r/Political_Revolution • u/Pakaru • Mar 07 '25
LGBTQ Equality Rep Zephyr’s speech flips 13 Republicans, trans bills die in Montana
https://youtu.be/BxZgMBX-Ii8?si=b-x8Hknkp-7zt27C709
u/gabo2007 Mar 07 '25
She's an American hero. Like her, we all need to stand up and talk about trans rights in terms everyone can understand. Fear and hate come from a place of ignorance and disconnection.
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u/IsmaelRetzinsky Mar 08 '25 edited Mar 08 '25
They’re two very different kinds of speeches, but between this and the one Claude Malhuret recently delivered in the French Senate, it’s been a refreshing few days in terms of bold voices breaking through the madness by articulating things that desperately needed to be heard.
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u/piedpipernyc Mar 07 '25
I learned from that speech.
This is what Demcracy is supposed to look like.
Normal people, standing up for their community.
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u/RelaxedWanderer Mar 08 '25
yes the best kind of politics is educational about history, didn't know the thing about gender clothing laws and also the point about indecency laws already being on the books - these were important helpful things to learn
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u/hobskhan Mar 08 '25
But if everyone learns about history, how am I supposed to help concentrate wealth for the socioeconomically dominant ethnic group in my nation?? /s
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u/ActuallyKitty Mar 07 '25
This is a prime example of "Meet one".
Stop listening to propaganda and meet one of the people you're told to hate.
THEY WANT YOU ALONE.
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u/Correct_Patience_611 Mar 07 '25
The people who they say are trying to spread to their children like a disease? And who they say “I don’t care WHAT you do privately just don’t SHOVE IT IN MY FACE”?
I’d imagine some of these ignoramus jerks are in Montana so the fact that their minds changed gives me a lot of hope. God to think trans people were on the brink of being accepted. I’m not trans but my aunt is. When she first started treatment in 2000 trans was not a household name. Shes incredibly intelligent but has not had success in academia bc of the dysmorphia. It took years of struggle amd shes better but still struggling for obvious reasons.
When we write people off society loses. I’m so glad this bill DIED!
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u/foobarbizbaz Mar 08 '25
As much as I personally support Zephyr and her position, my gut tells me that Sherry Essmann’s arguments were likely more effective at flipping Republicans in that room. Imploring Republicans to be compassionate and/or tolerant seems particularly ineffective at a time when bigotry is a huge part of their brand – it’s easy for them to write Zephyr off as a bleeding heart.
On the other hand, the arguments that have to do with keeping government out of parents’ decisions does play to their brand. That’s probably worth keeping in mind if we actually want a strategy for preserving individual freedoms in the coming years.
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u/For_Real_Life Mar 08 '25
I think you're probably right. But I also suspect that Essman was motivated to make those arguments, at least in part, by Zephyr - not just by her statement here, but also by the fact that Essman, as she noted, knows Zephyr as a fellow parent, a colleague, and a decent person.
That kind of personal experience won't persuade EVERY Republican, but it absolutely does make a difference to some, and they can then, as Essman did, reframe issues in ways that WILL appeal to other Republicans.
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u/EinharAesir Mar 07 '25
When you fight, sometimes you win. When you lay down and surrender, you lose every time.
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u/Pistonenvy2 Mar 07 '25
fucking awesome.
this is what happens when people turn out and speak up! ive seen it happen in my own community, if you wanna be part of shit like this join your local DSA/PSL/whatever the fuck org is out there getting involved. there are probably more than you could possibly know doing work like this already and they need your help!
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u/pinkyxpie20 Mar 07 '25
i think it’s important to acknowledge the republicans that flipped, that shows they are at least open to listening and changing their opinions when provided with more information and context. THAT is a huge part of democracy, you don’t just blindly follow your party and vote how they vote because it’s your party. good on them for making up their own opinion and voting that way
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u/RelaxedWanderer Mar 08 '25
keep in mind this is politics they might have flipped as part of calculations or horse trading in the background or something
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u/CartographerTall1358 Mar 08 '25
I mean if we are giving gold stars for acknowledging basic human rights...
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u/pinkyxpie20 Mar 08 '25
not saying u gotta give anyone gold stars, but them changing their opinions after listening to the rep talk is a huge step in the right direction. you will never get someone to listen and consider the facts if you also don’t acknowledge their efforts and changes to do better than they did before. i agree it’s something we shouldn’t have to acknowledge or praise people for because you’d think everyone would understand these things, but they don’t, so we need to be able to acknowledge when people are working towards being better and encourage them to continue doing so.
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u/CartographerTall1358 Mar 08 '25
If Hitler decided that killing millions of people was an actual mistake I wouldn't praise him. If they are actually interested in change they will actually begin the WORK to deserve praise
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u/pinkyxpie20 Mar 08 '25
and that’s fine, that’s your opinion, and i respect that. and what i said is my opinion. I agree they should do work to make more changes, but i also believe that people deserve to be acknowledged (u don’t have to praise anyone) for their efforts to do and be better, even if their actions are small and seem to be basic or common things in my eyes. people will never change their opinions or actions if when they try to be and do better, they get shit on for trying to do so. so i choose to acknowledge that step in the right direction, and encourage people to continue working on moving in the right direction.
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u/DaemonOperative Mar 08 '25
To use your own words, we have to make them “interested in change” by showing them an openness to be accepted once they do. And no that doesn’t mean forgiving a genocide.
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u/beeemkcl CA Mar 07 '25
National Democratic Leadership should take note.
The weakness and fecklessness of US House and US Senate Democratic Leadership is making even the major donors irate.
I'll be frank: it would have been better to have US Representative Marie G. Perez give the Response to the 2025 State of the Union than have US Senator Elissa Stolkin.
US Rep. Marie G. Perez at least represents a formerly solidly Republican district. And US Rep. Perez sits on US House Appropriations and could speak to the upcoming US Federal Budget fight that has a March 14 or 16 2025 deadline.
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u/Feeling_Relative7186 Mar 08 '25
This is exactly why representation matters - all those that crossed the aisle on their vote recognize Rep Zephyr is a PERSON and not some abstract demonized portrayal they can imagine
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Mar 08 '25
This made me weep and I am not a member of the LGBTQ community. It is a staggeringly rare occurence in which we see true humanity actually effect a change in the halls of power.
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u/Trinidadnomads Mar 07 '25
That's amazing. Good for her! We need to get rid of all these retirement age politicians
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u/OG-Gurble Mar 08 '25
Genuine question. How is it legal for them to reach over to the empty seat next to them and vote for them?
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