HARPER: From a trans perspective, what I want is for people to understand the damage that happens when you stop people from becoming who they need to be. If you deprive people of their gender, you’re depriving them of a chance at true joy.
Disney has removed a transgender storyline from Pixar’s upcoming animated series Win or Lose, scheduled for release on Disney+ in December 2024. The series, which follows a middle school softball team, originally included a transgender character voiced by actress Chanel Stewart.
While the character remains, dialogues referencing gender identity have been cut. A Disney spokesperson stated that the decision allows parents to discuss such topics with their children on their own terms. Stewart expressed disappointment, emphasizing the importance of transgender representation in media.
This move aligns with Disney’s recent pattern of modifying or removing LGBTQ+ content, including the shelving of an episode of Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur featuring a transgender athlete storyline.
El Pais: Some Democratic voices say it’s time to move beyond the issue of trans rights in areas like sports, which affect very few people.
Judith Butler: You could say that about the Jews, Black people or Haitians, or any very vulnerable minority. Once you decide that a single vulnerable minority can be sacrificed, you’re operating within a fascist logic, because that means there might be a second one you’re willing to sacrifice, and a third, a fourth, and then what happens?
Bluesky, a social media platform that gained popularity as a safe space for marginalized communities, is facing controversy over the presence of anti-trans writer and podcaster Jesse Singal. Originally a refuge for LGBTQ+ users and people of color fleeing the hostile environment of Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky now hosts over 25 million users, but the inclusion of figures like Singal is sparking tension.
Singal, identified by GLAAD as spreading anti-trans misinformation, is reportedly the most blocked user on Bluesky. Despite the platform’s advanced moderation tools, including custom feeds, algorithms, and block lists, users fear his presence threatens the inclusive community they sought. Some accuse him of harassing trans individuals and have called for his ban.
Hate crimes against transgender individuals in Los Angeles County surged by 125% in 2023, with 97% of these crimes being violent, according to a report by the LA County Human Relations Commission. The county recorded 1,350 hate crimes overall, a 45% increase from 2022, marking the highest number since data collection began in 1980. Hate crimes against transgender people represented the largest increase.
“I don’t want to get into the bathroom issue. Because it’s a very small number of people we’re talking about, and it’s ripped apart our country, so they’ll have to settle whatever the law finally agrees,” Trump said after being asked about whether “transgender people could use whatever bathroom they chose.”
Keep in mind that over a decade ago, Donald Trump helped a transgender woman, Jenna Talackova , compete in a Miss Universe pageant when he owned the organization.
“Now, post-election, Trump says he doesn’t want to “get into the bathroom issue.” He says the trans population is tiny—too small, apparently, to fuss over—while simultaneously blaming them for ripping the country apart. He claims he’s just going to “go by the Supreme Court,” as if he’s ever been a passive bystander to judicial rulings. This is gaslighting at its most cynical: Trump spent years and millions of dollars stirring anti-trans sentiment to rally his base. Now, he wants everyone to believe that he’s above these petty fights, that he’s just a neutral observer who thinks we should focus on more pressing matters.”
Erin Reed discusses a controversial vote by 81 Democratic representatives who supported a bill restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Many of these Democrats have faced backlash for their votes, as critics correctly have argued that their support for such measures undermines the rights and well-being of transgender individuals, particularly minors. This bill and the votes of several Democrats are seen as a severe betrayal of transgender constituents. Erin has publish each of the names of Democrats who voted for this bill.
The most commonly used variant of the LGBT acronym is LGBTQ (with its variant LGBTQ+), which stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer.
