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California’s New “Wrong Pronoun” Law for Transgenders Is A Doozy
Hotair ^ | 10/10/2017 | Jazz Shaw

Posted on 10/10/2017 2:03:48 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

We actually discussed this proposal when it first arose in California a while back, but much of the general consensus seemed to be that it wouldn’t actually happen so there was no sense spinning our wheels over it. This issue at hand was a bill which would criminalize the use of the “wrong pronoun” when speaking with transgender persons. It was only supposed to apply to health care workers in nursing homes and other specific care facilities, but opponents worried that it could readily be expanded to every aspect of life. As I said… not gonna happen, right?

Well, never underestimate the crazy factor in California because it’s been signed into law. And violators could be looking at a steep fine or even a year in the county lockup. (Fox News)

California health care workers who “willfully and repeatedly” decline to use a senior transgender patient’s “preferred name or pronouns” could face punishments ranging from a fine to jail time under a newly signed law.

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed the legislation last week. The sponsor, Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, has argued adamantly that nobody is going to be criminally prosecuted for using the wrong pronoun.

“It’s just more scare tactics by people who oppose all LGBT civil rights and protections,” he said in a statement last month.

But the language seemingly allows for the possibility, however remote.

The response from the bill’s sponsor is especially telling. When someone dared to point out that his legislation sounds like something straight out of Animal Farm, he responded by insisting that nobody was going to be prosecuted. I see. So you went to the trouble of drawing up a bill, pushing it through the legislature and convincing the Governor to sign it, but you’re not to have it enforced? Because that’s sure what it sounds like you’re saying (which may be even more Loony Tunes than the original bill itself). And it doesn’t matter whether someone is locked up or “only” has to pay a fine equal to two week’s take home pay for the median American worker. The point is, you have criminalized speech.

This is yet another case where we desperately need someone to violate this law and be charged just so it can make its way through the appeals process. Making the claim that this is somehow constitutional should be a massive challenge. Then again, these days I’m less and less confident about wishing for such things. You can find a judge to rule your way on most any SJW concept in the world if you shop around enough.

Even if we are to assume that addressing someone using a pronoun which refers to their actual gender (rather than their personal preference) is somehow “rude,” we still don’t throw people in jail for rudeness or unpopular opinions. Or at least we didn’t used to when the First Amendment meant something. But as we’ve seen in too many of California’s college campuses, the First Amendment is now not only old fashioned and out of style, but actually met with hostility. Apparently that trend has worked its way up from the universities to the state legislature and the Governor’s mansion as well.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; lgbt; pronouns; transgender
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1 posted on 10/10/2017 2:03:48 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

What happened to free speech/free expression?

I can burn an American flag and everything is fine, but if I piss off some tranny I’m going to jail?

What a country...


2 posted on 10/10/2017 2:09:17 PM PDT by Tzimisce
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To: SeekAndFind

“’It’s just more scare tactics by people who oppose all LGBT civil rights and protections,’ [Scott Wiener] said in a statement last month.”

He’s more right that we give him credit for. The law is completely unenforceable because laws are composed of elements, and elements of the fantasy contingent aren’t at all determinable.


3 posted on 10/10/2017 2:09:26 PM PDT by fwdude (The perverted left-bound train is always accusing the train station of "moving right.")
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To: SeekAndFind

Am I in violation if I refer to Gov Jerri as “Missy?” or is that her preferred appellation?


4 posted on 10/10/2017 2:11:00 PM PDT by Louis Foxwell (Progressivism is 2 year olds in a poop fight.)
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To: SeekAndFind

That dump Cali can’t secede fast enough.


5 posted on 10/10/2017 2:11:48 PM PDT by clintonh8r (AMERICA! THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY SCREEN NAME OBSOLETE!)
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To: SeekAndFind

I think this law is going to be used against heterosexual people who decline to go out on a date with someone of the same sex.


6 posted on 10/10/2017 2:12:54 PM PDT by Steely Tom ([Seth Rich] == [the Democrat's John Dean])
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To: Louis Foxwell

Last year we banned cow farts. I hope thew state is enforcing that strictly.


7 posted on 10/10/2017 2:13:23 PM PDT by morphing libertarian (Imprison Obama, Clintons, Holder, lynch now.)
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To: SeekAndFind
Why start with nursing homes? Because they needed to get their foot in the door in a spot where most of the workers are foreign and don't make a lot of money.

With success in that setting they will broaden their scope to include all hospitals and then all places of business.

Someone needs to shut this thing down ASAP.

8 posted on 10/10/2017 2:15:04 PM PDT by Slyfox (Are you tired of winning yet?)
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To: SeekAndFind

I’d think this would be an especially dangerous law in the health care field. What if some health care worker is forced to refer to a biological male as “she” and a doctor mistakenly prescribes a medication, treatment or surgery that is designed only for women and not for men?

Are they going to be protected from malpractice suits based on such mistakes caused by this law?


9 posted on 10/10/2017 2:16:24 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Steely Tom

We may quickly go from “Bake the damn cake!” to “Blow the damn tranny!” *shivers*


10 posted on 10/10/2017 2:17:34 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: SeekAndFind

I am scared enough to stay out of California.


11 posted on 10/10/2017 2:21:15 PM PDT by ActresponsiblyinVA
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To: SeekAndFind

where are the courts/judges on this one ,LOL ,forget it


12 posted on 10/10/2017 2:21:35 PM PDT by butlerweave (it's the children are)
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To: Boogieman

KA, NY and MA are tumors on this country.


13 posted on 10/10/2017 2:22:32 PM PDT by bicyclerepair (MAGA - DRAIN THE SWAMP ! - I love my online family of FReepers.)
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To: SeekAndFind

It will never hold up in court.


14 posted on 10/10/2017 2:23:11 PM PDT by LydiaLong
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To: SeekAndFind

would i be in trouble if I just called these TG people batsheet crazy insane moonbats from Hell?


15 posted on 10/10/2017 2:24:53 PM PDT by Gasshog (When in trouble or in doubt, run in circles scream and shout!)
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To: Gasshog

As long as you don’t use pronouns you should be ok. g


16 posted on 10/10/2017 2:32:22 PM PDT by Vinnie
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To: Louis Foxwell

Jim Jones’ pal Governor Cokie


17 posted on 10/10/2017 2:33:22 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Did Barack Obama denounce Communism and dictatorships when he visited Cuba as a puppet of the State?)
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To: SeekAndFind

Kalifornia has officially gone off the rails.........................


18 posted on 10/10/2017 2:34:10 PM PDT by Red Badger (Road Rage lasts 5 minutes. Road Rash lasts 5 months!.....................)
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To: SeekAndFind
nobody is going to be criminally prosecuted for using the wrong pronoun.

Really? Then why put that in the law?

19 posted on 10/10/2017 2:37:23 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: Tzimisce; SeekAndFind; All

If you can control the conversation, you can control thoughts and culture.

This is a classic left wing tactic. Think about all the other issues where they’ve controlled the words we were “allowed” to use.


20 posted on 10/10/2017 2:44:04 PM PDT by generally ( Don't be stupid. We have politicians for that.)
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