I understand your frustration, but if we believe that someone’s motives are pure, then arguing over tactics does little good. Solidarity means that we tolerate each other’s choice of means so long as we’re working towards the same end. (Obviously some things are genuinely intolerable - but I think we should strive to reserve that word for when it is truly needed.)
I think we can forgive, but to forgive we must also assert our values and not let them get tossed aside. I think they were wrong to drop gender identity and nonconformity protections, and that the response of withdrawing support by other organizations was the right move. They weakened the entire argument by capitulating, and that does not deserve support simply because of a shared end goal.
It’s important to understand that US legislation on such issues frequently occurs only once. There often isn’t a second bill to fill in the gaps left by the first one, as lawmakers will simply claim that the issue was addressed and there’s no need for new protections. Over time, the protections can be increasingly ignored and disrespected by the courts, until even a constitutional amendment isn’t able to accomplish what it originally intended. There is no standing still, as a lack of sustained progress means regression. Slow and steady progress was always a lie concocted by cowardly moderates to protect their own power.
I understand your frustration, but if we believe that someone’s motives are pure, then arguing over tactics does little good. Solidarity means that we tolerate each other’s choice of means so long as we’re working towards the same end. (Obviously some things are genuinely intolerable - but I think we should strive to reserve that word for when it is truly needed.)
I think we can forgive, but to forgive we must also assert our values and not let them get tossed aside. I think they were wrong to drop gender identity and nonconformity protections, and that the response of withdrawing support by other organizations was the right move. They weakened the entire argument by capitulating, and that does not deserve support simply because of a shared end goal.
It’s important to understand that US legislation on such issues frequently occurs only once. There often isn’t a second bill to fill in the gaps left by the first one, as lawmakers will simply claim that the issue was addressed and there’s no need for new protections. Over time, the protections can be increasingly ignored and disrespected by the courts, until even a constitutional amendment isn’t able to accomplish what it originally intended. There is no standing still, as a lack of sustained progress means regression. Slow and steady progress was always a lie concocted by cowardly moderates to protect their own power.