Ted Cruz harasses DC preschool teacher for being pregnant

[John Dule]

.
Learn the difference between sex and gender. Get it through your head.

I’ll be happy to learn this distinction as soon as you guys can agree on one.

Who is "you guys"? Who must come to an agreement? Every left-of-center person in the country? We've had this discussion before, but you're smart enough to know how ridiculous of a standard this is.

I’m not asking much. If you expect every English speaker in the world to artificially adapt their speech to fit your own definition, you should at least be clear on what that definition is.

[7,052,770]

Are there other definitions out there than something to the effect of "sex is between your legs, gender is between your ears" ? I'm not aware of there being widespread disagreement with that idea among "pro-trans" people?

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

Being trans and saying that a man can be a woman is a misrepresentation of biology.

And yet, here I am, living day in and day out as a woman, despite my male genitalia and chromosomes. Maybe biology isn't always the most important thing?

If you want to wear a dress, I have no problem with that. You're still a man in a dress. If you think the world is obligated to learn your personal pronouns, you need to check your privilege.

Too bad I mostly wear leggings, making your assumption of my being a "man" in a dress incorrect. And no, the world is not obligated to learn my pronouns. They just pick them up through vibes.

[Ferguson97]

I’m not asking much. If you expect every English speaker in the world to artificially adapt their speech to fit your own definition, you should at least be clear on what that definition is.

But who is "you"? Me specifically? The transgender community at-large? All pro-trans rights advocates? What specifically is not clear to you?

There does not need to be a unanimous consensus among these communities. Rarely is there ever a unanimous consensus among identity groups.

If you want to wear a dress, I have no problem with that. You're still a man in a dress. If you think the world is obligated to learn your personal pronouns, you need to check your privilege.

2/10 attempt at a troll response.

[John Dule]

I’m not asking much. If you expect every English speaker in the world to artificially adapt their speech to fit your own definition, you should at least be clear on what that definition is.

But who is "you"? Me specifically? The transgender community at-large? All pro-trans rights advocates? What specifically is not clear to you?

There does not need to be a unanimous consensus among these communities. Rarely is there ever a unanimous consensus among identity groups.

I’m talking to you. There is no definition of gender that you can give me that would be generally accepted even within activist circles. Thus I am under no obligation to constantly adapt my use of language to appease whichever faction I am speaking to at any given time.

[7,052,770]

I’m not asking much. If you expect every English speaker in the world to artificially adapt their speech to fit your own definition, you should at least be clear on what that definition is.

But who is "you"? Me specifically? The transgender community at-large? All pro-trans rights advocates? What specifically is not clear to you?

There does not need to be a unanimous consensus among these communities. Rarely is there ever a unanimous consensus among identity groups.

I’m talking to you. There is no definition of gender that you can give me that would be generally accepted even within activist circles. Thus I am under no obligation to constantly adapt my use of language to appease whichever faction I am speaking to at any given time.

Isn't there though?

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

I'm sorry that your experiencing a level of discomfort with your own body that makes you feel the need to pretend you're something you're not, but your discomfort does not change biological reality.

You're right, my discomfort with how I spent the first portion of my life does not change biological reality. But the estrogen pills I've been taking for four years now sure as hell do (not as much as I'd like, but they've changed it plenty, and they are, in fact, why most of my discomfort around the subject has been more existential than physical)! Anyway, I agree. Pretending I'm something I'm not is so 2018. I'm much happier now, in 2022, now that I don't have to do that.

If you have sexual relations with a man, that man is not straight by any message of logic or reason because you are also a man.

Good thing I'm more interested in sexual relations with women. Like your mom, for instance. She found that she, too, was not straight by any message of logic or reason because I am a woman.

[Figueira]

On the "Manatees" thing, as someone who has worked in preschools before, it's common for individual classrooms to have themes, like bees or dinosaurs or whatever. That seems to be what's going on here.

I’m not asking much. If you expect every English speaker in the world to artificially adapt their speech to fit your own definition, you should at least be clear on what that definition is.

But who is "you"? Me specifically? The transgender community at-large? All pro-trans rights advocates? What specifically is not clear to you?

There does not need to be a unanimous consensus among these communities. Rarely is there ever a unanimous consensus among identity groups.

I’m talking to you. There is no definition of gender that you can give me that would be generally accepted even within activist circles. Thus I am under no obligation to constantly adapt my use of language to appease whichever faction I am speaking to at any given time.

Isn't there though?

To be fair, there are two definitions: gender roles and gender identity. These are two important concepts that often get conflated.

[Ferguson97]

I’m not asking much. If you expect every English speaker in the world to artificially adapt their speech to fit your own definition, you should at least be clear on what that definition is.

But who is "you"? Me specifically? The transgender community at-large? All pro-trans rights advocates? What specifically is not clear to you?

