Thanks for this incisive critique of Mamdani's costly, regressive, misogynistic and homophobic initiative against the rights of women, girls and LGB folk.
I laughed out loud at this: "You say you’ll be mayor for all, yet if I identify as asexual—which, considering I am a middle-aged lady, I could easily do—I am considered oppressed, and you’ll direct $87 million to give me special housing and services?"
Women are not well prepared to deal with the dramatic fall off of desire in their middle years--too many marriages founder on that rock--so, yes, we need some special attention!
If we turn every form of sexual dysfunction into an identity, we could all enter the oppression stack and loot the treasury.
Okay--fellow menopausal women, let's lobby for more money too! /s
Lisa, I would really like to know more of your perspective on this. I guess since Mamdani is mayor, he has the power to turn NYC into a sanctuary city, and spend money on all this “gender affirming” care.
Is there anyone/any organizations that could challenge this? And if so, how? Through the courts? On what possible grounds?
Not a lawyer but there could be cases that challenge state law vs federal law. A very tricky area since federalism requires states to regulate many things (like medical standards) so a case would need to be made that federal law would supersede state law.
Skirmetti and Dobbs decisions reaffirmed a state's right to make a law banning or legalizing a medical procedure--so abortion and gender medicine were not federal matters as per constitutional rights.
I'm hoping that someone out there is working on some legal angles, but my impression is it could be a long uphill battle.
I do find the contrast between Mamdani's positions on Israel and gender medicine interesting.
On both subjects the Democratic Party is out of step with their base and the population as a whole, but it's also a case where Mamdani is half in with the people (on Israel, the issue where he has the least influence) and half out.
I really hope he focuses on the bread and butter issues he campaigned on, the issues which got him elected, and not the scientifically spurious and identity-driven T-medicine platform pushed by activists. I believe he can be an ally for and defender of LGBT New Yorkers and all NYC workers without committing the same errors as the party mainstream.
It seems the election of Mamdani (unlike some other Dems who won yesterday) is a cry for help from the soul of the Democratic Party for independents and the heterodox to speak up to save the only party with some intelligence from the abandonment of common sense on so-called cultural issues that resulted in the 2024 defeats. Too bad there are only two parties.
People need to make their positions clear and appealing to good sense for the next round. It's not enough to have the majority on your side. That woman who has sold all those books appealing to the young seems to have a real talent for doing that.
I'm completely with you on the gender craze. Let's hope Mamdani is just pandering to the wokery in his activist base on this topic. It was the excellent bread-and-butter stuff, which all rational people like, that gave him the win, not this esoteric superstition. But it is quite a craze, these days, and still an uphill struggle against it. I was sorry, though, that you rather muddied the waters by dragging horrid Israel into the picture. That train has really left the station, and Zionism has become utterly disreputable, especially among younger people. A tin can that nobody should want tied to his tail.
The 2 issues (gender, Israel/Palestine), are unrelated and she just jumped from one to the other without a coherent explanation. I guess she lumps them together, under the general heading of "too far Left". I don't buy this. "Muddied the waters" is right! There are so many murky over-generalizations and cliches in this kind of argument I don't know where to start pulling them apart.
I just wish Mamdami could understand that "GAC" is HARMING young people, NOT helping them. I get his desire to protect the vulnerable, but he is not helping by making it EASIER to chemically and surgically alter young vulnerable people's bodies based on the belief that they are a special breed of humans that need to alter their bodies to appear the opposite sex and be referred to and treated as if they are the opposite sex to have any semblance of happiness
He doesn't get it, and neither do most people who think they're being kind by lying to these people and chemically and surgically altering their bodies.
He cannot achieve most of what he promises. Sadly, so many voters are naive and deeply uninformed. He is a nothing but a spoiled brat who never grew up. A pathetic little man who now thinks he wields so much power.
I am typically a very naive optimist, but it's very difficult not to despair today.
Thanks for this incisive critique of Mamdani's costly, regressive, misogynistic and homophobic initiative against the rights of women, girls and LGB folk.
I laughed out loud at this: "You say you’ll be mayor for all, yet if I identify as asexual—which, considering I am a middle-aged lady, I could easily do—I am considered oppressed, and you’ll direct $87 million to give me special housing and services?"
