♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME TO LAST WEEK
TONIGHT.
I'M JOHN OLIVER, THANKS SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK.
THE JANUARY 6TH PANEL VOTED TO
SUBPOENA DONALD TRUMP, ALEX
JONES CONTINUED HIS LOSING
RECORD IN THE LEGAL INFO WARS,
AND A VIRTUAL MARK ZUCKERBERG
ANNOUNCED THAT "LEGS ARE COMING
SOON!
ARE YOU EXCITED?"
WHICH SOUNDS LESS LIKE AN UPDATE
TO A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR
METAVERSE AND MORE LIKE A NEW
SECTION ON WIKIFEET.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH
THE WAR IN UKRAINE, WHICH HAS
SEEN A SIGNIFICANT ESCALATION.
>> RUSSIA'S PUNISHING MISSILE
BARRAGE THIS WEEK CAPTURED ON
DASH CAMS AND OTHER CAMERAS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE BRUTAL RETALIATION FOR THE
BLAST ON THE BRIDGE CONNECTING
RUSSIA TO CRIMEA DIRECTED BY
HARD-LINE COMMANDER SERGEI
SUROVIKIN.
>> John: IT'S TRUE: SUROVIKIN'S
APPOINTMENT WAS ANNOUNCED JUST
HOURS AFTER THE BRIDGE
EXPLOSION, WHICH SENDS A REAL
MESSAGE.
BECAUSE HE'S NOT ONLY KNOWN FOR
HIS BRUTAL TACTICS IN SYRIA,
HE'S BEEN NICKNAMED "GENERAL
ARMAGEDDON."
AND NO ONE BRINGS IN A GUY NAMED
"GENERAL ARMAGEDDON' TO DO
"FEWER" WAR CRIMES.
LOOK AT HIM!
HE'S SOMEHOW TERRIFYING, WHILE
ALSO LOOKING LIKE AN ANGRY BABY
FORCED INTO A FUN OUTFIT.
NOW, THE SCALE OF THE
RETALIATION THIS WEEK MAY SEEM
EXTREME, BUT
THAT BRIDGE WAS A BIG DEAL TO
PUTIN.
RUSSIA BEGAN BUILDING IT RIGHT
AFTER ANNEXING CRIMEA IN 2014,
AND PUTIN CELEBRATED ITS OPENING
BY PROUDLY DRIVING ACROSS IT
HIMSELF.
THE RUSSIAN STATE EVEN FUNDED A
ROM-COM SET DURING THE BRIDGE'S
CONSTRUCTION, CALLED "THE
CRIMEAN BRIDGE: MADE WITH LOVE!"
IT'S BASICALLY A BRIDGE-BASED
"LOVE ACTUALLY."
JUST TO TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE
TRAILER.
♪ ♪
>> WELCOME TO THE KRYMSKIY
BRIDGE, THE BIGGEST BRIDGE IN
RUSSIA!
>> John: LISTEN TO ME: THIS
MOVIE IS ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT.
DID I WATCH ALL 100 MINUTES OF
IT ON YOUTUBE?
YES.
AM I GOING TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT
IT?
I AM.
BASICALLY, A BUNCH OF CHARACTERS
MEET AND FALL IN LOVE SOMEWHERE
NEAR THE CONSTRUCTION SITE OF
THE CRIMEAN BRIDGE.
THIS IS VARYA, A YOUNG
ARCHAEOLOGIST WHO IS DOING
ARCHEOLOGY AT THE BEACH ALL THE
TIME.
SHE'S ROMANTICALLY PURSUED BY
VIKTOR, THE SLICK P-R MAN, AND
DIMA, THE YOUNG, BEEFY
CONSTRUCTION WORKER.
DURING THE MOVIE, DIMA IS, A,
ACCUSED OF ARSON NEAR THE
CRIMEAN BRIDGE, B, SAVES A
FELLOW CONSTRUCTION WORKER WHO
FALLS OFF THE CRIMEAN BRIDGE,
AND C, TAKES CONTROL OF A
CRASHING PLANE AND LANDS IT
SAFELY ON-- YOU GUESSED IT-- THE
CRIMEAN BRIDGE.
MEANWHILE, A
JOURNALIST NAMED TIKHON ARRIVES
TO WRITE AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE
BRIDGE'S HISTORY, AND FALLS IN
LOVE WITH ALYA, WHO'S THE
CLASSIC ROMCOM ARCHETYPE OF
"BEAUTIFUL, SHY FISHMONGER."
ALYA, WE LEARN, WAS ACTUALLY
ORPHANED WHEN HER DAD DOZED OFF
BEHIND THE WHEEL AFTER SPENDING
HOURS IN TRAFFIC THAT WOULDN'T
HAVE EXISTED IF THERE HAD ONLY
BEEN A -- SAY IT WITH ME --
CRIMEAN BRIDGE.
THE MOVIE ENDS WITH THE NEW
BRIDGE COMPLETED, THE CHARACTERS
PAIRING OFF, AND EVERYONE
MARCHING ACROSS IT INTO
ILLEGALLY ANNEXED TERRITORY.
THIS MOVIE IS MY WHOLE BRAIN
NOW.
DO NOT WATCH IT OR IT WILL TAKE
OVER YOUR LIFE.
THE POINT IS, PUTIN'S CLEARLY
VERY ANGRY HIS BRIDGE GOT BLOWN
UP.
BUT HIS WAR EFFORT IS NOTABLY
STRUGGLING.
THERE'VE BEEN REPORTS OF
THOUSANDS OF RUSSIAN MEN LEAVING
THE COUNTRY TO ESCAPE THE DRAFT,
AND STORIES LIKE THIS ONE, ABOUT
A MAN SHELTERING IN GEORGIA.
>> ALEKSEI TAKES US TO
THESHELTER HE NOW CALLS HOME
AFTERDRIVING SEVEN DAYS FROM
MOSCOW, WITH LITTLE MORE THAN
HIS GUITAR.
>> GHOSTBUSTERS!
>> GHOSTBUSTERS?
>> GHOSTBUSTERS.
♪ ♪
>> BETTER THAT THAN A RIFLE, HE
SAYS.
>> WHO YOU GONNA CALL?
GHOSTBUSTERS!
[LAUGHTER]
>> John: NOW LOOK, IF YOU TOLD
ME "A RUSSIAN MAN TRAVELED SEVEN
STRAIGHT DAYS TO CROSS THE
BORDER WITH ALMOST NOTHING BUT
HIS GUITAR AND NOW HE'S GOING TO
PLAY YOU A LITTLE SOMETHING" MY
GUESS AS TO WHAT THAT SOMETHING
WAS WOULD HAVE BEEN, IN ORDER:
SAD RUSSIAN FOLK SONG HIS MOTHER
USED TO PLAY AT NIGHT; SAD
RUSSIAN FOLK SONG HIS MOTHER
USED TO PLAY IN THE MORNING; AND
WONDERWALL.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ME
INFINITY GUESSES TO GET TO
"ACOUSTIC GHOSTBUSTERS."