There does not need to be a unanimous consensus among these communities. Rarely is there ever a unanimous consensus among identity groups.

I’m talking to you. There is no definition of gender that you can give me that would be generally accepted even within activist circles. Thus I am under no obligation to constantly adapt my use of language to appease whichever faction I am speaking to at any given time.

My definition of gender (vs sex) is pretty much the progressive consensus, so I don't really know what you're referring to here.

[T'Chenka]

This is hateful and disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself.

[John Dule]

I’m not asking much. If you expect every English speaker in the world to artificially adapt their speech to fit your own definition, you should at least be clear on what that definition is.

But who is "you"? Me specifically? The transgender community at-large? All pro-trans rights advocates? What specifically is not clear to you?

There does not need to be a unanimous consensus among these communities. Rarely is there ever a unanimous consensus among identity groups.

I’m talking to you. There is no definition of gender that you can give me that would be generally accepted even within activist circles. Thus I am under no obligation to constantly adapt my use of language to appease whichever faction I am speaking to at any given time.

My definition of gender (vs sex) is pretty much the progressive consensus, so I don't really know what you're referring to here.

Then define it.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

Clearly you also identify as a junior highschooler.

I see I struck a nerve. But please, check my posting history; you will find that I have a strong record of condemning transageism. Just because my sense of humor is stupid doesn't mean I "identify" as anything but the grown-ass woman I am.

Just stay out of the girls' locker rooms, because in spite of your self delusion, you are a grown ass man and will be arrested for exposing yourself to minors.

Estrogen is a delusion.

[Ferguson97]

My definition of gender (vs sex) is pretty much the progressive consensus, so I don't really know what you're referring to here.

Then define it.

In the simplest terms:

sex: what your chromosomes say

gender: what your brain says

When there's a mismatch between what the chromosomes say and what the brain says, this is called gender dysphoria.

There are many ways to cure gender dysphoria, one of which can be hormone therapy and/or gender-affirming therapy.

[Fuzzy Bear Loves Christian Missionaries]

"some boys have bodies that can have babies"
"my grown-ups made a guess that I was a girl" (they guessed wrong)

These are not things teachers should be confusing preschoolers with but it's now considered good and normal in our educational culture. It's perfectly fine to publicly criticize it without sharing the name of the school or the teacher.

With all due respect, you don't really know what you're talking about. (And to be fair, why would you, as a non-father?) "Preschoolers" can handle things like that just fine.

You realize that many trans people have families who care about them and support them, families that may include small children? And that those children might tell their schoolmates about their family members?

I've been a child myself, have worked with kids, and have studied child development. So yeah I think I know what I'm talking about enough to have a legitimate concern about what this does to a child's ability to make sense of themselves and their trust of their own and their parents' ability to know basic things about them like whether they are a boy or a girl.

Parents don't have the ability to magically know their children's gender identity, genius. What other demographics do you want to ban from having any contact with children?

You're right, it's not magic.

I don't want to ban anyone from having contact with children, just asking they try to do it without spreading b.s.

A trans person getting pregnant is clearly not bs

A trans person getting pregnant is a biological female presumably identifying themselves as a trans man.  That's NOT bs.  Perhaps, someday, science will accomplish the feat of enabling a biological male to have a child or to fully convert a biological male into a fully biological female.  We're not their yet, and that isn't bs either.

[DaleCooper]

Remember in Deep Space Nine when Quark turned into a woman for an episode?

[Ferguson97]

A trans person getting pregnant is a biological female presumably identifying themselves as a trans man.  That's NOT bs.  Perhaps, someday, science will accomplish the feat of enabling a biological male to have a child or to fully convert a biological male into a fully biological female.  We're not their yet, and that isn't bs either.

You guys keep doubling down on this point as if we're making the claim that trans men are biological men, but nobody here is making that argument.

If you're going to try and argue with us, respond to the arguments that we're actually making.

[John Dule]

My definition of gender (vs sex) is pretty much the progressive consensus, so I don't really know what you're referring to here.

Then define it.

In the simplest terms:

sex: what your chromosomes say

gender: what your brain says

When there's a mismatch between what the chromosomes say and what the brain says, this is called gender dysphoria.

There are many ways to cure gender dysphoria, one of which can be hormone therapy and/or gender-affirming therapy.

Two questions: Is there any relationship between the two? And is gender socialized or is it innate?

[Fuzzy Bear Loves Christian Missionaries]

A trans person getting pregnant is a biological female presumably identifying themselves as a trans man.  That's NOT bs.  Perhaps, someday, science will accomplish the feat of enabling a biological male to have a child or to fully convert a biological male into a fully biological female.  We're not their yet, and that isn't bs either.

