Now Is An Excellent Time To Tell Your Democratic Congress Critters Trans Healthcare Is Important

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National Anti-Trans Bans Loom: Will Democrats Surrender Trans Rights?

Republicans have introduced a new amendment banning any federal funds from gender affirming care in several must-pass bills, with very littl

Now is an excellent time to tell your Democratic Congress Critters trans Healthcare is important

If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options:

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/

Russia's new law targets LGBT Rights. Specifically, Trans people.

TW: transphobia, discrimination, homophobia, anti-LGBT laws.

Disclaimer: This is wildly different from the content you’d normally find in this blog. I typically refrain from commenting on such topics. The world has been on fire for a while now and I don't have the mental energy or good headspace to keep up with the weekly 'once in a lifetime' event.

However, this time, the situation is different. Transphobia and the persistent denial and invalidation of trans lives deeply enrage me. Living in Europe, I had not heard of this news until my friend talked to me about it. This needs to be talked about more. The world needs to know.

TLDR: I bolded the most important text so you can skip the post and get the most important information. If you still want a shorter summary: Russia passed a law that is, basically, stripping LGBT (particularly trans) people of human rights.

First, a bit of context.

In 2013, the Russian government passed the federal law "For the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating a Denial of Traditional Family Values". This law, which gained international notoriety as ‘Russia's gay propaganda law' or 'anti-gay law', was introduced as an amendment to an existing child protection legislation with the primary aim of safeguarding children.

The law aimed to achieve its goal by criminalizing the distribution of materials that supported non-traditional sexual relationships among minors, as authorities believed such content contradicted traditional family values. However, the law's wording was broad and vague, effectively criminalizing various acts in support of LGBT rights. This included making statements or distributing materials advocating for equal rights, organizing pride parades or similar events, and even displaying LGBT symbols like the rainbow flag or engaging in same-sex public displays of affection.

Russian LGBT citizens who publicly opposed the law faced numerous arrests, and anti-gay protests and violence surged in the country. Hate crimes against the LGBTQ community increased, raising further concerns about the law's impact on freedom of expression and equality.

The implementation of the law was criticized internationally and considered a violation of freedom of expression by the European Court of Human Rights.

The Russian government extended its scope almost a decade later.

In December 2022, the Russian government extended the law to apply to anyone regardless of age, classifying displays of non-heterosexual relations or orientation as "information harmful to children's health and development". This extension effectively made alternative sexual orientation and gender identity, including gender transition, illegal.

The new ban had a broader scope, targeting any action or information that was perceived to promote homosexuality, whether in public, online, or through various forms of media such as films, books, or advertising. It also isolated children from any information and introduced hefty fines of up to 400,000 rubles for individuals and 5 million rubles for legal entities (such as NGOs), for breaking this law.

It also allowed for the blocking of websites and online sources hosting information about LGBT people. The law did not provide any exclusions for art, scientific studies, or education. Instead, it perpetuated false and damaging messaging that tried to link LGBT people with pedophiles, repeatedly referring to "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations and (or) preferences, pedophilia, and sex change."

Current situation.

In July 2023, a new law was enacted in Russia specifically targeting transgender people, banning gender-affirming care in the country.

The law has been heavily criticized for falsely linking homosexuality with pedophilia, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and stigmatization. By aiming to enshrine a traditional understanding of family, activists say Russia is marking LGBT people as second-class citizens.

Homosexual Marriages.

Neither same-sex marriages nor civil unions of same-sex couples are allowed.

Trans people.

Doctors are banned from offering gender-affirming healthcare and sexual reassignment surgery to any individual, regardless of age.

Changing gender markers on official documents is not allowed. Those who did so can’t adopt children under the new law.

If you look gender non conforming you can be denied adoption.

Administration of drugs and surgeries associated with gender reassignment therapy is now only permitted in cases that require treatment of reproductive organ deformities in intersex children. (Which means that HRT is illegal). Only licensed clinics linked to the Russian Health Ministry can make decisions on such treatments and issue relevant certificates.

