Plan B Forum

CPAC Speaker Calls for Transgenderism [sic] to Be ‘Eradicated’

THE RIGHT’S WAR on queer and trans people took center stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference as Daily Wire host Michael Knowles openly called for the public eradication of transgenderism. During his speech on Saturday, Knowles told the crowd, “For the good of society… transgenderism must be eradicated from public life entirely — the whole preposterous ideology, at every level.”

A number of people on Twitter, including Media Matters’ John Knefel and Harvard Law Cyber Clinic’s Alejandra Caraballo, called his remarks genocidal. Tragically, Knowles’ ideology is right in line with Republican politicians who have enacted or introduced bans on drag performances, restrictions on transgender health care, bills that would ban trans people from using the bathroom corresponding with their gender identity, and laws like Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” that bars teachers from teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity. The Movement Advancement Project (MAP), a group that tracks LGBTQ legislation, described these efforts as an ongoing “war against LGBTQ people in America and their very right and ability to openly exist.”

In his speech, Knowles used a convoluted line of thinking and false logic while trying to prove his horrifying point that trans people should not exist. “There can be no middle way in dealing with transgenderism. It can be all or nothing,” he said. “If transgenderism is true, if men really can become women, then it’s true for everybody of all ages. If transgenderism is false — as it is — if men really can’t become women — as they cannot — then it’s false for everybody too. And if it’s false, then we should not indulge it, especially when that indulgence requires taking away the rights and customs of many people. It if is false, then for the good of society — and especially for the good of the poor people who have fallen prey to this confusion — then transgenderism must be eradicated from public life entirely — the whole preposterous ideology, at every level.”

This is not Knowles’ first time calling for a ban on trans people appearing in public. He made similar comments last week, again drawing criticism that he was advocating for genocide. In response, Knowles said on his radio show that “there can’t be a genocide” of trans people because, he claimed, “Transgender people is not a real ontological category.”

People like Knowles may feel even more emboldened as top conservatives regularly spout virulently anti-trans rhetoric. In February, former Vice President Mike Pence decried “radical gender ideology” and claimed the left has “increasingly bizarre obsessions with race and sex and gender.” Former President Donald Trump has also turned up his anti-trans rhetoric recently. In a video posted in January, Trump decried “left-wing gender insanity” and promised to end gender affirming care for minors nationwide, likening normal health care to “child sex mutilation” and “child abuse.” It’s all a transparently fascistic effort to drive LGBTQ people back into the closet and eliminate them from public life while simultaneously firing up the conservative base with fear-mongering. Trump is scheduled to speak at CPAC on Saturday evening.

MajGenl.Meade wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 06, 2023 6:17 am

Those are reasonable reactions

"Extermination" is just hysteria. Very much over reaction

MajGenl.Meade wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 06, 2023 6:17 am

Concern - yes
Dislike - yes
Resistance - yes
Opposing - yes
Mocking - yes

Those are reasonable reactions

"Extermination" is just hysteria. Very much over reaction

BoSoxGal wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 06, 2023 9:56 am

MajGenl.Meade wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 06, 2023 6:17 am

Concern - yes
Dislike - yes
Resistance - yes
Opposing - yes
Mocking - yes

Those are reasonable reactions

"Extermination" is just hysteria. Very much over reaction

This response from a so-called historian. Doh!

Scooter wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 05, 2023 11:12 pm

For anyone wanting to keep track, Republicans have now reached stage 8 of the 10 stages of genocide. Can extermination (stage 9) be far behind?

MajGenl.Meade wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 06, 2023 2:13 pm

Rather than generalize, (my job), can anyone put forward a rational argument describing the circumstances in which the United States will endorse and adopt an official policy of extermination of the alphabeticals?

Absent that, any claims of pending extermination are "over reaction"

MajGenl.Meade wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 06, 2023 11:59 am

I very much doubt that the United States will legalize the mass murder of alphabet people. The history of the country and of the Constitution supports this view. Perhaps there is an argument showing the opposite case to be likely. If so, what is it?

The new law, effective April 1, builds on existing restrictions on “adult-oriented businesses” in Tennessee, expanding the state’s obscenity laws to include performances that feature topless or exotic dancers or “male or female impersonators”

Drag performers in Tennessee beginning next month could find themselves behind bars for performing in certain public spaces or where their shows may be viewed by “a person who is not an adult,” according to the new law.

First-time violators may be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail. Any subsequent offenses will be classified as a Class E felony, carrying a maximum six-year prison sentence.

"Senate Bill 3, the drag ban, prohibits “adult cabaret performances” from taking place within 1,000 feet of schools, public parks or places of worship."

First-time violators may be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail. Any subsequent offenses will be classified as a Class E felony, carrying a maximum six-year prison sentence.

Joe Guy wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 07, 2023 3:23 am

The meme's message is a huge exaggeration and mischaracterization of the new law.

This amendment defines "adult cabaret entertainment" as adult-oriented performances that are harmful to minors, as such term is defined under present law; feature go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators, or similar entertainers; and include a single performance or multiple performances by an entertainer.

Sue U wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 07, 2023 4:06 am

It is not. The law was passed based on claims that drag shows "sexualized" minors. The entire business model of Hooters is prurience. The meme highlights the hypocrisy of the legislation and the people pushing it.

Scooter wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 07, 2023 4:12 am

Given that drag queen stories hours have been one of THE MAJOR flashpoints of the ongoing manufactured outrage, is it remotely credible that those pushing this sort of legislation did not intend to include them as part of their prohibition? Furthermore, it is clear that they view ANY drag as "adult oriented" and "harmful to minors", given their obsession with shielding children from it. So yes, the meme is 100% accurate because it is supported by the language of the bill.

Scooter wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 07, 2023 4:12 am

Nor do I see it as a stretch that the mere act of walking down a public street in clothing that is not seen as corresponding to one's sex assigned at birth could also be seen as performative (because of course all trans people are just acting as if they are of the gender they present), which would of course criminalize trans people merely for existing.

Scooter wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 07, 2023 4:12 am

Sorry not sorry, but I'm not interested in entertaining any of your Mickey the Dunce tapdancing when the language of the bill so clearly corresponds to the long openly stated intent of your Christian Talibangelist legislators to ban drag from anywhere that children may be able to see it.