Louisiana Senate kills anti-trans bill and let's talk about Pride and Target

Two items. First, good news out of Louisiana.

From The Hill:

A Louisiana Senate committee on Wednesday killed a bill that would have banned gender-affirming health care for transgender minors, dealing a rare victory to LGBTQ people in the largely GOP-controlled South. Louisiana’s House Bill 648 failed Wednesday during a final vote in the state Senate Health and Welfare Committee, where Republicans have a one-seat majority. State Sen. Fred Mills, a Republican from south-central Louisiana, voted with all Democrats to defer the bill. Mills, a pharmacist, said during Wednesday’s vote that he trusts physicians more than legislators to make medical decisions that are in the best interest of patients.

 “I always in my heart of hearts have believed that a decision should be made by a patient and a physician,” Mills said. Gender-affirming health care for transgender youths and adults is supported by most major medical organizations, including the Americans Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Mills also said that a Louisiana Health Department study on gender-affirming health care last year helped influence his decision to vote against the bill. 

 The report found that no gender-affirming surgical procedures were performed on Medicaid-enrolled minors in the state between 2017 and 2021. The prescription of medications including puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy to treat gender dysphoria in minors during the same time period was also exceedingly rare, the report found. 

 More to this article on The Hill. 

 Second item - People are flipping out because Target is said to be moving some Pride items due to some people are coming in causing a commotion and threatening workers. Those doing this nonsense are empowered while members of our community - at least some - are weeping, raging at Target, or (and most annoying) using this situation to whine about capitalism and such. But here is something to keep things in perspective:

These are photos from a Target in my area. The Pride stuff is in full display here just as it was last year - in the middle of the clothing section with huge displays. I talked to a worker to commend the store. She laughed and said thank you. And I've read that there are Target displays of Pride items still up in other areas around the country.

 This is not to defend Target because the chain clearly 'didn't have a handle on the hysteria.  I am simply trying to remind folks about what's actually going on before you begin sad sacking, spinning portents of doom, or begin knitting the burial shroud for the LGBTQ community.

My point is yes, the opposition is threatening, and they are causing problems. But it's good to remember that a lot of them - especially Matt Walsh - engage a lot in self-aggrandizing superhero shadowboxing. They tend to inflate their power and the effects of their actions. They do this because it feeds their ego and also, it's a psychological tactic designed to make us fear them. 

 Part of their power is fear and with that fear comes chaos which causes us to lash out. DO NOT take the bait.   Everything about them is fake, particularly their screams of "let kids be kids" or leave the kids alone."

If these idiots actually cared about children, they would be protesting and organizing to stop child hunger and gun violence in schools. If they really cared about children, they would be raising hell at the churches who hide pedophiles.

We should remember this when we deal with them and when we react to what they are doing to Target. Yes, I am disappointed with Target to an extent, but I am also mindful as to who the real enemy is and how it is in my best interest not to allow them to play games with my head. They want us scared. They want us off of our heels and shrieking every which way. But that's not who we are. We've come too far to allow some haters to bowl us over with old lies.

 It is our Pride and our power. They have no right to diminish it with their lies.  And they won't as long as we remember who we are and act accordingly.