Trans patients deserve better than this. Michigan Medicine must reconsider their decision.

RT @MIAFLCIO:

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RT @CleanWaterMI: We just joined @OilWaterDntMix to drop off 1000s of letters for @GovWhitmer and @MichiganEGLE! From Detroit to the UP, Mi….

This isn't governing. This is a hostage situation. #michigan #mileg

@ACLUofMichigan The committee votes on party lines to advance the bill, with all Republicans in support and all Democrats opposing. That wraps up this live thread, but we'll keep you posted on what happens next.

@ACLUofMichigan The Michigan League for Public Policy also weighs in via card to oppose this nonsensical bill.

@ACLUofMichigan Rep. St. Germaine performs some impressive mental gymnastics by implying that allowing trans kids to use the proper restrooms is at all comparable to asking the speaker to undress publicly.

@ACLUofMichigan Rep. Byrnes (for real this time) draws attention to Republicans' clear lack of understanding of science by bringing up the intersex people, whose very existence proves how reductive and innacurate the idea of a rigid gender binary is.

@ACLUofMichigan Rep. Paquette asks how this bill would discriminate based on gender identity when it only mentions sex, reminding us all that he doesn't understand existing civil rights law.

@ACLUofMichigan This law doesn't specify an enforcement mechanism, which means that school staff would be pressed into serving as gender police. It would obviously target trans kids, but the consequences would naturally extend to anyone who could possibly be perceived as gender nonconforming.

@ACLUofMichigan "There is no government interest in increasing stigma and forcing students into these isolating circumstances.".

Next up: a return to sanity, courtesy of @ACLUofMichigan. These bills violate Michigan's existing civil rights laws by denying trans kids access to bathrooms that match their gender.

Rep. Fox further legitimizes these preposterous arguments by asking whether the Bible says God created man and woman, as if that has any place in discussions of public policy!!!!.

"Religion belongs in public schools," says Tarver. Talk about saying the quiet part loud!!!!!!.

Oh good, just what this policy discussion needed. A Bible verse!.

As expected, Tarver's "argument" is barely comprehensible and relies on bizarre a misreading of the Michigan Constitution.

Linda Lee Tarver is here to speak, prompting an audible groan from this live tweeter. (Tarver has been active in right wing circles for ages and aided in spreading a wide variety of lies, propaganda, and conspiracy theories.).

Next speaker in favor says the bill aligns with "existing social norms," which is simply not true. Trans people didn't spring into existence in the past five years—they've been here, using bathrooms. It's just that no one noticed or cared until Republicans started fearmongering.

Rep. Pavlov pipes up to say that he never heard of trans kids until now. He thinks he's providing evidence that their existence is brand new, when in fact he is providing evidence that he has no idea what he's talking about.

Rep. Fox says that's unfortunate, but offers no answers about how we can prevent that harm.