I am defending his right to free speech. He claimed he was assaulted. I pointed out that he initiated the first intentional physical contact. I never suggested he shouldn't be allowed to voice his opinion. I will state unequivocally that he should be allowed to speak on the issue. Others are allowed to protest that. Neither should be allowed to lay unwelcomed hands on the other person. The first person to do that was the guy who claims he was assaulted. I'm just saying it isn't that clear cut.
I am defending his right to free speech. He claimed he was assaulted. I pointed out that he initiated the first intentional physical contact. I never suggested he shouldn't be allowed to voice his opinion. I will state unequivocally that he should be allowed to speak on the issue. Others are allowed to protest that. Neither should be allowed to lay in welcomed hands on the other person. The first person to do that was the guy who claims he was assaulted. I'm just saying it isn't that clear cut.
I would like to see how you would react if two biological males shout in your ears in a threatening fashion for minutes, getting closer and closer. They were clearly invading his personal space, while he was giving an interview.
Yes, they were uncomfortably close to him. That doesn't mean that it is a clear cut case of assault. He was the first person to lay his hands on the other. Both sides have the right to speak opposing view points.
There is no "basic parental right" at stake here. If your child doesn't trust you, I have no problem telling you that you are almost certainly the problem. Hard to break it down any further for you, but despite my intuition telling me not to bother, I'll try. In this example, depression is standing in for gender dysphoria as the condition. For both conditions there are multiple therapies that can be employed and there is no one-size fits all solution as each situation is unique. One of the ways you can treat depression is by medication, which in this example is standing in for transitioning (HRT, surgery, and so on). It seems that to you and others that you so often parrot on this issue, that transitioning is not actually a solution or therapeutic, which is just 100% wrong. Worse yet, you seem to think transitioning is actually a moral failure and abominable. And all the while behaving in this manner you mask it in the cloak of kindness, pretending to care about their health and wellbeing, when really all you care about is making sure they don't transition. For someone who is apparently a super successful CEO lawyer mensa member fortune 500 intergalatic emperor of the galaxy or whatever you really suck at understanding some pretty simple concepts. Like this. Or the difference between the New York Times and a college newspaper. Or the difference between a news story and an editorial. LOL.
@DonnyMost doesn't understand that teenagers have always gone through rebellious phases and always will, even if parents have been loving, have done everything right, etc. etc. And teenagers will often not want to talk to their parents about things. They will be embarrassed to be seen with their parents. Etc. That doesn't mean that "the parents are the problem". It also doesn't mean that anyone - teachers, activists - should have the audacity to try and gain the trust of these teenagers behind the parents' backs. It also doesn't mean that activists should conspire to have these adolescents undergo irreversible chemical treatment or genital mutilation. It's a very common theme in authoritarian/socialist societies that governmental activists try to break the bond between children and their parents, so the confused young ones can be indoctrinated more easily.
I would be interested in @Os Trigonum's take on this issue. I seem to remember that you said that you have a child who is/was identifying as transgender. At the same time, you appear to be a conservative. I would be willing to learn from your perspective. At the same time, of course it should be respected if you do not want to talk about it in case you feel it's too personal.
I am perfectly aware that children and adolescents can be fickle and can change behaviors and attitudes about things fluidly. You know who else knows this (besides every other human being on the planet)? Doctors. The kind who diagnose and treat these conditions. So, maybe, just maybe, we ought to stay the **** out of this lane and let these situations be handled by medical experts in consultation with their patients. If a child has an immutable, manifest behavior (being attracted to the same gender, or experiencing gender dysphoria, etc.) that they actively and exclusively hide from their parent it is almost certainly because A) they think that behavior is wrong or, more accurately, B) they know their parent thinks that behavior is wrong. I have no qualms about calling people who think being homosexual or trans is wrong "the problem". I agree, but this is a strawman. All I am arguing is that transition is a legitimate therapy option. I am by no means saying it is universally appropriate or the only choice.
Not sure about some of those details, but you can dismiss Os's point of view, because I regret to inform you that he's a card-carrying democrat. I mean, sure, a very disappointed one, but still.
I would be interested in his point of view because he seems reasonable (other than when it comes to Sengun).
If kids under 18 get consent from their parent then why not? Is it really our business what a family decides to do that's best for them? Parents have to make tough decisions all the time.
In most states, people under 18 cannot legally get a tattoo, even with parental consent - and for good reason, see here: A tattoo is less permanent than a sex change...
You do realize kids can be organ donors to their parents right? Again if there's been a documented trail then I don't see the issue. I think the kid should def try counseling and other methods first before jumping the gun but I think it's a family's decision to make.
I fully agree with this. I also agree that transitioning should not be taken lightly and certainly not rushed. Ruling it completely out though seems extreme when we know for a fact that minors have killed themselves over this issue. I would be fine with regulations, and I suspect there already are a lot of regulations,in the use of hormones and surgery but a blanket ban I think is bad policy.
Also I find it ironic that parental consent is now being trumpeted when many of those opposed to transitioning have gone after parents that allow their children to transition. In Texas the governor and others have accused parents who transition of child abuse. The current legislation being held up in Nebraska is being opposed by a parent who wants to allow their child to transition.
