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At what point is America no longer a safe place for me to live?
#1
At what point is America no longer a safe place for me to live?
So, this is something I've asked some friends on facebook.

I'm a trans woman who lives in America right now.  And America has taken an alarming turn to the hard right.  Even with democrats in control of both houses of congress and the white house, the GOP has found a way to get significant wins through a partisan supreme court.  It's alarming that a political party that's won the popular vote in exactly one presidential election since 1988 has this much power.  They're also more than willing to use tremendous gerrymandering and voter suppression to give themselves in even more power, despite the fact that the will of the people doesn't want them in power.  I can also see the Trumpanzees taking the next step and setting up a way for the states to reject electors they don't like.  If they get that, and I can easily see them fighting for it, democrats will never be able to wield any political power again.

The supreme court has already shown me they're willing to pretty much let republicans get away with whatever stunt they want.  Between gun control, abortion and school prayer, I have no reason to believe they're going to make any ruling that's going to protect me.  Republicans in congress are more than willing to obstruct anything as long as a democrat is president while being a rubber stamp for any republican president.  And the democrats won't fight back on any of this.  

And..... where does that leave me?  The GOP is already pretty hostile towards LGBT people.  For now, they're restrained because they have to win elections and they have the bill of rights and the constitution to deal with.  But if they keep cutting corners and bending the rules about as far as they can, it's only a matter of time before they realize they can do whatever they want and nobody will stop them.  And what happens when a party of religious fundamentalists have control of the country I live in?  Will I be safe anymore?  Will I have to go somewhere else, just so I don't wind up in another detention center like they're putting immigrants in?  And if I do leave, when?  And where would I go?  

I don't know if I'm alone in this concern; I can easily see them instituting a policy that lets them round up atheists in general.  At very least, I don't figure they're going to invest a lot of time or money or effort into protecting atheists (or LGBT people) who are being targeted by proud boys or militia groups or neo nazis or whoever.

I'm terrified that Christian theocracy is coming to America and I don't know what to do.
I live on facebook. Come see me there. http://www.facebook.com/tara.rizzatto

"If you cling to something as the absolute truth and you are caught in it, when the truth comes in person to knock on your door you will refuse to let it in." ~ Siddhartha Gautama
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#2
RE: At what point is America no longer a safe place for me to live?
I think this is getting asked in a lot of homes, mine included for similar but slightly different reasons. I myself am unironically brushing up on my German just in case, and my daughter has asked several times when we can move. I suspect she may do so eventually, internationally. Depending on the next election cycle I or two, I will need to consider leaving Texas at a minimum, although I'm not certain where I would go and if I would feel better long term elsewhere in the US.

I posted a link elsewhere here to The Hangup on YouTube from Wednesday, and this was one of the topics Seidel and Dillahunty discussed. They were both of the mind to stay and fight, although Matt's girlfriend Arden is transgender and he wants to keep her safe obviously. They did give some reasons for hope, but then when you see nutbags like MTG and Boebert talking about Christian nationalism as a positive and getting support for that, it's discouraging.

I know that's not a great, comforting answer. I would suggest looking into joining organizations like FFRF, au.org and the Satanic Temple who are all fighting for separation of church and state, and to get involved in campaigns such as Beto here in Texas (which you can help even from outside the state) and various senate races in other states. The trend is away from religion and the political leanings that tends to bring, and it's accelerating, but as the far right grasps for power and plays the long, deceptive game on issues, it will get worse before it gets better.
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#3
RE: At what point is America no longer a safe place for me to live?
I am an openly skirt-wearing transgender female also. In most instances, I am recognized as a biological male, but, sometimes am "misgendered" as being a biological female. For me, the trick is long hair with sunglasses; when in one of my tees & midcalf skirts, I think I blend in completely as being a biological woman; no one has ever approached me or said anything derogatory. Over the years have had two individuals, complete strangers, emerge from their homes to confront me while out walking on the street (while in shorts), but, I was completely diplomatic. Was struck in the head with a fist of a teenager who was a passenger in a moving car, but did not sustain any injuries; believe that to have been a hate crime.

In short, I would advise you to live where there is an active police presence and you should have no issues whatsoever! As for the United States becoming a theocracy, the far right are, I believe, a paper tiger. In any case, we'll know much more in just four months from now.