THE WORRY IS THAT, IN PUTIN'S
DESPERATION, HE MAY RESORT TO
NUCLEAR WEAPONS -- A WORRY NOT
ASSUAGED BY SIGHTS LIKE THIS
PARADE OF PRO-KREMLIN SUPPORTERS
IN MOSCOW, FEATURING A NUCLEAR
MISSILE MASCOT WALKING DOWN THE
STREET.
SO IT'S NO WONDER UKRAINE IS
STEPPING UP ITS CALLS FOR
OUTSIDE HELP.
ZELENSKY ADDRESSED THE G-7 THIS
WEEK, AND UKRAINE'S DEFENSE
MINISTRY'S TWITTER ACCOUNT
POSTED THIS VIDEO, THANKING
FRANCE FOR SUPPLYING IT WITH
ARTILLERY -- AND ASKING FOR
MORE.
♪ ♪
>> John: WHAT A WEIRD TIME TO BE
ALIVE.
THAT'S AN APPEAL FOR MILITARY
AID, SET TO SERGE GAINSBOURG'S
"JE T'AIME", AND FEATURING THE
VISUALS OF AN E-CARD FROM
JIBJAB.
AND THE FACT THAT CAME FROM THE
DEFENSE MINISTRY MEANS SOMEONE
IN UKRAINE GOT A MILITARY ORDER
OF "GO BE HORNY ON TWITTER" AND
THEY ANSWERED THAT CALL.
LOOK: EIGHT MONTHS IN, THINGS IN
UKRAINE ARE STILL EXTREMELY
SERIOUS, AND THE ONLY THING WE
CAN SAY WITH RELATIVE CERTAINTY
RIGHT NOW IS THAT WHATEVER PUTIN
DOES NEXT WILL BE MUCH LIKE "THE
CRIMEAN BRIDGE: MADE WITH
LOVE!": ILL-ADVISED, MESSY, AND
SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY NOBODY BUT
HIM WANTED.
AND NOW, THIS.
>> AND NOW, MORE ELECTRIFYING
SMALL TALK FROM SAN ANTONIO'S
DAYTIME WITH KIMBERLY AND ESTHER
BAN.
>> DAYTIME WITH KIMBERLY AND
ESTHER BOND STARTS NOW.
>> HAPPY THURSDAY.
>> HELLO.
>> ITS ECHO.
>> HAPPY TUESDAY.
>> WHERE'S MY TACOS?
>> WE ARE HAPPY YOU ARE CHOOSING
TO START YOUR WEEK WITH US.
IT'S A WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY.
>> TRUE STORY.
>> SPRING BREAK IS STILL GOING
ON.
>> TRUE STORY.
>> IT'S A GOOD DAY.
>> YOU ALWAYS PUT A LITTLE FLAIR
ON IT.
>> TEXAS IS MY HOME COUNTRY >>
TRUE STORY.
>> WELCOME TO DAYTIME, HAPPY
FRIDAY WE ARE SO HAPPY YOU ARE
HANGING WITH US.
>> TRUE STORY.
>> OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT
CONCERNS LGBTQ RIGHTS, SOMETHING
WE'VE ACTUALLY GOTTEN BETTER AT
DISCUSSING, GIVEN THAT THIS IS
HOW CBS NEWS COVERED THE
EXISTENCE OF GAY PEOPLE IN 1967.
>> THE HOMOSEXUALS, WITH CBS
NEWS CORRESPONDENT MIKE WALLACE.
>> THERE IS A GROWING CONCERN
ABOUT HOMOSEXUALS IN SOCIETY,
ABOUT THEIR INCREASING
VISIBILITY.
THIS MAN IS 27, COLLEGE
EDUCATED.
HE WAS UNABLE TO HOLD A JOB
BECAUSE OF HIS INABILITY TO
CONTAIN HIS HOMOSEXUAL
INCLINATIONS.
>> John: OKAY, THAT'S A BIG
"YIKES" FROM ME -- FROM THE
WILDLY HOMOPHOBIC LANGUAGE; TO
THE FACT THIS MAN'S IDENTITY WAS
CONCEALED BY PLACING HIM BEHIND
A PLANT, TO THE TITLE "THE
HOMOSEXUALS" WHICH SOUNDS LESS
LIKE THE NAME OF A NEWS REPORT
AND MORE LIKE HOW YOUR GRANDPA
REFERS TO THE FAB FIVE.
SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT TRANSGENDER RIGHTS.
WE ACTUALLY FIRST TALKED ABOUT
THIS SEVEN YEARS AGO, AND THE
GOOD NEWS IS, SINCE THEN, MORE
PEOPLE DO SEEM COMFORTABLE
COMING OUT AS TRANS AND GENDER
NONCONFORMING.
WHICH IS GREAT!
BUT AS YOU'VE UNDOUBTEDLY
NOTICED, IN THE PAST FEW YEARS
SOME ON THE RIGHT HAVE TRULY
LOST THEIR MINDS ABOUT TRANS
RIGHTS, PERHAPS BEST
ENCAPSULATED BY THEIR NEW
FAVORITE JOKE.
>> MY NAME IS J.R.
MAJEWSKI, AND MY PRONOUNS ARE
PATRIOT AND ASS KICKER.
>> MY PRONOUNS?
CONSERVATIVE.
PATRIOT.
>> I'D LIKE TO DECLARE SOMETHING
RIGHT NOW.
MY PRONOUNS ARE U-S-A.
HOW BOUT IT.
>> I'M TED CRUZ, AND MY PRONOUN
IS "KISS MY ASS."
>> John: I DO NOT LIKE THAT MAN
TED CRUZ.
I DO NOT LIKE HIS SHITTY VIEWS.
I DO NOT LIKE HIM SAYING "ASS,"
DO NOT LIKE HIM SERVING SASS.
I DO NOT LIKE HIM IN A SEAT, DO
NOT LIKE HIM HOLDING MEAT.
I DO NOT LIKE HIM WHEN HE'S
SMOOCHIN', I DO NOT LIKE HIM
WITH MNUCHIN.
HATE HIS STUPID PRONOUN BIT.
THAT MAN TED CRUZ IS FULL OF
SHIT.
BUT IT'S CLEARLY MORE THAN JUST
BAD JOKES -- THIS YEAR ALONE,
OVER 100 ANTI TRANS BILLS HAVE
BEEN INTRODUCED IN STATE HOUSES,
AND 12 STATES HAVE SIGNED OR
ENACTED THEM, WITH ALL OF THIS
HAPPENING AGAINST A BACKDROP OF
VIOLENCE AND THREATS, INCLUDING
ATTACKS AND HARASSMENT AIMED AT
HOSPITALS PROVIDING GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE TO YOUTH.
