(02-09-2017 05:01 PM)ken d Wrote:  

(02-09-2017 04:08 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  Look this isn't the politics board but it's unfair to dismiss the legitimate debate in this country about when it is apropriate to differentiate between the social construct of gender identity and the physical construct of biological sex

Bathrooms are the perfect example of this.

Currently they are separated by biological sex (XX vs XY) which is only problematic for a small element of the population and frankly my position is if you're a different genotype like XYY, then it's your choice (no system meant for the masses can ever cater to everyone, only as many as possible)


However basing them on the artificial social construct of gender identity which is an intangible idea is at best highly problematic because it's totally subjective to the preferences of the individual and impossible to scale for mass use policy because it literally varies from one person to the next.

Just my 2 cents

Carry on

Frankly, I believe the "debate" on this is little more than a smoke screen. I don't believe the issue is really about gender identity. As you point out, only a small fraction of the population is affected by this, and these bills don't address any real concerns.

I think the issue is about power. A segment of our society that has long held power feels it is losing its grip on it. They are afraid, and are taking this opportunity to exercise what power they still have while they can. They are proposing, and in some cases, passing these bills because they can, not because they need to.

I suspect Frank the Tank is right in seeing this as sort of a desperate last stand against the inexorable tide of public opinion. That might sound silly in light of the recent presidential election results. But I think history will view this election as an anomaly. When we are afraid, and as a nation I believe we are, we tend to over-correct. I expect the pendulum to swing back - perhaps not as far as some would like - bringing us closer to the center, and more in line with public opinion. That's a painful process, but probably a useful one.

Ken, I believe that you are correct on all of your post.

Also, the North Carolina bill was not merely a "bathroom bill", but a law intended to strip the cities from protecting LGBT rights.

As an aside, I see a Judge today put a hold on one of the outgoing governor/legislature's "last gasp" laws intended to limit the incoming NC governor's power.

These guys are on the wrong side of history and have made their own bed as far as sanctions go.

When corporations recoil from what a GOP legislature does, then man, that is a good sign that it just went Beyond The Pale.