Tensions briefly boiled over during public comment on Tuesday evening. Community member Beth Bourne was delivering a public comment in promotion of an event that will be held this weekend at the Blanchard Room of the Davis Branch of the Yolo Public Library.
Colin Wright, a UC Davis graduate, will be speaking. Wright is the author of among 
other things, an article that claims Trans-identified students in Davis have surged well beyond the national average.
During the comment, about local high school students held signs in protest. An adult in dark clothing then attempted to block/ stand in front of them.
After one adult intervened to attempt to get him to move, there were some words exchanged, halting the public comment as Mayor Will Arnold admonished both sides to keep it civil.
Local high school students? Maybe there were a few but it looked like adults to me.
I thought this sort of stuff was against the rules at council meetings.
If the people with the signs wanted to speak they needed to wait their turn, not intercede and interrupt the commenter as the video shows.
I commend those two women for standing their ground and exhibiting their free speech.
I should also add that I totally agree with the these two commenters.
The Mayor pounded the gavel and regained order. What more do you want?
The mayor should’ve directed the sign holders to sit down in the first place right after they approached the person speaking at the podium.
THey were sitting, they only stood up when the man stood right in front of them. I don’t believe they were visible on the TV and the Mayor said he couldn’t read them from the dais.
Watch the video, that’s not what I saw. There were people standing behind the commenter with signs before the man stood in front of them.
I started the video when the guy was already up there blocking them.
What I saw literally right in front of me was four 16 year old students sitting and holding signs. The guy with the gray shirt and baseball hat then tried to stand in front of them. It was at that point I started videoing it and he ended up confronting them and at that point other adults got involved.
As I re-watched, I updated my description slightly because there really weren’t any pushes.
It seems like the people who are showing up at the City Council and the School Board are voicing the outrage they feel in the wrong place. If they are complaining about something allowed under state law then they need to take the issue to the state.
I don’t think personally attacking a CC member, who is also a founder of the Davis Phoenix Coalition, is productive. Short of action by the state and instead of ad hominem attacks at public meetings I wonder if the people venting at public meetings have sat down with the Phoenix Coalition for a calm respectful discussion of their concerns?
I was recently at a school board meeting where a woman spoke out at public comment about this issue and people, some of whom are teachers, started interrupting and telling the speaker she was wrong.
I realize there is a lot of passion on both sides but we should all try to be respectful of people we disagree with who are expressing the fundamental American right of freedom of speech. Not doing so only makes people more entrenched and less likely to reach a common understanding or consensus on how to go forward.
While I agree with you Ron, I dont think that these people are trying to achieve “common understanding or consensus” They are there to rage, to yell, to “vent” as you say… nothing more.
One of the things that really concerns me about our society is something that appeared out of the Fox News / Dominion suit, but I havent seen many people talking about this aspect: Fox pushed the conspiracy theory because when they told the TRUTH, they lost ratings… that is, the people consuming the news were simply tuning into the other channels who were saying things more in line with what they wanted to hear. So our electorate and our media standards are at the point where viewers will pick the news sources that say what confirm their own biases…
Where is the quest for understanding or consensus in THAT? I dont think it exists, and I dont think it can be fixed.
We’re a society of “Echo Chambers”.
It’s pretty bad when even someone like Bill O’Reilly comments on it.
I don’t think I’d call Fox (or CNN) “fair and balanced”. But biased interpretation of facts is one thing. But outright denial of facts and denial of objective truth is another matter all together.
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I think it can exist once the majority of people start to feel better about themselves in society. A lot of conservative outrage I think started when the rust belt started die. As manufacturing jobs (cars, steel mills…etc…) left the country; lots of blue collar laborers lost jobs but not only that but all future blue collar workers would have a difficult time getting blue collar jobs. And the idea of just pushing them all into college didn’t/doesn’t work either. So what you have are a lot of people feeling disenchanted and raging a the “liberal elite”. Meanwhile the liberal progressives control much of media and control much of the wider culture (aside from judicial system) and operate untethered in their quest to change things for the better….but the thing about extreme progressive change is that out of 100 ideas that are tried; one is usually a good one. But unfortunately there isn’t much of a moderate force to mitigate the extreme left. You just have a bunch of angry conservatives to rage against the wingnut left. I think fixing the rust belt could be the foundation for fixing the rest of society. When people are relatively happy with their place in society (ie working, making a decent living); they’re far less likely to rage against people with differing opinions. You’ll get more reasonable moderates that can reign in the lefty wing nuts.