AND FRUSTRATINGLY, THERE ARE
MANY ON THE LEFT WHO SEEM AT
BEST RELUCTANT TO ENGAGE ON THIS
ISSUE, AND AT WORST OUTRIGHT
HOSTILE TO IT, EITHER
COMPLAINING ABOUT "PRONOUN
POLICE", OR ARGUING THAT THIS
ISSUE WILL COST DEMOCRATS
ELECTIONS.
>> IF YOU GO TO THE MIDDLE OF
THE COUNTY, PEOPLE WOULD SAY IF
YOUR CONVERSATION DURING A
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS ABOUT
SOME GUY WEARING A DRESS AND
WHETHER HE, SHE, OR IT CAN GO
TO-AND-AND GO TO THE LOCKER ROOM
WITH THEIR DAUGHTER, THAT'S NOT
A WINNING FORMULA FOR MOST
PEOPLE.
>> John: WOW.
"IT"?
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG CAN FUCK ALL
THE WAY OFF.
ALSO WHILE THIS FUN-SIZED
BILLIONAIRE IS CLEARLY GOOD AT A
LOT OF THINGS -- LIKE MAKING
MONEY, AND END OF LIST -- MAYBE
DON'T TAKE ADVICE ON A "WINNING
FORMULA" FOR ELECTIONS FROM A
MAN WHO SPENT OVER OVER A
BILLION DOLLARS OF HIS OWN MONEY
TO LOSE A PRESIDENTIAL BID IN
JUST 14 WEEKS.
BUT SET ASIDE THE NOTION THAT
IT'S WORTH SACRIFICING
PROTECTIONS FOR A VULNERABLE
GROUP, TO CHASE A "WINNING
FORMULA."
LET'S ALSO REMEMBER THAT IT'S
NOT ACTUALLY "THE LEFT" TALKING
ABOUT TRANS RIGHTS NON-STOP --
IT'S REPUBLICANS, WHO SEE AN
ADVANTAGE IN DEMAGOGUING THIS
ISSUE.
AND TO IGNORE THAT IS TO ALLOW
THEM TO HAVE REAL, CALAMITOUS
IMPACTS ON PEOPLE'S LIVES.
A FEW YEARS AGO, VICE PROFILED A
GIRL NAMED KAI SHAPPLEY.
AND JUST WATCH HOW HAPPY SHE IS,
TALKING ABOUT HER HOPES FOR HER
FUTURE, UNTIL SHE REMEMBERS
SOMETHING THAT CHANGES HER MOOD.
>> MAMA SAYS I MIGHT GROW UP TO
BE PRESIDENT."
>> YEAH?
>> MM-HM.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT
THE WORLD IF YOU WERE PRESIDENT?
>> LET TRANS PEOPLE BE FREE AND
GO TO THE BATHROOM THEY WANT TO
GO TO.
>> ARE YOU ABLE TO USE THE
GIRLS' BATHROOM AT SCHOOL?
>> NO, AND NOW THEY JUST PUT
SECURITY GUARDS UP FOR THE
BATHROOM SECURITY OR WHATEVER.
OH, I HATE THAT.
>> John: THAT'S BRUTAL.
IT'S SO DARK THAT IT'S GENUINELY
HARD TO WATCH.
WHICH WOULD ALSO COINCIDENTALLY,
BE A PRETTY ACCURATE TAGLINE FOR
"HOUSE OF THE DRAGON."
BUT THE POINT IS, GIVEN WHAT'S
AT STAKE HERE, TONIGHT, LET'S
TALK ABOUT THIS LATEST ROUND OF
ATTACKS ON TRANS RIGHTS, WHERE
IT'S COMING FROM, AND WHAT IT'S
DOING.
AND BEFORE WE BEGIN: WE'RE GOING
TO BE TAKING THE ARGUMENTS
BEHIND A LOT OF THESE ANTI-TRANS
BILLS SERIOUSLY, BECAUSE OF WHAT
THEY'RE DOING, BUT NOT
SINCERELY, BECAUSE SO OFTEN,
THEY SEEM TO BE BASED MORE ON
POLITICAL CALCULATION THAN ON
WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THAT IN RECENT
YEARS, 18 STATES HAVE PASSED
LAWS AIMED AT "PROTECTING YOUTH
SPORTS", AND SOUTH DAKOTA
GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM EVEN MADE
HER STATE'S BILL A CENTERPIECE
OF A CAMPAIGN AD.
>> IN SOUTH DAKOTA, ONLY GIRLS
PLAY GIRLS' SPORTS.
WHY?
BECAUSE OF GOVERNOR KRISTI
NOEM'S LEADERSHIP.
NOEM HAS BEEN PROTECTING GIRLS'
SPORTS FOR YEARS AND NEVER
BACKED DOWN.
>> NOW, GOVERNOR NOEM HAS A BILL
THAT WILL GIVE SOUTH DAKOTA THE
STRONGEST LAW IN THE NATION
PROTECTING FEMALE SPORTS.
DOING THE WORK, DELIVERING
RESULTS.
GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM.
>> John: IF YOU'D TIME TRAVELLED
HERE FROM THE PAST AND THE FIRST
THING YOU SAW WAS THIS AD, YOU'D
THINK TWO THINGS.
ONE: WOW, THE CAMPAIGN CENTERS
AROUND YOUTH SPORTS, I GUESS
LITERALLY EVERY OTHER PROBLEM IN
AMERICA HAS BEEN SOLVED.
AND TWO: SHE IS "NOT" PULLING
OFF THAT COWBOY HAT.
AND YOU'D BE RIGHT -- ABOUT THE
HAT PART.
PEOPLE LIKE NOEM LOVE STOKING
FEAR OVER THE SPECTER OF TRANS
ATHLETES -- GIRLS, SPECIFICALLY
-- HAVING AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE,
AND TAKING AWAY SCHOLARSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT THERE ARE VANISHINGLY FEW
EXAMPLES NATIONWIDE OF TRANS
ATHLETES ATTEMPTING TO COMPETE
AT ALL.
IN NOEM'S STATE SPECIFICALLY,
THE HEAD OF THEIR HIGH SCHOOL
SPORTS ASSOCIATION COULD NAME
EXACTLY ONE TRANSGENDER FEMALE
ATHLETE WHO'D COMPETED, AND WHO
GRADUATED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
SO THERE ARE MORE ATHLETES "IN
THIS SHOT" FROM NOEM'S AD, THEN
THERE ARE TRANS GIRLS KNOWN TO
HAVE COMPETED IN SOUTH DAKOTA
SCHOOLS.
BUT EVEN IF THERE WERE MORE,
DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THEM
WOULD STILL, OBVIOUSLY, BE
WRONG.
AND IT'D STILL BE WEIRD THAT
STATE LEGISLATURES WERE GETTING
INVOLVED IN DECISIONS USUALLY
MADE BY ORGANIZATIONS GOVERNING
THE SPORTS IN QUESTION.
AND IT'S WORTH KNOWING: EVEN AT
THE ELITE LEVEL, CONVERSATIONS
AROUND THIS AREN'T BEING HANDLED
WITH FLAT-OUT BANS.