You guys keep doubling down on this point as if we're making the claim that trans men are biological men, but nobody here is making that argument.

If you're going to try and argue with us, respond to the arguments that we're actually making.

That's my response, and you can't refute it because it's a truth that bears repeating.

The insinuation that men can have babies is false and has no place in preschool.  Indeed, any discussion of the trans issue whatsoever has no place in preschool. 

[Santander]

I don't even understand what "living as a man" or "living as a woman" is supposed to mean. Other than perhaps "traditional" gender roles or marriage (neither of which are particularly restrictive these days, which is fine with me), the only thing distinguishing ways in which men and women live different lives these days are precisely the biological things like having periods or children.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

The insinuation that men can have babies is false and has no place in preschool.  Indeed, any discussion of the trans issue whatsoever has no place in preschool. 

So, what, should the teacher be fired? Should he have to lie about his pregnancy?

[Ferguson97]

Two questions: Is there any relationship between the two?

Is there any relationship between the two? Well, the overwhelming majority of people are cisgender and do not experience gender dysphoria, so there can be a relationship, but that's not necessarily the case for everyone.

And is gender socialized or is it innate?

A little bit of both.

Gender is, to some extent, innate, because otherwise gender dysphoria wouldn't be a thing; however, gender is also, to some extent, a result of socialization, because otherwise we wouldn't see cultural differences in gender roles.

Dysphoria can manifest for multiple reasons - some of which may be due to body dysmorphia. A trans woman wants bottom surgery to get rid of her penis. A trans man wants top surgery to get rid of his breasts. People with XY chromosomes having a penis as a reproductive organ is a biological reality (excluding intersex people and a few other rare occasions), just as people with XX chromosomes having a vagina/uterus/breasts capable of producing milk is a biological reality. So for many people, having bodies that do not match their brain's gender is gender dysphoria.

So that's a form of gender dysphoria that exists completely independently of any social constructs. Everything I said in the above paragraph is based on the body not matching the brain.

There ARE of course gender roles which are not part of our biological nature. There's nothing in our biology that says women must have long hair and wear dresses or that men must have short hair and wear pants. But of course, many societies (especially Western society) insisted on this standard.

Now of course many people discover that they are transgender when they realize that they feel more comfortable behaving in a way that is traditionally assigned to people of the opposite sex, and the body dysphoria comes later. People are very complex and there's no hard fast rule about what "order" gender dysphoria has to happen. For many it starts by a little boy putting on their mom's makeup/dress or a little girl insisting on being the dad when she and another girl play "house". Of course, someone may do either of those things and still be cisgender. And that's okay too.

Human beings are complicated, and while there are patterns, there are very rarely hard and fast rules.

[7,052,770]

Remember in Deep Space Nine when Quark turned into a woman for an episode?

ACTING Grand Nagus!!!

[Fuzzy Bear Loves Christian Missionaries]

The insinuation that men can have babies is false and has no place in preschool.  Indeed, any discussion of the trans issue whatsoever has no place in preschool. 

So, what, should the teacher be fired? Should he have to lie about his pregnancy?

It's not a topic for preschool.  And, yes, preschool teachers are rightly limited as to the topics they speak about, given the age of the children.  This is not a topic that preschool children need to address in a preschool setting.

These are preschool children, not little adults.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

The insinuation that men can have babies is false and has no place in preschool.  Indeed, any discussion of the trans issue whatsoever has no place in preschool. 

So, what, should the teacher be fired? Should he have to lie about his pregnancy?

It's not a topic for preschool.  And, yes, preschool teachers are rightly limited as to the topics they speak about, given the age of the children.  This is not a topic that preschool children need to address in a preschool setting.

These are preschool children, not little adults.

That doesn't answer my question. Should this teacher be fired for being transgender (and thus warping their little four-year-old brains) or not?

[Fuzzy Bear Loves Christian Missionaries]

The insinuation that men can have babies is false and has no place in preschool.  Indeed, any discussion of the trans issue whatsoever has no place in preschool.  

So, what, should the teacher be fired? Should he have to lie about his pregnancy?

It's not a topic for preschool.  And, yes, preschool teachers are rightly limited as to the topics they speak about, given the age of the children.  This is not a topic that preschool children need to address in a preschool setting.

These are preschool children, not little adults.

That doesn't answer my question. Should this teacher be fired for being transgender (and thus warping their little four-year-old brains) or not?

Not for "just being trans".  That doesn't mean that the person gets to say whatever they wish to say or share whatever they wish to share.  If they provide TMI and get fired, my advise to such a person is to learn some self-control on your next job.

And, just to be clear, preschools should not be teaching "gender-fluidity".  There are boys and there are girls when you are that age.  The interest of the children come before the interest of preschool employees, period.  If that's hard on the trans person, so be it.