Photo by James McGinnis
Watching a video of Ted Cruz flaunting his ignorance and making a crude joke about Donald Trump dressing up as Hillary Clinton and still not being able to use the girl’s bathroom made me sick. It brought tears to my eyes as his audience laughed. Last week he released a transphobic add portraying transgender women as predators, men pretending to be women.
Article after article. Statement after statement. Law after law. Transgender people are singled out as a danger in public restrooms without any evidence. Is the timing—during a presidential election year—a coincidence? I doubt it.
Some bright spots appear in this darkness. Entertainers and businesses are pulling out of states that pass discriminatory “bathroom bills.” On it’s website, Target takes the lead and declares that in keeping with it’s core value of inclusivity, transgender employees and guests are welcomed to use “the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.” Episcopal and Methodist bishops of North Carolina are demanding the repeal of HB2. Some business leaders and government officials are speaking out against these laws.
That this fear-mongering bigotry is often expressed under the guise of religious freedom makes it all the more tragic. Jesus weeps. So do I.
Thank you, again, Mary. Your understanding and poignant words are such an important reminder of God’s love for all his people. Simply stated, it’s all too easy to ridicule or ignore or point fingers when it’s not your son or daughter. The problems in our country, I truly believe, stem from a lack of concern and compassion for others. Coming together to work for equality brings out so many wonderful attributes in people.
Thank you,Sue. There is much work to be done.
Mary, I weep, too. So many upsetting things are seen and heard that simply show the ignorance of the doer/speaker. So very sad.
I am becoming more and more concerned about references to God with the pronoun “him.” Jesus’ words are translated as “Father” but just “God” should be enough. The Greek and Roman “gods” and “gods” of other Faiths may be female or male but my God is not.