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.
  • jagged_circle@feddit.nlEnglish
    3·
    14 days ago

    Senate Bill 164, legislation that would classify gender-affirming care for transgender youth as felony child endangerment. The bill would not only target doctors and nurses, but also parents—including those merely passing through the state
    …
    even a parent visiting Glacier National Park or Yellowstone with their transgender child could face felony charges for carrying estrogen, testosterone, or puberty blockers

    Jesus

    • buddascrayon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      13 days ago

      So, essentially, the bill was defeated because 17 Republicans realized that this bill would devastate their meager tourist trade as well as the tourist passthrough revenue. Because the law was so astoundingly ambiguous that people who aren’t taking those drugs for gender affirming care would be subject to arrest and harassment by the police.

  • sugarfoot00@lemmy.caEnglish
    1·
    13 days ago

    That was a very compelling speech that Representative Howell gave. That there were 40 that still voted in favourite after having the obviously dangerous language in the bill is kinda frightening.

  • jsomae@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    13 days ago

    As with the previous time this happened, it’s likely that most of those Republicans crossed the line because one Republican did and made a speech. (That republican, of course, may have been moved by Howell.)

  • WoodScientist@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    0·
    13 days ago

    They will simply pass this bill next year. That has been the continual pattern with these laws. What was a step too far and abominable last year is normalized and acceptable this year.

    • Hemingways_Shotgun@lemmy.caEnglish
      0·
      13 days ago

      Fair enough. But the world being what it is, can’t we just celebrate a win for a few precious minutes before we shit all over it?

      • WoodScientist@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        0·
        13 days ago

        It’s called being a realist. If you want to live in denial, fine. But I’m not going to sugarcoat things. Maybe I’m just a pessimist, but that pessimism has proven a far better predictor of future events than rose-tinted visions such as yours.

        • Hemingways_Shotgun@lemmy.caEnglish
          0·
          13 days ago

          I’m the king of the pessimists. But I like to take five seconds when there’s actually good news instead of constantly being the “well actually” guy. Then I return to my regularly scheduled “realism”.

          Not in denial about anything at all. It’s just a miserable life to never take pleasure in the little wins.

          Edited to add - I don’t know if you know your literary history. But the irony in accusing someone called “Hemingway’s Shotgun” of having rose-tinted glasses is absolutely delicious.

            • Hemingways_Shotgun@lemmy.caEnglish
              1·
              12 days ago

              I know, right?!

              Burn me at the stake for thinking that even in the pits of hell, there are some little moments of good, even if fleeting.

              This morning, the guy in front of me at the Tim Horton’s drive-thru paid for my coffee. Don’t know him. Never met him. Never exchanged three words. He just decided to do it. I just sometimes randomly decide to do it as well. Made me feel good so I did it for the person behind me. I don’t know how long that chain lasted, but hey…it doesn’t matter.

              The world might be shit, but that was a nice start to my day, and a nice start to the day of the person behind me. If I was “Mr. Realist” above me there, the response would be, “well fuck…what’s the point? Sure, but the coffee’s just going to get cold sooner or later…”

              Screw me if I want to take some simple pleasure where I can, I guess.

  • hemmes@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    15 days ago

    This is some real uplifting news right here!

    I just can’t believe how many said yes

      • hemmes@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        14 days ago

        I mean, I have, they just never cease to amaze me.

        The hate truly flows through them.

  • jagged_circle@feddit.nlEnglish
    0·
    14 days ago

    “We have a lot of tools at our disposal as the legislature to regulate healthcare, but felony criminal charges are not the appropriate tool for that job…"

    The only language of the State is violence

    • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      0·
      13 days ago

      “The State” as in the state of Montana? Or like The State?

      Because if it’s the latter… I would say that the state excels at building infrastructure, and providing services that would never be done by the private sector because they’re not profitable.

      I’m not sure I see any violence in that stuff…

            • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
              01·
              11 days ago

              Ahh yes, the great american cross-country bicycle trip.

              It’s almost as if this country is far too big and spread out to make bikes the primary form of transportation.

              I don’t love how car-centric we are, but “hurr durr, people want to ride bikes on roads” is honestly the stupidest fucking reason to switch entirely to toll roads that I have ever heard. Do better.

  • possiblylinux127@lemmy.todayEnglish
    01·
    13 days ago

    As it turns out politics is not absolute. There are less conservative Republicans and more conservative Democrats. I think in reality we should seek the middle ground. However, the news gets more attention if they go for the extremes.