But, hey, welcome!
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#4
RE: At what point is America no longer a safe place for me to live?
(July 7, 2022 at 11:42 pm)TaraJo Wrote: So, this is something I've asked some friends on facebook.

I'm a trans woman who lives in America right now.  And America has taken an alarming turn to the hard right.  Even with democrats in control of both houses of congress and the white house, the GOP has found a way to get significant wins through a partisan supreme court.  It's alarming that a political party that's won the popular vote in exactly one presidential election since 1988 has this much power.  They're also more than willing to use tremendous gerrymandering and voter suppression to give themselves in even more power, despite the fact that the will of the people doesn't want them in power.  I can also see the Trumpanzees taking the next step and setting up a way for the states to reject electors they don't like.  If they get that, and I can easily see them fighting for it, democrats will never be able to wield any political power again.

The supreme court has already shown me they're willing to pretty much let republicans get away with whatever stunt they want.  Between gun control, abortion and school prayer, I have no reason to believe they're going to make any ruling that's going to protect me.  Republicans in congress are more than willing to obstruct anything as long as a democrat is president while being a rubber stamp for any republican president.  And the democrats won't fight back on any of this.  

And..... where does that leave me?  The GOP is already pretty hostile towards LGBT people.  For now, they're restrained because they have to win elections and they have the bill of rights and the constitution to deal with.  But if they keep cutting corners and bending the rules about as far as they can, it's only a matter of time before they realize they can do whatever they want and nobody will stop them.  And what happens when a party of religious fundamentalists have control of the country I live in?  Will I be safe anymore?  Will I have to go somewhere else, just so I don't wind up in another detention center like they're putting immigrants in?  And if I do leave, when?  And where would I go?  

I don't know if I'm alone in this concern; I can easily see them instituting a policy that lets them round up atheists in general.  At very least, I don't figure they're going to invest a lot of time or money or effort into protecting atheists (or LGBT people) who are being targeted by proud boys or militia groups or neo nazis or whoever.

I'm terrified that Christian theocracy is coming to America and I don't know what to do.

I think that still depends on what state. These buttholes may try to reverse all the rights you gained and Thomas certainly indicated he was willing to "review LGBT equality protections, but there will be sanctuary cities/suburbs and even entire states that will ignore any federal law. But one caveat regardless, we have seen in human history elsewhere despite what a majority wants which is on your side, live and let live at this point, if the government institutions collapse and fail to protect diversity, then we are all in trouble, not just transgender. So I guess I am saying nobody would blame you or should blame you if you leave America. Just like if these idiots try to outlaw abortions in all 50 states there will be states that will still say "fuck you fundies" and ignore the federal ban. But unfortunately if they can get state militias or the military to act as their enforcement, which is highly unlikely because our military is diverse, top brass is highly unlikely to go along with becoming that kind of oppression. 

Just like while pot is still illegal in many places, to get to the point where people are not buying the wacky weed bullshit, it took many states ignoring the federal ban on it. You are a double target to the fascist 6. Not only are you transgender but you are also an atheist. I've always hated how atheists get treated in that alone, but damn. I look at you and you have been so brave in your openness and have shown other LGBT and trans that it is ok to be comfortable in your own skin. To me I say FUCK THOMAS, FUCK BRETT, FUCK AMY AND FUCK MITCH AND FUCK THE GOP.
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#5
RE: At what point is America no longer a safe place for me to live?
This is all fun & games. The United States of America is NOT on the road to becoming a theocracy. No way, no how! Check out that thread on Biblical inspiration, the belief of which is at an all time low. No one buys any of this shit anymore, except for a tiny minority of wingnuts.
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#6
RE: At what point is America no longer a safe place for me to live?
(July 8, 2022 at 7:47 am)Jehanne Wrote: This is all fun & games.  The United States of America is NOT on the road to becoming a theocracy.  No way, no how!  Check out that thread on Biblical inspiration, the belief of which is at an all time low.  No one buys any of this shit anymore, except for a tiny minority of wingnuts.