THE I-O-C HAS ANNOUNCED IT'LL
SET RULES ON A SPORT-BY-SPORT
BASIS, BUT WORKING ON THE
GENERAL PRINCIPLE THAT "NO
ATHLETE SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM
COMPETITION ON THE ASSUMPTION OF
AN ADVANTAGE DUE TO THEIR
GENDER."
AND IT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE THAT
A TRANS ATHLETE COULD
THEORETICALLY COMPETE IN THE
OLYMPICS, BUT NOT SOUTH DAKOTA
UNDER-12 SOCCER.
A SPORT THAT GENUINELY ONLY
EXISTS TO OBLITERATE PARENTS'
WEEKENDS.
STATES' BLUNT-FORCE APPROACH HAS
LED TO ABSURD SITUATIONS LIKE
THAT OF MACK BEGGS, WHO AS A
TEXAS HIGH SCHOOLER WANTED TO
WRESTLE BOYS, BUT WAS FORCED BY
STATE RULES TO WRESTLE GIRLS.
WHEN HE WON A STATE
CHAMPIONSHIP, LAWMAKERS TRIED TO
PASS A LAW THAT WOULD'VE MADE IT
IMPOSSIBLE FOR ATHLETES LIKE HIM
TO COMPETE, PERIOD.
WHICH IS ABSURD, BECAUSE AS ONE
OF THE WRESTLERS MACK ACTUALLY
DEFEATED POINTED OUT, NONE OF
THESE PEOPLE SEEMED TO THINK
THROUGH THE REALITY OF MACK'S
SITUATION.
>> DO YOU REALLY HONESTLY THINK
SOMEONE WOULD CHANGE THEIR
ENTIRE GENDER JUST SO THEY WOULD
WIN STATE?
NO, THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
>> John: RIGHT, THIS OBVIOUSLY
WASN'T AN EFFORT TO CHEAT.
KIDS AREN'T PLOTTING BIG,
DECEITFUL SCHOOL SPORTS-RELATED
CHEATING SCHEMES JUST TO GET
WHAT THEY WANT -- YOU'RE
THINKING OF LORI LOUGHLIN.
THAT'S WHO YOU'RE THINKING OF
HERE, YOU ARE CONFUSED.
SO MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION
AROUND ANTI-TRANS LAWS INVOLVES
MASSIVELY OVERHEATED RHETORIC
THAT DOESN'T MATCH THE REALITY
OF KIDS' ACTUAL SITUATIONS.
AND INTERESTINGLY, A LOT OF IT'S
BEEN FUELED BY SOME OF THE SAME
PLAYERS BEHIND THE CRITICAL RACE
THEORY PANIC, WHO, AS WE
DISCUSSED IN FEBRUARY, WERE
USING IT AS A WEDGE ISSUE TO
PROMOTE SCHOOL CHOICE.
IN FACT, ONE KEY ARCHITECT OF
THE C-R-T PANIC, CHRISTOPHER
RUFO, RECENTLY PIVOTED TO
ATTACKING TRANS RIGHTS, AND HAS
OPENLY DISCUSSED THE STRATEGY
BEHIND THAT.
>> WHAT I'M LOOKING AT AND IT'S
JUST KIND OF AN ONGOING SERIES,
I JUST STARTED IT, IS TO TAKE
THAT SAME SYSTEM OF REPORTING,
THAT SAME STYLE OF REPORTING AS
I DID WITH CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
BUT NOW TAKING A LOOK AT GENDER
IDEOLOGY.
WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS,
PARENTS ARE FEELING THAT,
THEY'RE FEELING THE OOF THIS IS
KIND OF WEIRD, I'M KIND OF
UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS, BUT I'M
SCARED TO SPEAK OUT.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE
HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE KIND OF
MEDIA NARRATIVE KIND OF A
JUSTIFICATION OR VALIDATION OR
SUBSTANTIATION OF THEIR CONCERNS
TO SAY, "HEY, THIS IS THE KIND
OF THING THEY'RE TEACHING IN
SCHOOLS.' AND THEN WE HAVE TO
GIVE THEM THE LANGUAGE WHERE
THEY CAN SPEAK ABOUT IT WITH
CONFIDENCE.
THEY CAN SPEAK ABOUT IT DIRECTLY
AND THEY CAN SPEAK ABOUT IT WITH
THE REQUISITE LEVEL OF
AGGRESSIVENESS THAT IT'S GOING
TO TAKE TO SAY, "HEY, WAIT A
MINUTE, WE HAVE TO STOP THIS.'
>> John: YEAH, HE'S BASICALLY
GIVING PEOPLE A SCRIPT TO
REPEAT.
SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT CHRIS
RUFO -- LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, THAT
HE'S A FEAR-MONGERING TROLL WHO
LOOKS LIKE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF
SOMEONE MADE THE RECIPE FOR RYAN
GOSLING, BUT FORGOT TO ADD THE
HOTNESS -- HE IS VERY DELIBERATE
IN HOW HE TRIES TO INFLUENCE
PUBLIC OPINION.
RUFO'S SUGGESTED BRANDING THE
DISCUSSION OF TRANS ISSUES UNDER
THE UMBRELLA OF "RADICAL GENDER
THEORY", AND TWEETED OUT THAT
"CONSERVATIVES SHOULD START
USING THE PHRASE "TRANS
STRIPPER" IN LIEU OF "DRAG
QUEEN."
IT HAS A MORE LURID SET OF
CONNOTATIONS AND SHIFTS THE
DEBATE TO SEXUALIZATION."
AND SURE -- ANYTHING CAN HAVE A
MORE LURID AND SEXUAL SET OF
CONNOTATIONS IF YOU JUST RENAME
IT.
I'LL SHOW YOU: RAIN?
"SKY JIZZ."
MUCH WORSE.
IMMERSION BLENDER?
"SOUP VIBRATOR."
SPAGHETTI SAUCE?
"NOODLE LUBE."
SEE, IT WORKS ON ANYTHING!
BUT IN THE CONSERVATIVE
PLAYBOOK, THAT TACTIC IS A BIG
ONE -- -- LINKING DISCUSSION OF
GENDER IDENTITY TO SEXUAL
PREDATION AND TEACHERS
"GROOMING" STUDENTS.
A RELATED TACTIC IS ARGUING THAT
THE RISE IN KIDS IDENTIFYING AS
TRANS IS DUE TO A "SOCIAL
CONTAGION" -- THAT IT'S JUST A
MASS DELUSION, A TRENDY FAD
THAT'S RAPIDLY SPREADING AMONG
YOUNG PEOPLE.
JUST LISTEN TO ABIGAIL SHRIER, A
VOCAL PROPONENT OF THAT THEORY,
LAYING IT ALL OUT.
