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Ovah Reese's avatar

Fantastic read. Totally agree, and appreciate a deeper dive on this recent ruling.

Recently, friends were refused service at a cafe "because transphobic," according to the owner who ejected them soon after they ordered. A friend and I returned and enjoyed breakfast ourselves (no ejection) before asking to talk with the owner about what had happened ---not an argument, but still a productive consciousness raising conversation. :-) A server was wearing one of those "Protect Trans Kids" shirts that features a blade during our visit, and my companion and I found it all kinds of paradoxical and disturbing. But: I would defend that guy's right to display a wrong-headed message in a public space as vigorously as I assert our right freely to express various of our truths about pronouns, double mastectomies, informed consent, and gender industry doublespeak without losing our civil rights and protections. It feels good to be part of a people who can hold space for multiple views on a situation. I believe it's through exposure of and engagement with the most dangerous and least supportable views that we eventually move closer to more liberating and rational ones.

Thanks, Blue State Lawyer. It's great to know you're out there. I know it can be lonely, but you are not alone.

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Jeri's avatar

Wonderful argument! I agree with your points, and would add, "what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander", as my mother used to say. Free speech works both ways!

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