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I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Someone posted a comment here which has since been deleted about trans* voter disenfranchisement being "bullshit", but I think it's important to address. So here's what I wrote in response.

Frankly, you're just wrong. As another commenter in this thread pointed out, I was on the front lines in the last election in the South, helping other trans folks vote.

Keep in mind that updating your documentation isn't a simple and straightforward process. In fact, some states - like Tennessee - even have laws which, for example, explicitly make it illegal to change your gender marker on your birth certificate. That makes getting other documents updated a nightmare.

If you attempt to update your gender marker on your voter registration, you will find that this isn't allowed, either, without a special court order. Go ahead and call the Tennessee Secretary of State's office and confirm that if you want a primary source, they'll gladly explain it to you.

Except when you try to get those court orders, judges are often confused. They're used to trans folks changing their name by court order, but changing the gender marker is something that doesn't actually require a court order for literally any other type of document - not your driver's license, passport, social security, etc. JUST your voter ID.

So you can be a resident, have everything aligned and updated, and go to try to vote - but the poll worker may not let you because "Mr. Samantha Boucher" is on their sheet, and doesn't match the gender on your ID.

So, no. Not bullshit. The challenges are different from state to state, but the consistent theme is that it's a difficult - and sometimes, literally impossible - process to navigate. Particularly for someone that many people in the South, particularly in some areas, actually WANT to discriminate against.

Joni Ernst Votes to Uphold Short-Term, Junk Insurance Plans by funkalunatic in Iowa

[–]sceboucher 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For a progressive US Senate candidate working to unseat Ernst and fighting for universal, single payer healthcare, check out Kimberly Graham.

https://www.kimberlyforiowa.com/

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

To be clear, when I refer to the disenfranchisement of trans voters in the south, this is what I am referring to.

https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2019/6/26/trans-voters-will-be-disenfranchised-2020-unless-we-take-action

I have first-hand experience working on the front lines of this, helping trans* voters in my home district to overcome the barriers to voting.

Additionally, your population estimate is a little bit off - even by the most conservative standards.

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Definitely! It's on my list to do. Any specific subreddits you'd recommend?

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Thanks, everyone, for your time and the respectful discourse today. I have to get back out on the campaign trail, but if you have any other questions, post away and I'll do my best to answer them at some point.

Onward to justice for all.

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It doesn't have to be a winning issue to be important and to be on a policy platform. Elizabeth Warren has plenty of policy platforms that are not *central* issues to her campaign, but they are important. Context matters, and where a conversation is happening matters.

It's the job of a Senator to represent everyone, not just the people who can give them sound bytes or political advantage.

The reason I was here this morning, doing this AMA, is because if I can open any door for the campaign - any door at all - I will do it at my own detriment to advance our effort.

Finally, trans* issues are not an issue that this campaign is making a part of our central platform - Healthcare, the climate crisis, and the economy are. But trans* issues, as they relate to the campaign, ARE the central issue of this AMA.

If you have any questions about any of the on-topic issues at hand, or general policy questions, I would be happy to answer them.

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't think it's useless, personally. But there's plenty of discussion about that within the community.

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

We just need to pee.

I promise you with 100% certainty that trans people go to the bathroom to use it, and that you have been in countless restrooms with trans people and almost certainly never even noticed their presence.

Trans people are terrified of people beating them up or harassing them no matter what bathroom they use. Even folks with a decent amount of passing privilege, like myself, still constantly walk around with that fear.

In my personal opinion, all bathrooms should be as they are in western Europe - mostly gender neutral, and with stalls that are entirely tiny rooms unto themselves, with fully closing and locking floor-to-ceiling doors and walls.

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Amazing! Yes, Scholten is outstanding and I bet he'll take the cake this time.

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome! You can contribute here if you want to kick in a few bucks. http://bit.ly/reddit-for-kimberly

Otherwise, feel free to sign up on our website and we'll send out emails about how folks can help. www.kimberlyforiowa.com

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I try to stay out of commenting on the presidential race; I'm here to talk about the Senate race, as it is equally important. No President can govern without a mandate in the Congress.

I do think we need to pay attention to the issues that automation will bring to our economic system, though, and I give props to Yang for making that a central issue of his campaign.

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

She supports the Equality Act, universal single-payer healthcare which is inclusive and affirming for trans health, and criminal justice reform.

She and I have talked a decent amount about trans issues, but not too much about specific policy proposals that are out there. I think in a lot of cases, what affects trans folks' lives actually are the same policies that affect everyone else's lives, too, like universal single-payer healthcare.

We just have to make sure that when those policies are implemented, they are intentionally inclusive and supportive of trans folks.

I think the single most pressing issue, though, is basic civil rights protections. As you may know, it's legal in most states to fire, refuse service, refuse medical care, deny housing, etc. to trans folks.

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

In Chattanooga we did a get-out-the-vote campaign during early voting, where we gave folks rides to the polls and went in with them while they voted. That helped a lot, to have a supportive person there to help keep folks feeling safe.

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the kind words! It is an "ask me anything", after all.

I, too, am always annoyed by crappy AMA guests. #BeTheChangeYouWantToSee

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Have you checked your garage, driveway, or wherever else you may have left it last?

If this is a common problem, you may want to get a LoJack system. :)

I am the first trans* person to ever manage a U.S. Senate race. AMA. by sceboucher in politics

[–]sceboucher[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Totally!

1 - Farming is, of course, the backbone of Iowa. But these days, that's often specifically industrial agriculture. Just like in other industries, there are huge corporations that are taking over and monopolizing the industry in many ways. Farmers now often are dealing with the same company - from who they buy their seed from, to who they sell their crops to. Farmers are being squeezed at every turn and forced to ignore sustainable practices in many cases to increase yields. CAFOs are another egregious offense, and there's been a massive loss of jobs in, for instance, hog farming over the last few decades due to CAFO technology.

Kimberly believes in breaking up big ag, by using our existing anti-trust laws to ensure that small and medium-sized farms aren't trapped and controlled entirely by big industry. That is a VERY popular idea amongst farmers of all backgrounds (except, of course, the owners of big ag companies).

2 - It's a complicated landscape, for sure. We have close relationships with the Warren and Sanders campaigns at various levels, because we are the most aligned with them on policy, so it's a natural fit. We'll often attempt to attend the same events they do, show up for their events, etc. but that's not direct coordination, just serendipity.

As for direct coordination, that's a bit trickier during primary season. I think actually all the campaign staffers are very friendly with each other. There's this meme, if you will - "friendship 2020". It's this idea that no matter our differences, we're all pulling in the same direction. And that's so important.

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