>> IF YOU WANT TO SEE BRAINWASH,
CHECK OUT THESE YOUNG TEENAGERS
WHO SUDDENLY DECIDE THEY'RE
TRANSGENDER THEY IMMEDIATELY CUT
OFF THEIR FAMILIES.
THEY VERY OFTEN DROP OUT OF
SCHOOL.
THEY ARE VERY OFTEN START
TATTOOING THEMSELVES AND USING
DRUGS AND THEY ARE CREATING A-A
WORLD FOR THEMSELVES THAT IS SO
HEALTHY, SO BUILT AROUND
SEXUALITY, AND THE-THEY LOSE ALL
THEIR HOBBIES.
THEIR ONLY HOBBY IS BEING
TRANSGENDER.
>> John: OKAY, SO THERE'S A LOT
THERE, BUT LET ME JUST ADDRESS
THE CLAIM THAT TRANS KIDS LOSE
ALL THEIR HOBBIES.
I'LL POINT OUT THAT WHEN THEY
TRY TO HAVE SOME -- LIKE, I
DUNNO, SCHOOL SPORTS, FOR
EXAMPLE -- A BUNCH OF ASSHOLE
ADULTS TRY TO KEEP THEM FROM IT.
SHRIER SOMETIMES DRESSES HER
ARGUMENT UP BY USING THE TERM
"RAPID-ONSET GENDER DYSPHORIA",
WHICH IS TOTAL HORSESHIT.
IT COMES FROM A STUDY PUBLISHED
BY A RESEARCHER IN 2018,
HYPOTHESIZING THAT SOME KIDS
IDENTIFY AS TRANS DUE TO PEER
PRESSURE.
BUT IT IS WORTH KNOWING: THAT
STUDY WAS BASED ON A SURVEY OF
PARENTS, NOT ACTUAL TRANS KIDS,
AND IT TARGETED PARENTS FROM
ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO
OPPOSING TRANS IDEOLOGY.
WHICH IS INSTANTLY
DISQUALIFYING.
IT'S LIKE CITING A STUDY
CLAIMING THAT ALL POSTAL WORKERS
ARE TERRIFYING HELL-DEMONS SENT
TO ATTACK YOUR FAMILY, BUT THEN
LEARNING THAT THE RESEARCHERS
ONLY SURVEYED A COLLECTION OF
ANXIOUS DOGS -- THAT'S SOME
HEAVY SAMPLING BIAS THAT CLEARLY
SKEWED YOUR RESULTS.
AND TO BE VERY CLEAR, THERE'S
AMPLE EVIDENCE OF GENDER
VARIANCE THROUGHOUT HUMAN
HISTORY, AND AS FAR BACK AS
HISTORIANS HAVE FOUND EVIDENCE
OF TRANS PEOPLE, THEY'VE FOUND
TRANS CHILDREN.
AS FOR THE "RAPID RISE" IN KIDS
IDENTIFYING AS TRANS, AS THE
WRITER JULIA SERANO HAS POINTED
OUT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A CHART OF
LEFT-HANDEDNESS AMONG AMERICANS
OVER THE 20TH CENTURY, YOU SEE A
MASSIVE SPIKE WHEN WE STOPPED
FORCING KIDS TO WRITE WITH THEIR
RIGHT HAND, AND THEN A PLATEAU
-- THAT DOESN'T MEAN EVERYONE
BECAME LEFT-HANDED OR THERE WAS
A "RAPID ONSET SOUTHPAW
DYSPHORIA", IT MEANS PEOPLE WERE
FREE TO BE WHO THEY FUCKING
WERE.
AND TO THE EXTENT THAT SOME
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE JUST EXPLORING
THEIR GENDER IDENTITY, HOW IS
THAT A BAD THING?
WHO THE FUCK ARE THEY HURTING?
WATCHING THE CONVERSATION AROUND
THIS, IT'S HARD NOT TO FEEL
LIKE, TO THE EXTENT THERE IS ANY
"SOCIAL CONTAGION" HERE, IT'S
AMONG ADULTS, WHO'VE WHIPPED
THEMSELVES INTO SUCH A FRENZY
THAT THEY CAN FIND THEMSELVES
REPEATING SOME HUMILIATING
NONSENSE.
PERHAPS THE STUPIDEST OF WHICH
IS A NEW TALKING POINT ABOUT
WHAT ACCOMMODATING CHILDREN'S
GENDER IDENTITY HAS LED TO.
>> I EVEN HEARD FROM ONE PERSON
WHO RECENTLY SAID THAT A
THAT-THAT A STUDENT IDENTIFIED
AS A CAT AND WANTED A LITTER
BOX.
>> THEY THINK THEY'RE A CAT, A
CAT.
THEY PUT TAILS ON AND THEY
DEMAND THAT THEY HAVE A LITTER
BOX IN THE SCHOOL.
>> WE'VE LITERALLY GOT KIDS WHO
THINK THEY'RE CATS AND DOGS
USING LITTER BOXES IN
CLASSROOMS.
>> I'M STILL HEARING FROM
STUDENTS AND PARENTS.
THEY BELIEVE THERE IS A LITTER
BOX IN THAT SCHOOL.
AND WHEN EVERYBODY WILL TURN THE
OTHER CHEEK TO ALLEGATIONS.
A RUMOR IS JUST A RUMOR UNTIL IT
BECOMES TRUE.
>> John: THE FACT YOU SEEM TO
GENUINELY THINK THAT'S HAPPENING
IS JUST HEARTBREAKINGLY STUPID.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT
FOR LITERALLY TWO SECONDS, THE
WHOLE THING FALLS APART.
FOR ONE, IF KIDS WERE USING
LITTER BOXES IN CLASS, A STATE
REPRESENTATIVE FROM MINNESOTA
WOULDN'T BE THE ONE BREAKING
THAT NEWS TO YOU.
YOU WOULD HAVE FUCKING HEARD
ABOUT IT.
IF A KID SHAT IN A LITTERBOX IN
FIRST PERIOD, IT WOULD BE THE
ONLY THING ANYONE IN THAT STATE
WAS TALKING ABOUT BY LUNCH.
MINNESOTA WOULD CHANGE ITS STATE
MOTTO TO "MINNESOTA -- Y'KNOW,
THE STATE WHERE THAT KID SHIT IN
A LITTERBOX."
AND NOTABLY, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
SHOWING UP IN PUBLIC FORUMS
WHERE ADULTS ARE FEARMONGERING
ABOUT LETTING TRANS KIDS INTO
YOUTH SPORTS AND BATHROOMS, AND
TRYING TO TALK SOME SENSE INTO
THEM.
>> I WILL NOT LET A BOARD FULL
OF PEOPLE WHO BARELY REPRESENT
ME TELL ME WHO I AM AND WHAT I
CAN DO.
GROW UP AND FIX YOUR BEHAVIOR.
>> I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT A TRANS
PERSON HARASSING ME, I'M WORRIED
ABOUT IF I'M GONNA FAIL SPANISH
IN MY NEXT CLASS.