Were these high school students minors? If so shouldn’t they have a responsible chaperone (over the age of 25)? One who takes the consequences for any problems caused by the protesting minors? I’m all for young folks being politically active (even if I don’t agree with them). But there needs to be a seasoned adult to guide them and mitigate any possible extreme (problematic) behavior that young folk often exhibit due to their passion behind whatever their cause is.
Eh, nevermind…just reread David’s updated description of the events. Sounds like it wasn’t the kids causing the issue. The adult was.
It’s a little hard to see exactly what transpired between the public commenters and sign holders. The comments by the parents directed at Gloria Partida are concerning.
One of the commenters used the terms “predatory” and “grooming”. This is what gay Americans were accused of 30, 40, 50 years ago. Anita Bryant’s group was called “Save the Children” as she campaigned to allow continued discrimination against gays in the 1970s.
Trans Americans are now facing the same invective. Gay and trans teens do, in fact, need safe places to hang out. They benefit from having peer support and professional input as they face considerable discrimination. It is unwise to assume that every household is a safe place for them, and any quick look at the self-harm and suicide rates among trans youth will show you that this is a valid public health issue.
Trans youth and families are just the latest targets, providing the latest wedge issues, for those who seek to divide us. As you try to evaluate the concerns of all who have stake in these issues, please try to look first at who are the most vulnerable and how these behaviors at public meetings are affecting them.
I think Anoosh Jorjorian covered the issues well in her recent Davis Enterprise commentary:
https://www.davisenterprise.com/forum/commentary-separate-truth-from-lies-about-trans-kids/
If those attempting to distract from the speaker are part of the Phoenix Coalition, Gloria should be asking them to refrain from this type of behavior. (Second time now, I believe directed at the same person.)
It’s not good, for sure.
Then again, the underlying concern may be that children will (ultimately) be encouraged to undergo life-altering, irreversible medical interventions. In that sense, perhaps that’s what’s referred to as “grooming”, though I suspect that most of those using that word intend it in a more derogatory manner.
I have no problem with drag shows, even in public spaces. I don’t think that these shows alone would cause kids to become “trans”.
Ultimately (I’ll admit this) – I don’t believe in a “gender” separate from biological sex. One is a construct, the other is an evidence based scientific fact.
I guess we’ll see (in coming years) how the medical experiments “benefit” children who believe they were born in the wrong body. Not to mention the cost inflicted upon society as a result (including medical insurance for these procedures paid for by the government, under ObamaCare).
As far as the title of this article, I’m not seeing any connection to “trans rights” (whatever that’s supposed to mean, separate from any other human right).
And by the way, since when did drag shows (or the participants) become definitively associated with the belief that one’s sex does not match one’s gender?
I suspect that the majority of those participating in drag shows do not have that belief (though just a theory).
Drag shows have been around forever, and have mostly been associated with those who identify as gay men (not “transgenderism”, per se). Though I believe they were confined to “adult entertainment venues” (as well as public streets in places like San Francisco during parades, etc.).
Do you personally know any trans adults? If not, maybe you know of Caitlyn Jenner, Wendy Carlos, Masha Gessen, or Chelsea Manning? Why do you think they are transgendered? If one of them lived in our community, would you have a problem with it? I understand in each case they claimed they knew they were transgender from a young age. What are we supposed to make of such claims?
I had a (second-level) supervisor whom I strongly suspect had undergone a sex change operation – decades ago. Nice person, no one ever talked about it or made fun of her. (I thought of her as a “her”, though not the same as a fully-biological woman.)
