“Conversion therapy” can’t change sexual orientation. It can cruelly bully people to stop having sex, but it can’t change their attraction.
“Conversion therapy” of minors is illegal in 23 states.
But what if a minor comes to therapy convinced they’re trans–should it be illegal to discuss them possibly changing their identity away from trans and back to their birth gender? Not force, mind you–discuss.
The Supreme Court has started hearing arguments on this question, in Chiles v. Salazar.
Charlie Kirk was so effective at arguing his position, he became dangerous. He lied, he inspired conspiracy theories, he wanted the Bible to rule America.
And no matter how dangerous he was, killing him is even more dangerous.
Having already demonized the Democratic opposition and professional judges as lunatics, radicals, and traitors, Trump now pledges to silence all voices who criticize the government—TV shows, college professors, bureaucrats.
The Trump administration now promises
If your state wishes, it can now require you to show ID proving you’re over 18 in order to access any website containing material “harmful to minors.”
So says the Supreme Court.
Harmful according to who? The state. Using what criteria? It doesn’t need any. Why should you care? Because (1) you like looking at porn, and want to do so in private; (2) you like looking at whatever legal non-porn material you want, and want to do so in private.
Pope Francis’s death today reminds us of how American courts are increasingly supporting damaging, explicitly political behavior under the hypocritical guise of religious expression.
Our beloved Constitution stated that the government could not establish an official religion, criminalizing others (or atheism). It did NOT say the government should SUPPORT religious observance–which is what the Right, and now Project 2025, aggressively seeks.
Who exactly is a “trans” person?
If your answer is “anyone who says they’re trans,” that just changes the question to “Who says they’re trans?” It matters.
“Trans” used to mean “transsexual.” Now it means “transgender”—a huge difference. Most transsexuals were men. Now most transgenders are women.
The reasons for this change are as significant as the change itself.
These days, the profession of psychology—mirroring American society—is quite focused on narratives of victimhood, exploitation, and trauma. It’s disconcerting to hear patients describe themselves—per some blogger or their previous therapist—as struggling with “PTSD” from an event or situation that simply reflects the most aggravating part of adult life.
That’s the reason to notice Monica Lewinsky’s latest public gig, a podcast. In it, she plans to whine (sorry, “explore”) about “reclaiming” the narrative of her becoming rich and famous by betraying her lover, who happened to be the President.
If society doesn’t have clear ideas about responsibility, agency, and manufactured victimhood…