Marriages between couples where one spouse changed their gender/is post-surgery will be invalidated and forced to a divorce.

But this is only one of the few laws that Russia is passing now. The government is also moving closer to outlawing abortion, people suffering from mental illnesses are stripped of human rights,  the president has authorized the creation of an institute for the “study of LGBT people” within the country’s federal psychiatric unit and much, much more.

What can I do to help?

First of all, I am very glad that my post encouraged you to help LGBT people in Russia. Sadly, there is not much a single individual can do against a whole countries’ legislation. Here are two ways you can help:

Spreading awareness is always good, to let other people know what’s happening on the other side of the world.

Some organizations also accept donations, hopefully they can reach the right people.

Coming Out is an LGBT organization that focuses on supporting the local LGBTQ community. They offer social and psychological assistance, organize events, and advocate for LGBTQ rights. They accept donations from both domestic and international sources. https://support.comingoutspb.com/

There are also other LGBT organizations that help LGBT people in Russia.

https://lgbtnet.org/en/ Provide legal and psychological assistance, train LGBT activists and support regional LGBT and human rights organizations.

https://centre-t.com/english Helping transgender people in Russia: psychological support, therapy groups and tea parties as well as training for practitioners.

https://delo.lgbt/en Legal advocacy of LGBT+ people in Russia.

Lastly, I consulted a ton of resources. I left just a few sprinkled in the hyperlinks on the post, but if you are interested in the topic, I encourage you to do your own research.

Reblog to make him lose another 200 billion, like to make him lose 1 billion

oh god I got a picture of the moon you tumblr bitches are gonna LOVE

PLEASE READ

So as of tomorrow, the Kids Online Safety Act, is set for markup as of July 27 at 10:00 am. And for those who aren't aware, this bill, if passed, does not protect kids. If merely eradicates privacy, freedom of speech, and unlawfully searches and seizes everything you say and do on the web.

It will censor everything the government does not like and if you want "unrestricted access" you will need to prove you are above the age of 18, which will most likely mean you will need to upload some kind of ID. Additionally, if you need to upload your ID, there is no guaranteed protection that your image or the ID itself will not be swiped or sold like how Instagram/Facebook/Twitter did when they sold data to the Russians.

This will also be harmful to kids, especially those to have a bad living situation. KOSA does nothing but police the Internet for everything you say and do on the Internet. It will censor medical information, history, information, and restrict and limit, if not outright ban what can be posted on social media.

Sites like Ao3 (Archive of Our Own), Wattpad, Tiktok, Tumblr, etc.... EVERYTHING will be affected, art especially. And what's more, is KOSA passes, it will be a gateway to pass all the other bad internet bills like the RESTRICT ACT, EARN IT ACT, COOPER DAVIS, CSAM, etc.

The Internet will turn into a hellscape for everyone; kids, companies, and adults alike!

The picture above, from @dontdelete.art, is a call to action in protesting these bad internet bills. As of today, July 26, we need to protest against this bill for our privacy and our freedom. Call your representatives and senators, AND ALSO call the Commerce Committee as they are the ones overseeing this mark up meeting.

The Commerce Committe's numbers are:

Majority: 202-224-0411

Minority: 202-224-1251

Call them and tell them you oppose KOSA, tell them the dangers, tell them how it breaks our first and fourth ammendment rights and how it violates our privacy.

We only have one more day before it goes to mark up, so let's make it count. Spend today speaking out on KOSA, post on social media talking about the dangers of KOSA, call and email your representatives, senators, and the committee!

DON'T SIT IDELY BY, MAKE TODAY COUNT!

Petition to help russian trans people to seek asylum in EU easier

action.allout.org

No more closed doors for Russian transgender people

Severely impacting transgender lives, Russia's new law stops trans people from changing gender markers, getting affirming surgery, or access

In July 2023, the State Duma passed another law banning all aspects of legal and medical transgender transitions in Russia. This legislation renders it impossible for individuals to legally change their gender marker in documents, pursue gender-affirming surgeries, or access hormonal therapy. Furthermore, for Russian authorities, banning transgender transitions is a "question of national security".