Christine Lemmer-Webber15h ago

Well the US Supreme Court decided that trans people aren't real today. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-43_2b35.pdf

From Thomas's concurrence (EDIT: previously I said this was the majority opinion, I got that wrong):

> Because “gender dysphoria” is a mutable mental state that is the object of psychiatric treatment, it does not resemble the immutable characteristics on the basis of which our precedents have applied heightened scrutiny—race, sex, or national origin.

And even worse:

> Second, as the Court recognizes, this case concerns “biological men” and “boys who identify as girls.” Ante, at 10, 27. Men and boys with gender dysphoria are not women or girls, even if they believe that they are. Sex is an immutable “biological” characteristic, see ante, at 10; it is binary; and “man” and “woman,” “boy” and “girl,” are the terms that correspond to adults and children of each sex.

I'm sorry, everyone.

Show threadJ—dV

@cwebber The "immutable" requirement is such a strange US-specific legal artefact. First, religion is considered a suspect class, and thus subject to strict scrutiny. One’s religion isn't immutable though, so that's not actually a requirement!

And second, during the gay-marriage debates of the early 2000s there was a fascinating split in how US and European activists framed being gay. In the US you often heard "I was born this way" and a strong emphasis on gay-ness being innate. Because in the US context – against the historical backdrop of race – that's how you are awarded rights. But in Europe the rhetoric was almost the opposite, emphasising freedom of choice as the basis for rights.

6:57pmWeb
Show threadJ—dV12h ago

@cwebber I swear I wrote that toot before I saw this ny times op-ed that basically says "don't worry, I'm just gay – the inborn, unchosen, immutable kind – and not a scary queer, who keeps demanding more and more rights and is constantly challenging the status-quo"

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/opinion/queer-gay-rights.html

Opinion | I’m Gay, Not Queer. It Matters.

Polyamorous? Queer. Vaguely uncomfortable with gender expectations? Possibly queer, too.

The New York Times
Show threadmerzbow and chill11h ago

@redjives @cwebber

"Mr. Vines is the author of “God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships" queer assimilationism was a mistake, example #4367

Show threadsmitten10h ago
@redjives I think they do feel like it's biological, even though they might not be able to explain or debate it. They talk a lot about Christian families and Christian kids. In the way that it's merged with white supremacy it's become a race, for a lot of people. I'm not disagreeing with you, just thinking out loud. It's very strange.