>> I HAVE USED THESE BATHROOMS
REPEATEDLY ALONGSIDE TRANS
PEOPLE AND HAVE NEVER ONCE FELT
THREATENED.
YOU KNOW WHO I HAVE FELT
THREATENED BY?
THE ACTIONS OF THIS SCHOOL
BOARD.
>> YOU'VE EMBARRASSED
YOURSELVES, GARDNER, AND THE
STATE OF KANSAS, FOR YOUR LACK
OF KNOWLEDGE IN SEX AND GENDER
STUDIES.
YOU'VE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE
SEVERELY INADEQUATE SEX
EDUCATION WE GIVE OUR STUDENTS
TODAY.
>> John: YEAH, THE ADULTS IN
THOSE ROOMS JUST GOT HUMILIATED
BY TEENAGERS -- AS WE ALL KNOW,
THE MOST BRUTAL FORM OF
HUMILIATION THERE IS.
AND CREDIT TO THOSE TEENAGERS
FOR SHOWING UP, AND SKIPPING
WHATEVER YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DOING
THESE DAYS, LIKE HANGING OUT AT
THE VAPE TOK STORE OR WHATEVER
-- I DON'T KNOW, I'LL BE DEAD
SOON.
SO MUCH OF THE FEAR OF AND
ARGUMENTS AGAINST TRANSGENDER
PEOPLE SEEMS TO FLOW FROM
MISINFORMATION AND
MISUNDERSTANDING.
AND MAYBE THE BIGGEST AND MOST
DANGEROUS AREA OF IGNORANCE
SURROUNDS THE CONCEPT OF
"GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE."
IN RECENT YEARS, FOUR STATES
HAVE ENACTED BANS OR
RESTRICTIONS ON YOUTH ACCESS TO
IT, AND OVER A DOZEN MORE HAVE
CONSIDERED SIMILAR LEGISLATION
THIS YEAR ALONE.
AND THEY'VE BEEN FUELED BY A
LACK OF BASIC KNOWLEDGE AROUND
WHAT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE
ACTUALLY CONSISTS OF, SUMMED UP
BY COMMENTS LIKE THIS:
>> IF A CHILD WALKED INTO A
DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND SAID, "DOC,
I WANT YOU TO CUT MY FINGERS
OFF.' THE DOC WOULD SAY, "YOU'VE
GOT SOME PROBLEMS, KID.
WE NEED TO REFER YOU TO A
PSYCHIATRIST.'
IF THE SAME CHILD WALKS INTO
THAT DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND SAYS,
"DOC, I WANT YOU TO CUT MY
UTERUS OUT,' THE DOCTOR WOULD
SAY-THAT DOCTOR WOULD SAY, "OH,
WELL, YOU'RE A WONDERFUL, BRAVE
PERSON.
YOU'RE SO RIGHT.
WE DO NEED TO CUT YOUR UTERUS
OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
LET'S GET THIS YOUNG LADY OVER
TO THE OPERATING ROOM.
>> WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
EVERY BIT OF THAT IS UNREALISTIC
STARTING WITH NO ONE IN THIS
COUNTRY HAS BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH THE DOCTOR
WITHOUT FIRST DISCUSSING
INSURANCE
TO THE NOTION OF A YOUNG CHILD
USING THE TERM "DOC."
WHY IS THE FICTIONAL CHILD IN
THIS BULLSHIT SCENARIO USING THE
SAME VOCABULARY AS A CHAOTIC
RABBIT FROM THE NINETEEN
FORTIES?
NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE.
BUT TO HEAR SOME TELL IT, AS
SOON AS A CHILD DECLARES
THEMSELVES TRANS, THERE IS AN
IMMEDIATE, IRREVERSIBLE,
SURGICAL DECISION UNDERTAKEN.
AND THERE JUST ISN'T!
SO LET'S BREAK DOWN EXACTLY WHAT
"GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE" CONSISTS
OF.
BECAUSE, IN YOUNGER CHILDREN, IT
CAN MEAN NOTHING MORE THAN A
SOCIAL TRANSITION -- LIKE
CALLING THEM BY A NEW NAME, OR
GIVING THEM A NEW HAIRCUT OR
CLOTHING -- OR PROVIDING THEM
WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL OR BEHAVIORAL
SUPPORTS.
BECAUSE, TO BE CLEAR:
PRE-PUBESCENT CHILDREN ARE NOT
ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAL
INTERVENTIONS.
NOW, AT THE ONSET OF PUBERTY, AN
ADOLESCENT AND THEIR FAMILY
MIGHT CONSIDER PUBERTY BLOCKERS
-- HORMONES THAT DELAY PUBERTY.
AND IMPORTANTLY, IF THAT
TREATMENT IS SUSPENDED, THEN
PUBERTY WILL RESUME, MEANING
THIS IS "REVERSIBLE."
THINK OF IT LIKE A PAUSE BUTTON
-- THE THING THAT YOU CAN'T DO
EASILY ON THE H-B-O MAX APP.
NOW, THE NEXT POTENTIAL MEDICAL
INTERVENTION IS USUALLY HORMONE
THERAPY, WHICH BOOSTS LEVELS OF
TESTOSTERONE OR ESSSTROGEN.
OPPONENTS OF GENDER-AFFIRMING
CARE MAKE A LOT OF ALARMIST
CLAIMS ABOUT HORMONE THERAPY --
FROM SAYING IT'S EXPERIMENTAL,
WHICH IT'S NOT, TO ARGUING THAT
IT STERILIZES PEOPLE.
AND LOOK: FOR SOME, IN SPECIFIC
SITUATIONS, THERE CAN BE RISKS
TO FERTILITY.
BUT FOR OTHERS, THE EFFECT IS
ANTICIPATED TO BE REVERSIBLE, IF
THE MEDICATION IS DISCONTINUED.
BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY AN
INFORMED DECISION TO BE MADE
THERE.
AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT NONE OF
WHAT I'VE MENTIONED SO FAR IS
SURGERY.
BUT WHEN IT DOES COME TO THAT,
SOME TEENS MAY BE ELIGIBLE, FOR
INSTANCE, FOR "TOP SURGERY", OR
CHEST MASCULINIZATION.
BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW: NOT ONLY IS
THAT PRETTY RARE, IT -- LIKE ALL
OF THIS -- WOULD ONLY HAPPEN
AFTER A TEAM OF MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS DISCUSSED ALL ITS
RISKS AND BENEFITS WITH THEIR
PATIENT AND THEIR PATIENT'S
PARENT OR GUARDIAN, ALL OF WHOM
WOULD HAVE TO SIGN OFF.
IT'S A LONG, INVOLVED PROCESS,
EVEN BEFORE YOU GET TO THE FACT
THAT IT'S INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE,
WHICH IS WHY WORKING-CLASS
FAMILIES, FAMILIES OF COLOR AND
PEOPLE WITH LESS RESOURCES ARE
WAY LESS ABLE TO ACCESS IT.
