Exposing the GOP’s Anti-Trans Crazy Talk with a bit of reductio ad absurdum
“Historic wave of anti-trans bills focuses almost entirely on trans youth.” — npr.org
For context, there are three times as many disabled persons in wheelchairs than there are trans persons (1% vs. .3% of the population), yet no one would ever think of passing laws targetting disabled persons. Why is it okay to target trans persons?
Wouldn’t you be outraged and scandalized if GOP lawmakers went after disabled persons?
For example, imagine these kinds of laws:
- Education Censorship: No class discussion, instruction, or acknowledgment of the rights of disabled persons or that they exist
- Library Book Bans: Remove all reading materials that include portrayals of disabled persons or use inclusive and explicit language about disabled persons
- Restroom Restriction: No special accommodation
- Sports exclusion: Disabled youth are only allowed to watch from the sidelines
- Religious exemptions: Anyone can refuse to treat, care for or provide services, including employment or rental accommodation, if they claim it goes against their religious beliefs. After all, doesn’t the Bible say that disabled bodies are impure?
- Parental rights: Any parent who supports their disabled child can be arrested, and their child can be taken away from them.
- Health care: Doctors and any medical professional who treats disabled youth can lose their license to practice.
- Right to sue: If a person is traumatized by seeing a disabled person, they have the right to sue for emotional distress.
Ridiculously absurd? This is what ad absurdum looks like. Sometimes it helps to think of the ridiculous to bring some sanity into the conversation.
Why is it suddenly okay to attack and attempt to erase trans persons?
