John Oliver dedicated the latest edition of his Emmy-winning series Last week Tonight on transgender rights — specifically the way conservatives have taken a front-cut when it comes to transgender youth.
“A lot of people seem comfortable being transgender and gender nonconforming, which is great. However, as you’ve certainly noticed, over the past few years, some people on the right have really lost their minds about the right to convert, which is perhaps best wrapped up with their favorite new joke,” Oliver speak.
The HBO host then cuts to the image of conservatives saying their pronouns are everything from “conservative” to “USA,” culminating in a clip of Ted Cruz, presumably. The most vocal protester in Congress, said, “I’m Ted Cruz, and my pronoun is ‘kiss my ass.’ ”
Oliver went on to explain that more than 100 anti-conversion bills have been introduced in U.S. states in the past year, while 12 have signed or enacted them, and “all of this happens in the context of violence and intimidation, including assault and harassment, against hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to young people. “
Anti-transgender adults like Abigail Shrier have even started inventing terms like “rapid onset gender dysphoria” to describe the rise in transgender youth.
“For the rapid increase in children identifying as transgender, as writer Julia Serano points out, when you look at the chart of left-handedness among Americans in their 20sorder Oliver explained. “It doesn’t mean that everyone becomes left-handed, or that there is a rapid onset of southerly dyspnoea. It means people are free to be who they are. ”
“And, to the extent that some young people are just discovering their gender identity, how exactly is that a bad thing? What the hell are they doing? ‘ Oliver asked. so mad that they might find themselves repeating some humiliating nonsense.”
According to Oliver, the “stupidest” thing is a new take from the right about children who seem to be so confused about their identities that they think they are cats and dogs, and are using trash in their homes. class. This, of course, is An absurd hoax has been spread by right-wing legislators and amplified by Joe Rogan’s podcast.
“The fact that you really seem to think it’s happening is just heartbreakingly stupid,” Oliver exclaimed. “Because when you think about it literally for two seconds, the whole thing falls apart. First, if a child uses a trash can in class, a representative from Minnesota will Not be the one to break that news from you. You will hear about it. If a kid breaks a trash can during first period, that’s the only thing everyone in that state talks about at lunch. “