BASICALLY, NO KID IS CASUALLY
DROPPING INTO AN OPERATING ROOM
BECAUSE THEY JUST DECIDED TO GET
THEIR UTERUS REMOVED WITH THE
IMPULSIVE RECKLESSNESS NORMALLY
ASSOCIATED WITH GETTING BANGS.
THAT HAS AN ABSOLUTELY
RIDICULOUS
AND THE NOTION THAT THE STATE
THING TO SAY.
WOULD SUDDENLY INTERFERE IN ANY
OF THIS IS UNDERSTANDABLY
INFURIATING FOR BOTH TRANS KIDS
AND THEIR PARENTS.
JUST WATCH THIS MOM, IN ARKANSAS
-- WHERE LEGISLATORS WERE
BANNING, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
HORMONE THERAPY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
-- DESCRIBE WHAT IT DID FOR HER
SON, WHO SUFFERED FROM SEVERE
DEPRESSION BEFORE TRANSITIONING.
>> I'D SAY LIKE A MONTH TO TWO
MONTHS IN, I STARTED SEEING THAT
KID COME BACK, COME OUT OF HIS
SHELL, TALK TO US MORE, LAUGH.
>> WHAT DID THAT FEEL LIKE AS A
MOM?
>> IT WAS LIKE, THAT'S IT.
THIS HAS-THIS HAS BEEN THE
ANSWER ALL ALONG.
WHY WOULD ANYBODY WANT TO TAKE
THAT AWAY FROM THEM?
THERE'S NO REASON WHY YOU SHOULD
BE BUTTING INTO MY CARE FOR MY
CHILD.
>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY TO
THESE LEGISLATORS?
>> FUCK YOU.
>> John: RIGHT.
BECAUSE TRANSITIONING ISN'T
TAKING YOUR KID AWAY FROM YOU --
IN SOME CASES, IT CAN BE GIVING
YOU YOUR KID BACK.
THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE
INSTANCES WHERE IT'S OKAY TO
BUTT INTO SOMEONE'S CARE FOR
THEIR CHILD.
THIS ISN'T PIG-PEN.
DO YOU NEED HELP, PIG-PEN?
BLINK YOUR FILTHY EYES IF YOU
NEED HELP, PIG-PEN.
THE BENEFITS OF PROVIDING CARE
ARE IMMENSE, AND THE RISKS OF
WITHHOLDING IT ARE DIRE.
A SURVEY OF AROUND 28,000 TRANS
PEOPLE FOUND THAT, OF THOSE WHO
WANTED HORMONE THERAPY AND
DIDN'T RECEIVE IT 58% REPORTED
SUICIDAL THOUGHTS IN A GIVEN
YEAR.
WHICH IS WHY THE THREE MAJOR
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS OF
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DOCTORS,
PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND PSYCHIATRISTS
HAVE ENDORSED GENDER-AFFIRMING
CARE AND CONDEMNED EFFORTS TO
DENY IT.
AND YOU MAY'VE SEEN OR HEARD
FROM A SMALL SUBSET OF PEOPLE
WHO "DETRANSITIONED."
BUT IT'S WORTH KNOWING, SUCH
CASES ARE RARE AND HIGHLY
INDIVIDUALIZED.
STUDIES SHOW AN AVERAGE OF JUST
TWO PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO
TRANSITION EXPRESS REGRET, AND
THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE
WHO HAVE OPTED TO DETRANSITION,
DID SO NOT BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN
THEIR GENDER IDENTITY, BUT DUE
TO EXTERNAL FACTORS, SUCH AS
STIGMA AND LACK OF SOCIAL
SUPPORT.
AND LOOK -- I COULD KEEP READING
YOU STATS AND STUDIES -- I "DO"
LOVE DOING THAT.
OR I COULD JUST LET YOU WATCH
THIS BOY TALK ABOUT WHAT IT FELT
LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE ACTUALLY
SEE HIM FOR WHO HE WAS.
>> DYLAN EXPLAINED HOW AS EARLY
AS FOURTH GRADE, HE'D HAD
CONFUSING FEELINGS THAT
STRETCHED ON UNTIL HIS TEENAGE
YEARS.
>> I REALLY WANTED TO CUT MY
HAIR, LIKE, REALLY BAD.
AND SO WHEN I DID THAT, THAT
FELT REALLY GOOD.
AND THEN I HELD THE DOOR FOR
SOMEBODY AND THEY SAID THANK
YOU, SIR, AND I WAS, LIKE, "OH,
YEAH.
THAT-YEAH, THAT.'
>> JUST LITTLE THINGS-
>> LITTLE THINGS.
THAT "SIR' PUT WORDS TO HOW I
WAS FEELING.
AND I WAS LIKE, "OH, YEAH,
THAT-THAT FELT NICE.'
>> John: YEAH, THAT'S
INCREDIBLE.
FOR SOME, A HAIRCUT IS JUST A
ROUTINE ACTIVITY WHERE YOU GO TO
YOUR BARBER, ASK FOR THE
"BUSINESS IN THE FRONT, BUSINESS
IN THE BACK," AND LEAVE.
BUT FOR A TRANS KID, IT CAN BE A
LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE.
THAT BOY IS CURRENTLY SUING HIS
STATE'S A-G, IN A TRIAL THAT
STARTS TOMORROW.
AND HE'S NOT THE ONLY TRANS KID
WHO'S FOUND HIMSELF FORCED TO
BECOME AN ACTIVIST.
KAI, FROM EARLIER?
SHE'S NOW 11, AND WENT TO THE
TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE LAST
YEAR, TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST BILLS
THAT WOULD BAN DOCTORS AND
PARENTS FROM PROVIDING GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND SHE FUCKING CRUSHED IT.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS KAI
SHAPPLEY.
I LOVE BALLET, MATH, SCIENCE,
AND GEOLOGY.
I SPEND MY FREE TIME WITH MY
CATS, CHICKENS, FACETIMING MY
FRIENDS, AND DREAMING OF WHEN I
WILL FINALLY MEET DOLLY PARTON.
I DO NOT LIKE SPENDING MY FREE
TIME ASKING ADULTS TO MAKE GOOD
CHOICES.
IT JUST-IT MAKES ME SAD THAT
SOME POLITICIANS USE TRANS KIDS
LIKE ME TO GET VOTES FROM PEOPLE
WHO HATE ME JUST BECAUSE I
EXIST.
GOD MADE ME.
GOD LOVES ME FOR WHO I AM AND
GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES.
SHE IS AWESOME.
I WHOLE-HEARTEDLY AGREE WITH
ALMOST EVERYTHING SHE SAYS
THERE.
THOUGH IN THE INTEREST OF
FAIRNESS GOD "DOES" MAKE
MISTAKES, IF HE DIDN'T, HOW
WOULD YOU EXPLAIN GOBLIN SHARKS.
LOOK AT THIS FUCKIN' GUY.
