Growing anti-LGBTQ rhetoric causing rise in suicides: advocates

[Behind the Aegis]

A combination of factors, from isolation during the pandemic to growing anti-LGBTQ rhetoric in politics and extremism, is leading to poorer mental health outcomes for young people in the LGBTQ community, new data from the Trevor Project shows.

"I think the pandemic is certainly a factor," said Ellen Kahn, Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships at the Human Rights Campaign. "But when we talk to folks in our community, across the board - southern states, northern states, red states, blue states, purple, rural, urban - there is a sense that there is kind of a renewed attack on our community," she said.

In the past year, more than 250 bills were introduced in state legislatures targeting the LGBTQ community, of which 24 have passed so far.

In an opinion supporting the Supreme Court's decision to remove federal protections for abortion access, Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that the court should also reconsider other due process cases - including the legalization of same-sex marriage and the prevention of states from outlawing consensual gay sex.

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[Pete Ross Junior]

1. It's more than just "rhetoric", it's a new coldness in people's attitudes. n/t

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. Analysis: Texas officials bully transgender kids for political points

Paxton and Abbott are attacking and threatening trans children for political points

Link to tweet

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/11/texas-transgender-politics/?utm_campaign=trib-social-buttons&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton are turning the law-and-order Republican Party into a gang of bullies, targeting transgender kids — and the parents who support them — with their decision to treat gender-affirming health care as child abuse.

That health care is legal under Texas law, but this is election season. Cynics who think politicians will say anything to get reelected have a new, sparkling piece of evidence......

But most of those aren’t sexy election issues. Paxton is in a runoff. Abbott faces a well-known, well-financed Democrat in November. And as The Texas Tribune’s Patrick Svitek has reported, they think they’ve got a hot item to entice Republican voters.

“This is a winning issue,” Abbott’s top political strategist, Dave Carney, told reporters last week. “Texans have common sense.”....

“How is that considered child abuse to accept them and love them?” one mother told them. “How can they overstep their power and try to come and tell me how I should love my child?”

[IngridsLittleAngel]

3. What makes me angry and sick is I can picture these monsters taking delight in this

The incredible hate and cruelty and malice they aim at us is fully intended. Their actions here in 2022 have been about criminalizing our very lives. The "groomers" shit was done to rile up their rabid foot soldiers and get them to take matters into their own hands. This whole year has been about ruining our lives - likely even ending them.

They so wish they could incarcerate all of us. Conversation therapy at "best." And if that doesn't work? Locked up for life, or killed, or driven to suicide, just so long as the Nazis can Make America Cishet Again.

I'm sure news like this pleases them. "We're rid of them and didn't even have to work up a sweat ourselves." Fucking sick assholes.

This is no longer about "political differences" or a "culture war"... These people are our enemies, and have made it clear their goal is to eliminate us.

And sadly none of this is a surprise. Prolonged targeted bigotry causes all sorts of mental health problems, including PTSD, self-hatred, substance abuse and even potential violence. I can't count how many nights in 2022 has been spent having a few too many drinks.

[Pete Ross Junior]

4. The culture war always was a real war with dead bodies and everything.

Not just some overwrought metaphor.