this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2026
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Trans journalist Erin Reed has published a list of Democratic midterm candidates with anti-trans records, and the question she is forcing is one the party would rather not answer: if trans voters keep rewarding Democrats who harm them, what signal does that send? The calculation is real, the stakes are high, and there is no clean answer.

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[–] tpotatomasher99@lemmy.zip 14 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Short Answer: Baby/Bath water idiom

Long Answer: Dems lose elections because sub groups hate someone they have 98% in common with than someone who likes to bomb children.

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[–] Mulligrubs@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I disagree strongly with the Democratic party. I despise a good deal of their platform, and am disgusted with about 90% of those that are elected. To me, they are an insult and an embarrassment.

... and I still voted for them in the last national election. Nobody likes them.

[–] starelfsc2@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Do people not realize Republicans won in their messaging? Everything related to trans support is MUCH lower than it was before. The best democrats can do is dogwhistle support, because it's very unpopular right now, which it's horrible that's the case but thats not the fault of the politicians who are trying to improve things.

[–] TRAHR@quokk.au 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

They won in their messaging because no one defended it and instead caved to support it.

Dems have lost in all messaging. They won’t push the quality of living and problems of capitalism, instead they agree to attack trans people.

There are a few exceptions, and they do well in their respective places when they actually push back. But most are cowards.

[–] starelfsc2@sh.itjust.works 1 points 23 hours ago

They didn't cave until they lost the messaging, and yes the messaging has been unbelievably bad. There's a series called the alt right playbook where one of the strategies is control the conversation, democrats are always playing defense saying no we don't want everyone to be transgender no we aren't giving 8 year olds hormones for no reason. That's just a losing strategy.

I'm not saying they couldn't be doing more, but it's like trying to stand up for black rights in an election in a community of racists, you're going to get swept by the guy who is openly racist. The media has massively failed us on the trans issue and now most Americans are anti trans, it sucks and I have trans friends who are super hurt by it, but I'm not going to let the fascist supporters win, when they are actively trying to kill Americans, and trans people, and the rest of the world.

[–] SapphironZA@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 days ago

You vote for them because they are more likely to change their tune than a republican.

Plus you do everything to make their life miserable until he changes his mind.

[–] rekabis@lemmy.ca 13 points 2 days ago (7 children)

Choosing between the party where every elected official wants to unalive you, vs the party where only a handful want to do the same…

Yeah, that is a tough one. Really difficult decision, there.

[–] Goodlucksil@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

In the places where the blue candidate is a transphobe, it's transphobe vs transphobe

[–] rekabis@lemmy.ca 11 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Yes, but if Dems remain in the minority, it’ll still be a Republican majority, giving them more time to dismantle democracy even further.

It’s the bigger picture which is most important. You cannot create lasting local change without removing the autocratic boot from above.

I mean, yes, let’s make these transphobe Dems as uncomfortable as possible. But America needs to roll back the fascism and authoritarianism, first. Without that first step, every other positive action is a house built on sand - it can be blown away from the top with infinite ease. And then it’s 1939 Germany all over again with pink triangles and pogroms aplenty.

And honestly, I see that outcome as the much, much worse one.

[–] GreenBeard@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 days ago

Yes, but if Dems remain in the minority, it’ll still be a Republican majority, giving them more time to dismantle democracy even further.

And if the transphobic Dems vote with the Republicans, trans people lose anyway. Democrats don't do party discipline, so the anti-trans laws get passed anyway under the guise of "concessions", so heads you're dead, tails you're still dead but someone somewhere feels bad about it.

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[–] pirate2377@lemmy.zip 35 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (9 children)

MLK supported getting less bad segregationists elected during the early stages of the civil rights movement because they were easier to work with, do we still have segregation today? If trans people in sports is the only contention and they agree on everything else, then that's progress. We can fight on the trans people in sports point next primary. Let's also not forget that Donald Trump is trying to end Democracy entirely and will oppress more than just trans people.

[–] Garbagio@lemmy.zip 6 points 2 days ago

Enforced by explicit law? No, we don't have segregation anymore. In schooling, the work force, housing, literally all forms of resource distribution? Pretty much yes.

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[–] CultLeader4Hire@lemmy.world 20 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I’ve started getting involved with my local Democratic Party. I no longer consider myself a Democrat, but they don’t need to know that, and I figure if I’m able to get more up close and personal, influence people in real time that would be a much better option than just not voting for these anti trans democrats or doing nothing.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

This is the best tactic for those who can do it

[–] pageflight@piefed.social 72 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Ranked choice voting so we stop having to pick terrible Democrats. Gaining prevalence in local elections!

[–] LocalAreaMan@lemmy.world 41 points 3 days ago (8 children)

We had that in Washington State but both parties worked to abolish it, saying that we were somehow too stupid to understand it.

I hate them both sooooo much.

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[–] Octavio@piefed.social 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Vote for them and then get them to have pro-trans rights views. Like we did with Obama and gay marriage.

[–] ScoffingLizard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That's one way to do it. Sounds like throwing in the towel at first, but if their strategy was to shift the Overton Window, it might not be a bad plan to shift it right back.

I'm so tired of these people touching kids and then fucking with trans folks.

[–] AHemlocksLie@lemmy.zip 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I mean it's pretty shit, but what are we gonna do, vote in the Republicans? I'm sure that will help trans people even more /s

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[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 26 points 3 days ago

One of the best responses I've heard was from the Professional Left:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/229/episode_players/19814024-ep-1022-the-hearts-of-men?client_source=large_player&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzsprout.com%2F229.js%3Fplayer%3Dlarge

(Starting around the 26:30 mark)

Boils down to: Democrats can be educated, Republicans will destroy you. Quite possibly in the literal sense.

[–] Sunflier@lemmy.world 39 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (15 children)

I just don't get the obsession with transgender people. What did they ever do other than just wanting to be left alone? Did a bunch of them bomb a bunch orphanages with burning puppies running out of the flaming building?

[–] SapphironZA@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 days ago

It's a greatly exaggerated/manufactured culture war topic for the purpose of distracting from the very real class war.

It's not a coincidence that anti-trans rhetoric started around the same time the war on terror started losing its effectiveness as an excuse and the 1% narrative was starting to take root.

It's the classic fascist tactic of scapegoating a minority, as part of fascist strategy. Look up how fascism works, that is a big part of it.

[–] hoppeduponcoffee@lemmy.zip 6 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Authoritarian personalities agress toward outgroups who violate traditional norms, including socially traditional gender roles. They become a scapegoat during times of capitalistic economic uncertainty.

We’re in part of the cycle where liberal democracy decays and fascism flourishes. A core tenet of fascist ideology is the championing of the in-group with religious fervor and nationalistic pride. This is seen as a populist way to “save the country,” when the real problem is capitalism and the exploitation of workers. This is why fascists demonize socialists, communists and even liberals.

Both the GOP (conservatives) and the far left (tankies) can reflect this personality type.

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[–] noxypaws@pawb.social 16 points 3 days ago

believe it or not, also guillotine.

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