HE LOOKS LIKE AN EEL WEARING A
SHARK COSTUME THAT DOESN'T QUITE
FIT.
A "SICK" EEL.
"ERRGH."
LOOK AT THIS MESS, IT LOOKS LIKE
HE'S GOIN' "ERRGH."
IF GOD DOESN'T MAKE MISTAKES,
HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY THE EXISTENCE
OF THIS STUPID CREEP THAT LOOKS
LIKE A CHILD TRIED TO DRAW A
XENOMORPH FROM MEMORY?
AGAIN, I SUPPORT KAI WITH MY
WHOLE HEART, BUT TO SAY GOD
DOESN'T MAKE MISTAKES IS JUST
NOT TRUE.
HE DOES, AND THEY LOOK LIKE
THIS.
AND LOOK: I'M GLAD KAI'S
ADVOCATING FOR HERSELF.
BUT IF A CHILD HAS TO BE AN
ACTIVIST, WE HAVE ALREADY FAILED
THAT CHILD.
BECAUSE SHE SHOULD JUST GET TO
BE A KID AND ENJOY HER LIFE.
AND I'M ACTUALLY GLAD YOU GOT TO
HEAR HER TALK ABOUT BALLET AND
FACETIME AND DOLLY PARTON,
BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT,
TOO OFTEN, GETS LEFT OUT OF
THESE STORIES, AND THAT'S JOY.
WHILE OPPONENTS OF TRANS RIGHTS
WILL SAY THESE KIDS ARE EITHER A
MENACE OR BRAINWASHED, THEIR
DEFENDERS WILL OFTEN GRAVITATE
TOWARD THE SAME SAD STATISTICS
I'VE SHOWN YOU TONIGHT, OF
DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE.
AND WHILE THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE
ON ONE LEVEL -- IT'S THE MOST
DEVASTATING HARM THAT CAN BE
INFLICTED BY THESE BILLS --
-IT'S NOT THE WHOLE STORY, WHICH
IS THAT, WHEN SUPPORTED, TRANS
KIDS CAN EXPERIENCE FULL,
VIBRANT LIVES.
BECAUSE TRANS PEOPLE ARE NOT BY
DEFAULT UNHAPPIER OR MORE PRONE
TO SUFFERING THAN EVERYONE ELSE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE
PUTTING ON THEM.
YOU JUST SAW, WHO'S SUING HIS
STATE A-G, WILL POINT OUT --
HE'S GOT OTHER, TEENAGE-BOY
STUFF GOING ON, TOO.
>> I'M 15.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS.
I HAVE-SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SUE THE
STATE OF ARKANSAS BECAUSE THEY
ARE TRYING TO TELL ME HOW I CAN
AND CAN'T LIVE.
AND MY COLLECTION OF HATS AND MY
TRANS FLAG THAT I GOT FOR
CHRISTMAS.
>> THIS SOFT-SPOKEN TEENAGER IS
MORE COMFORTABLE IN HIS
>> HE'S A BEARDED DRAGON.
COME HERE.
>> -SURROUNDED BY HIS FISH AND
BEARDED DRAGON LIZARDS.
>> AND SO HE'S GOT A MISSING
FOOT AND A CROOKED TAIL.
AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S JUST-HE
NEEDED AN EXTRA BIT OF LOVE.
>> John: YEAH, DYLAN SHOULD GET
TO BE A KID.
AND SPEND HIS TIME WITH HIS
COLLECTION OF HATS AND FEEDING
HIS BEARDED DRAGONS.
WHATEVER IT IS THAT BEARDED
DRAGONS EAT.
I WOULDN'T KNOW.
I'VE NEVER OWNED A BEARDED
DRAGON.
ALTHOUGH I'D PROBABLY GET ALONG
GREAT WITH THAT ONE BECAUSE I,
TOO, AM A LOVE-STARVED PALE
CREATURE WITH A LOPSIDED ASS.
ALL THE KIDS WE'VE SEEN TONIGHT
SHOULDN'T NEED TO BE ACTIVISTS
-- THEY SHOULD GET TO DRESS HOW
THEY WANT, GO TO THE RIGHT
BATHROOM FOR THEM AND PLAY THE
SPORTS THEY WANT TO PLAY.
REMEMBER MACK?
WHEN HE GOT TO COLLEGE, HE WAS
PLACED ON THE MEN'S WRESTLING
TEAM, AND LOOK HOW HAPPY THAT
MADE HIM:
>> ALL I EVER WANTED TO DO WAS
WRESTLE MEN, AND NOW THAT I AM,
IT'S FREAKIN' DOPE.
>> John: YEAH.
IT IS FREAKIN' DOPE.
DO YOU SEE THAT JOY?
HOLD IT IN YOUR MIND GOING
FORWARD.
NOT BECAUSE THE ROAD AHEAD ISN'T
ROUGH, BUT BECAUSE, AS THE TRANS
ACTRESS MICHAELA JAE RODRIGUEZ
POINTS OUT, IT'S IMPORTANT NOT
TO LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT'S AT THE
END OF IT.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO LEGISLATIVES
AND-AND LAWS BEING PASSED, WE
HAVE TO CONSTANTLY STAY DILIGENT
AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T
GET PASSED AND CALL UP AS MUCH
AS WE CAN, BUT I THINK ALSO
WHILE DOING SO WE HAVE TO LIVE
OUR LIVES, AND SHOW PEOPLE HOW
HAPPY WE ARE.
WE CAN'T LIVE IN THE SORROW,
THOUGH THERE'S MANY STRUGGLES
WHEN IT COMES TO US.
IN THE TIMES OF ADVERSITY AND IN
THE TIMES OF DESPAIR, I CHOOSE
HOPE AND JOY, AND I LET THOSE
SHOWER ALL OVER THOSE HATERS AND
PEOPLE WHO DON'T SEE IT FIT FOR
US.
AND IT USUALLY WINS.
IT HAS WON.
>> John: EXACTLY.
HOPE AND JOY ARE CRUCIAL.
THEY'RE THE FUEL THAT POWERS THE
ONGOING FIGHT FOR EQUALITY.
AND WHILE THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR
AND UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW, IT'S
WORTH REMEMBERING THAT PROGRESS
-- WHILE NOT ALWAYS LINEAR -- IS
ALWAYS POSSIBLE.
BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING TOWARD THE
GOAL OF EVERY TRANS KID KNOWING
THEY ARE LOVED, VALUED, AND
INDISPENSABLE, AS
DOLLY-PARTON-LOVING,
WEIRD-PET-OWNING, FREAKING DOPE
INDIVIDUALS, AND NEVER GOING
BACK TO A POINT WHERE ANYONE
FEELS THAT, IF THEY APPEAR ON
T-V, THEY HAVE TO HIDE BEHIND A
FUCKING PLANT.
THAT'S OUR SHOW.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
WE ARE OFF NEXT WEEK.
BACK OCTOBER 30TH.
GOOD NIGHT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪ ♪