civil rights - Health care new front for transgender rights under Trump

Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar
WGBH

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)

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Civil rights - Congress has a role to play to ensure civil rights protections for all Americans

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Jared Polis
The Hill

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Lawmakers launch legislation to protect transgender troops

Carl Prine
The San Diego Union-Tribune

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Ros-Lehtinen served all of Miami-Dade well

Press
Miami Herald

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

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ezs note:  In case you missed it, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is one of the few Republicans who tirelessly worked for the rights of transgender citizens.  Notably, she is one of the few in her party who did not vote for the abysmal Donald Trump.  She is retiring after this term.  Goodbye, Ileana - we will miss you!

HRC Members Meet with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to #turnOUT the Vote

Press
HRC

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ezs note:  Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is one of those brave Republicans who is standing by her transgender son unabashedly in the halls of Congress.  Naturally, you have to look at her whole record, warts and all (who doesn't have them?)  but as far as her transgender record goes, she would put some Democrats to shame.

WATCH: Florida Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Is a Mom for Trans Equality

Cleis Abeni
Advocate

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

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ezs comment #2...

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Work commented on:  

If You Are Trans in America, Take the U.S. Trans Survey Today by Cleis Abeni

One seminal work arose in the past few weeks. 

"If You Are Trans..." discusses the 

important work being done by the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition.  There is, no doubt, how

integral this work is.  I myself filled out the rather long form, but it was entirely worth it.  My voice 

was indeed heard, and I'm damn proud of that. (If you want to participate, press USTransSurvey.org.)

However, it makes me wonder what 'might have been'.  Undoubtedly, the University of California, Los

 Angeles holds a position second to none when it comes to precision.  NTAC  holds a position second

 to no one by choosing someone with such prestige.  

Indeed,  only the federal government has such clout - and that's where the problem lies.  Inevitably,

John Boehner would sound the hissy-fit alarm.  "We can't spend that much money on a couple of 

transsexuals!  (sic)  Oh the horror!  Let the private sector do it!"  And, at first blush, it would

seem to be a reasonable premise.  Well, except for the fact that the House of Representatives is built 

like a jigsaw puzzle.  Thus, the House is hardly representative... and thus, very unfair.  


When the House of Representatives is put together every ten years by those who want to stay in power - Republicans and Democrats alike - some, uh, strange things happen. Consider Louie Gohmert.   Oh, Louie, Louie, how could we forget you?  Our "hero" put on an unsuccessful challenge against John Boehner - because he was too liberal!  (Don't that beat all?)  Or his psychedelic "asparagus" comments in the House.  Of course, we wouldn't even be having discussions such as these were it not  for the machinations of Tom DeLay.  


Next we consider the capital of Texas, Austin.  Now, Austin isn't quite as liberal as Provincetown - but it's damn well up there.  Now the good friends in Texas  would have shown some kindness toward their capitol  city... wouldn't they?


Ha!


When the Texas legislature carved up its House of Representatives, they divided  Austin into five parts.  Hence, only 1/5 of Austin got a fair shake in Washington.  It is fair, of course, when a Representative gets to speak his/her mind in D.C., but it is ludicrously unfair when his/her district is shaped like a smashed-up pretzel.


There are anomalies, of course.  A conservative will fall into Jerrold Nadler's district, and a liberal (god bless your heart) will fall into into Louie Gohmert's district.  Hey, that's life.  However you can e-mail them, and let them know that the only good district is a fair district, one so founded by the framers and the Supreme Court.


And, of course, you can run.

Then let us consider the office of Speaker itself.  In the Constitution, there is precious little to tell

us what the Speaker actually does.  "The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker..."  And 

that's it!  One interpretation would give the Speaker little more clout than the Dean of the House.   

Isn't that how it was really meant to be?

Consider the case of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.  She's a proud Republican.  But, she's also a mother of a transgender son.  

Whenever the topic of transgender issues comes up, she and a handful of enlightened Republicans 

plead with the Speaker.  Predictably, nothing comes of it.  


Thanks, John.  Thanks, 1/16 of Ohio.

Cheers,

Emily

With video, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen congratulates transgender son for award

Steve Rothaus
Sunshine State News

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House Republicans Urge Boehner to Allow ENDA Vote

Justin Snow
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Congresswoman on transgender son: I love my child no matter what

 Catalina Camia
please press:  http://onpolitics.usatoday.com