalized community.”
Progressive congresswoman Rep. Rashida Tlaib, (D-MI), slammed The New York Times on Monday for "providing a platform for transphobic hate & propaganda," following the newspaper's magazine publishing an article in June examining the impact of gender transition on minors.
The "Squad" member began a lengthy thread on Twitter saying "The @nytimes has been providing a platform for transphobic hate & propaganda, with horrifying consequences. Texas just entered NYT articles into evidence to push for the TX Dept of Family & Protective Services to take trans kids away from their supportive parents."
The @nytimes has been providing a platform for transphobic hate & propaganda, with horrifying consequences. Texas just entered NYT articles into evidence to push for the TX Dept of Family & Protective Services to take trans kids away from their supportive parents.
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib)
She posted a petition sponsored by her congressional campaign "to tell the New York Times to stop providing a dangerous platform for transphobic hate, and instead amplify trans voices."
Tlaib wrote, "During escalating assaults on trans people & trans rights nationwide, the New York Times is featuring writers debating whether trans people should even exist and scapegoating this already-marginalized community. One way to act in solidarity is to sign now."
During escalating assaults on trans people & trans rights nationwide, the New York Times is featuring writers debating whether trans people should even exist and scapegoating this already-marginalized community. One way to act in solidarity is to sign now: https://t.co/xIeaBGIhlj
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib)
However, The New York Times Magazine article, entitled "The Battle Over Gender Therapy," written by Emily Bazelon, did not question "whether trans people should even exist," nor did it "scapegoat" them. Instead, it focuses on people within the medical community who raised concerns that "social influence" is influencing minors’ attitudes toward their sexual identities.
The article mentioned those that "detransition" after regretting their decision to undergo "gender treatment."
However, the piece appeared to be written from the political left's perspective on the issue emotionally charged issue of transitioning and criticized "right-wing backlash in the United States" against minors undergoing "gender treatments."
The perspective appeared not to be left enough for Tlaib, who appeared to be reacting to claims that the article was being used to support a Texas policy which investigates transgender procedures for minors as child abuse.
Thank you @chasestrangio for sounding the alarm and asking cis people to speak up. To trans & non-binary people: I'm with you. I’m going to keep fighting for your right to exist, to be safe as your full authentic selves, & to thrive. Our safety & liberation is intertwined.
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib)
In the thread, Tlaib credited deputy director for Transgender Justice with the ACLU’s LGBT & HIV Project Chase Strangio for originally calling out the article. "Thank you @chasestrangio for sounding the alarm and asking cis people to speak up. To trans & non-binary people: I'm with you. I’m going to keep fighting for your right to exist, to be safe as your full authentic selves, & to thrive. Our safety & liberation is intertwined."
The fights for trans rights and reproductive justice are wrapped up together. Our right to bodily autonomy—our ability to make decisions about our own bodies—is under threat. This affects ALL of us. We must be in solidarity to defeat the growing fascist movement to control us.
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib)
She concluded the thread by saying, "The fights for trans rights and reproductive justice are wrapped up together. Our right to bodily autonomy—our ability to make decisions about our own bodies—is under threat. This affects ALL of us. We must be in solidarity to defeat the growing fascist movement to control us."
Ironically, Tlaib regular demonizes the Jewish state of Israel, where the LGBTQIA+ community enjoys full rights, and instead supports Palestinian territories like Gaza where members of that community are assaulted and even executed.
Ahmed, a 27-year-old gay man told the Jewish Press that as a resident of a neighborhood near Gaza City, "here in Gaza under Hamas rule, it is better for you to convert to Judaism and leave Islam and even better to be perceived as a spy for the Israeli Shin Bet and not declare your gay. Hamas may hang you from the lower part of your body."
A recently released video by journalist Ami Horowitz exposed the horrific treatment of the LGBTQ community under the Palestinian Authority.
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