Women are not well prepared to deal with the dramatic fall off of desire in their middle years--too many marriages founder on that rock--so, yes, we need some special attention!
If we turn every form of sexual dysfunction into an identity, we could all enter the oppression stack and loot the treasury.
Okay--fellow menopausal women, let's lobby for more money too! /s
Thank you, Lisa. Your letter closes with two *very* important questions.
I’d encourage Zohran and his staff to watch this debate, hosted last month by Braver Angels: https://youtu.be/u39b32VZFko?
Different viewpoints/life experiences are represented, and everyone is treated with respect.
Lisa, I would really like to know more of your perspective on this. I guess since Mamdani is mayor, he has the power to turn NYC into a sanctuary city, and spend money on all this “gender affirming” care.
Is there anyone/any organizations that could challenge this? And if so, how? Through the courts? On what possible grounds?
Not a lawyer but there could be cases that challenge state law vs federal law. A very tricky area since federalism requires states to regulate many things (like medical standards) so a case would need to be made that federal law would supersede state law.
Skirmetti and Dobbs decisions reaffirmed a state's right to make a law banning or legalizing a medical procedure--so abortion and gender medicine were not federal matters as per constitutional rights.
I'm hoping that someone out there is working on some legal angles, but my impression is it could be a long uphill battle.
Beautifully stated, Lisa. I appreciate you.🙏❤️🙏
It’s the Gender Taliban! Coming to a borough near you.
Thanks for writing this.
I do find the contrast between Mamdani's positions on Israel and gender medicine interesting.
On both subjects the Democratic Party is out of step with their base and the population as a whole, but it's also a case where Mamdani is half in with the people (on Israel, the issue where he has the least influence) and half out.
I really hope he focuses on the bread and butter issues he campaigned on, the issues which got him elected, and not the scientifically spurious and identity-driven T-medicine platform pushed by activists. I believe he can be an ally for and defender of LGBT New Yorkers and all NYC workers without committing the same errors as the party mainstream.
Govern with reality? We’ll see. I watched his victory speech and liked him even less.
It seems the election of Mamdani (unlike some other Dems who won yesterday) is a cry for help from the soul of the Democratic Party for independents and the heterodox to speak up to save the only party with some intelligence from the abandonment of common sense on so-called cultural issues that resulted in the 2024 defeats. Too bad there are only two parties.
People need to make their positions clear and appealing to good sense for the next round. It's not enough to have the majority on your side. That woman who has sold all those books appealing to the young seems to have a real talent for doing that.
I'm completely with you on the gender craze. Let's hope Mamdani is just pandering to the wokery in his activist base on this topic. It was the excellent bread-and-butter stuff, which all rational people like, that gave him the win, not this esoteric superstition. But it is quite a craze, these days, and still an uphill struggle against it. I was sorry, though, that you rather muddied the waters by dragging horrid Israel into the picture. That train has really left the station, and Zionism has become utterly disreputable, especially among younger people. A tin can that nobody should want tied to his tail.
The 2 issues (gender, Israel/Palestine), are unrelated and she just jumped from one to the other without a coherent explanation. I guess she lumps them together, under the general heading of "too far Left". I don't buy this. "Muddied the waters" is right! There are so many murky over-generalizations and cliches in this kind of argument I don't know where to start pulling them apart.
What I lumped is his assuming his beliefs should be transformed into policy, and that people who don't share them are bad.
If GAC is discredited and shut down as the result of detransitioners’ lawsuits, there will be nothing he can do about it.
I just wish Mamdami could understand that "GAC" is HARMING young people, NOT helping them. I get his desire to protect the vulnerable, but he is not helping by making it EASIER to chemically and surgically alter young vulnerable people's bodies based on the belief that they are a special breed of humans that need to alter their bodies to appear the opposite sex and be referred to and treated as if they are the opposite sex to have any semblance of happiness
He doesn't get it, and neither do most people who think they're being kind by lying to these people and chemically and surgically altering their bodies.
Don't hold your breath.
He cannot achieve most of what he promises. Sadly, so many voters are naive and deeply uninformed. He is a nothing but a spoiled brat who never grew up. A pathetic little man who now thinks he wields so much power.