cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/68111168
When the “woke” mania swept the country in 2020, I took a step back and reevaluated where I stood and why I stood there. To my surprise, I found that I agreed with conservatives and libertarians on a number of issues. I opposed childhood gender transitions, unlawful and divisive DEI mandates, and the excesses of Critical Race Theory. I argued against biological males competing in women’s sports and being housed in women’s prisons. I did so loudly and publicly, losing many friends along the way. My stance wasn’t rooted in hate or fear but in a commitment to reason and fairness. My loyalty was to the truth, not to political tribes. Maintaining my integrity cost me greatly, but I believed it was worth it.
“I stupidly, and wholeheartedly bought into Conservative media talking points. While I still hold these nonsensical positions, I don’t like that the bigots I aligned myself with me were honest in their hatred of me and those like me. You should feel sorry for me.”
FTFY. Also, fuck off.
This has been the most maddening thing about it; it’s just whole-hearted willful ignorance. NO ONE is doing gender conversions on kids. I guess if you want to make the argument that hormones are thrown around as teenagers, sure, but teenagers get on birth control, there are plenty of legitimate hormone therapies done already.
I’ve had decent progress with some more conservative, non-religious family members on the “indoctrination” shit by likening it to religion. No rules on what wild shit religion can do; promising you to an older man, severing social ties, and putting you in a situation where you don’t know you’re being abused. No crackdowns, no vehement marches, no violence over that. But an adult family and their near-adult child can’t make medical decisions with oversight from a medical professional? It’s absolute, willful ignorance at best.