I love you Jehanne, but when people get into the false sense of security of assuming that a open pluralistic society will never fall, that is simply false. Prior to Hitler taking power, and even after WW1 Germany was a politically pluralistic society, all be it a very poor and and broke state for being forced to pay for the damages of WW1. Hitler would not have risen at all if the western allies had not left Germany to rot out of a stupid sense of revenge, which is what the western allies did after WW1. But we learned our lesson after WW2 with all three Germany, Italy and Japan, we didn't leave them to rot after WW2, we kicked their asses to defeat them in WW2, but after defeating them, we picked them up, dusted them of, and gave them a different viewpoint as to how to run a government. 

I am sorry but it is always possible for a small minority of wingnuts to dictate to everyone else. They already do that now with guns. Most sane people, including most gun owners are not on the wingnut's side. But because the asshole GOP doesn't want to lose their sugar daddy weapons industry ceo campaign donations, they have their sorry asses glued to the NRA's ass.

Point is never assume. I agree that it is less likely to happen, sure, but not impossible. You let that false sense of security fool you, and you most certainly can lose this Republic.

Even with Hitler, there were many Germans who hated Jews, but really believed that they were just going to be deported at first. But that slick fuckface used scapegoating, gaslighting and demonization to convince them to eventually tolerate the extermination of European Jews.

If you seriously want to protect Tarajo's rights, then don't assume it will always be this way. Nothing lasts forever. One can only keep the ride going for as long as possible. And that doesn't mean paranoia, but eternal vigilance. 

I don't know if you remember that famous WW2 poem, "First they came for the socialists, but I did not speak up because I was not a socialist" so on and so on until "Then they came for me".

TaraJo is justified in her fears and I agree with her. Justice Thomas, Brett and Amy are using their SCOTUS powers abusively not objectively. If they are willing to take away a woman's body autonomy, they are not going to stop until they are the fascist religious theocracy they envy.
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#7
RE: At what point is America no longer a safe place for me to live?
How long before the American chistian theocracy comes after non believers?
teachings of the Bible are so muddled and self-contradictory that it was possible for Christians to happily burn heretics alive for five long centuries. It was even possible for the most venerated patriarchs of the Church, like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, to conclude that heretics should be tortured (Augustine) or killed outright (Aquinas). Martin Luther and John Calvin advocated the wholesale murder of heretics, apostates, Jews, and witches. - Sam Harris, "Letter To A Christian Nation"
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#8
RE: At what point is America no longer a safe place for me to live?
(July 8, 2022 at 8:31 am)Fake Messiah Wrote: How long before the American chistian theocracy comes after non believers?

Exactly my point. Atheists CANNOT at this point, be precluded for running for public office. Now mind everyone reading this, even an atheist would have to still convince enough people to give them that office, so it is not a given, but constitutionally wise, it is not illegal to run. We even had an open atheist Pete Stark in Congress for a while. 

Just like the fundies are fucking assholes for claiming Ilion Omar is a Muslim so therefore she cannot hold public office. FUCK THEM. I don't agree with any religion being necessary to live life of course, but she applied to run, and she convinced enough in her district to put her in office and that is perfectly legal. Muslim Keith Ellison swore with his hand on a copy of the Koran once owned by Thomas Jefferson, also perfectly legal. So if an atheist wanted to swear in on a copy of Origin Of the Species, again, also perfectly legal. BUT what nobody can do of any label, is to use their label as to set up a social pecking order based on that label.
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#9
RE: At what point is America no longer a safe place for me to live?
(July 8, 2022 at 8:31 am)Fake Messiah Wrote: How long before the American chistian theocracy comes after non believers?

hopefully after someone else’s nuclear first strike wipes out our nuclear arsenal first.
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#10
RE: At what point is America no longer a safe place for me to live?
(July 8, 2022 at 12:05 pm)Anomalocaris Wrote:
(July 8, 2022 at 8:31 am)Fake Messiah Wrote: How long before the American chistian theocracy comes after non believers?

hopefully after someone else’s nuclear first strike wipes out our nuclear arsenal first.

It doesn't work like that, it is called mutual destruction. I don't care who fires first, there will be return fire and like a domino it will continue until the earth is so fucked up none of our worldwide communications work. But if we fire off everything the world has, friend and foe alike, we are most certainly sealing our species doom.

In reality, it is not good if either side take the first shot.
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