Representative Howell delivered a speech against SB164, a bill that would charge parents with child abuse for providing gender affirming care even if they were merely driving through the state.
While I would love for the fact that republicans are seeing the potential over-reach of “trans bad” bills, this more seems like they are voting against a bill that punishes parents for their decisions in child care - as opposed to opposing a bill that punishes parents in their decisions for supporting their child.
The former is about what the parents think is right, the later is about respecting and supporting people.
The former could be in line with trans/gay conversion.
The latter is respecting humanity.
The whole “driving through the state” thing is also far too broad, considering there is no risk to life.
Driving through a state with state-illegal firearms, or quantities of drugs/alcohol/whatever that indicates intent to sell: I get it, you want a utopia without that bullshit (I don’t get firearms, but “not my circus, not my monkeys”). Ultimately, these things have the potential to directly harm others.
Driving through a state with a kid you love, care for and support and some cop reckons they have the wrong genitals? Wtf. That doesn’t hurt anyone. Wtf.
Cudos to the Rep Howell for being able to convince republicans away from “trans bad”. For knowing how to talk to them, and speak to them in a way they can understand, and in a way that (potentially) changes their mind.
And cudos to those republicans that voted against this bullshit. For realising the bill for what it is.
Fuck the republicans that voted for it. I hope they invested in both Trump and Melania coin, got rug pulled, and are now watching the rest of their stock portfolio turn to ash
The fact that this bill was every floored is abhorrent. The fact that people think such a bill can be floored is abhorrent. The fact that it wasn’t unanimously struck down is abhorrent
It’s not been limited to this. Some Republicans in Montana lately have started crossing sides to shoot down some other bills attacking trans people too (though not all bills unfortunately)
For instance, in March a ban on drag that would likely have been extended to apply to trans people was shot down with 13 republicans crossing sides
Before that, 10+ republicans flipped to kill an attempt to make certain limitations on trans care for 25 years and instead ammended it downwards to 4 years. Still was a shitty bill even with that change, but still
While I would love for the fact that republicans are seeing the potential over-reach of “trans bad” bills, this more seems like they are voting against a bill that punishes parents for their decisions in child care - as opposed to opposing a bill that punishes parents in their decisions for supporting their child.
The former is about what the parents think is right, the later is about respecting and supporting people.
The former could be in line with trans/gay conversion.
The latter is respecting humanity.
The whole “driving through the state” thing is also far too broad, considering there is no risk to life.
Driving through a state with state-illegal firearms, or quantities of drugs/alcohol/whatever that indicates intent to sell: I get it, you want a utopia without that bullshit (I don’t get firearms, but “not my circus, not my monkeys”). Ultimately, these things have the potential to directly harm others.
Driving through a state with a kid you love, care for and support and some cop reckons they have the wrong genitals? Wtf. That doesn’t hurt anyone. Wtf.
Cudos to the Rep Howell for being able to convince republicans away from “trans bad”. For knowing how to talk to them, and speak to them in a way they can understand, and in a way that (potentially) changes their mind.
And cudos to those republicans that voted against this bullshit. For realising the bill for what it is.
Fuck the republicans that voted for it. I hope they invested in both Trump and Melania coin, got rug pulled, and are now watching the rest of their stock portfolio turn to ash
The fact that this bill was every floored is abhorrent. The fact that people think such a bill can be floored is abhorrent. The fact that it wasn’t unanimously struck down is abhorrent
It’s not been limited to this. Some Republicans in Montana lately have started crossing sides to shoot down some other bills attacking trans people too (though not all bills unfortunately)
For instance, in March a ban on drag that would likely have been extended to apply to trans people was shot down with 13 republicans crossing sides
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/07/montana-anti-trans-bills-defeated
Before that, 10+ republicans flipped to kill an attempt to make certain limitations on trans care for 25 years and instead ammended it downwards to 4 years. Still was a shitty bill even with that change, but still
https://bsky.app/profile/erininthemorning.com/post/3ljo33fl2mc2a