Familiar with two of them. Are you aware of the criticism that Jenner has put forth regarding the trans issue? (I don’t recall the details, but I suspect I wouldn’t agree with Jenner.)
Don’t know. Psychological issues? Maybe (some) basis in biology (for some people)? How do you explain the “popularity” of this issue among young people in some communities, these days? Fad? Or, do you think young people are immune to social trends and fads – even ones with serious consequences if pursued medically?
Absolutely not.
Is that what they claimed? Including Jenner (a world-class male athlete)?
For those who would have pursued a sex-change operation regardless of age, it would likely have been a benefit for them if they were able to do so in childhood. But, how do you identify those individuals, vs. those who would grow to accept their biology?
Irreversible medical interventions on children is the issue.
I don’t believe our “soul” (or whatever you call it, if it exists) has a “gender”. Which only leaves biology, to determine sex. Biology is not a belief, but gender seems to be.
‘In a 20/20 television interview with Diane Sawyer in April 2015, Jenner came out as a trans woman, saying that she had dealt with gender dysphoria since her youth…’ wiki source
Somewhat related to Don Shor’s comment above, in the time and place where I grew up, it was very difficult for homosexual youth to come out without feeling social shame and stigma, even fear or actuality of bodily harm. I observe that many lesbian/gay acquaintances from my high school and college typically came out after they moved to communities and situations where it was more comfortable to be out.
Do you think there’s a similar thing going on with trans youth? (that trans youth are more likely come out in communities and environments where there is less stigma or shame) Or is there a reason you think it’s something different?
That’s been my thinking. I asked a friend of mine in Indiana a couple of years ago if he knew any families with kids who were either trans or gender fluid, his answer: no. Yet I know many many families, including my own, in Davis, that have children dealing with this issue. And I think it’s precisely because for the most part, Davis is a safe space.
Is it a “safe space”, or a place that “encourages” this? Or both?
In any case, it seems that some conservatives (such as Matt Walsh) have asked some pertinent questions regarding this.
As in, “define a woman” (or a man, for that matter). To which the response (of those asked) has been “those who define themselves as one”. (No better example of a circular response than that!)
Basically, the same question that was asked of our most recent Supreme Court appointee. Which (I assume) she was being asked for a legal definition, but refused to even answer the biological definition. Which until about 5 years ago, was a “no brainer” to define.
I don’t envy you, if the question of medical intervention comes up. Something that never came up, when one identified as gay. (Though there was that AIDS thing, which decimated a lot of that population for awhile. I met someone who was dying of that, some 35 years ago or so.)
And at the place I was working at the time, that issue came up. In a workplace that had (both) a very religious person (from El Salvador, I think), and a gay man. (Pretty sure he was gay.)
The guy from El Salvador (and I was waiting for it) said it’s “God’s will”. I couldn’t help but laugh – because I was anticipating it, as well as the negative reaction from the person (whom I believe was gay).
What do you think a ‘safe space’ looks like, versus a space that ‘encourages’ this?
Hiram Jackson, I’m glad you mentioned Caitlyn Jenner. Her views are much different than you might think:
Caitlyn Jenner recently launched Fairness First, a political action committee designed to strengthen parental rights, particularly in the classroom and in student sports.
Jenner expressed her beliefs that America is becoming oversaturated with transgender people and blamed Democrats for indoctrinating youth in an interview with Breitbart.
The PAC’s website states that it is a “non-partisan” movement with hopes of strengthening parental rights in schools and sports.
“Trans is not made up or fake, but it is oversaturated due to indoctrination and is the latest way the left is destroying the family unit—growing government, the indoctrination in the classroom, and the subsequent drastic increase in children being transitioned is a huge problem,” she said.
“We won’t see the true impact for years to come—but these are serious irreversible decisions and are maliciously being used by government to grow government under the guise of protecting children.”
https://www.newsweek.com/caitlyn-jenner-trans-community-oversaturated-1795397
How do you think we should determine which trans person is authentic and who isn’t? At what point do you think a society is oversaturated with trans people?
I guess we assume that Jenner thinks her trans identity is authentic?
Hiram, it was you not me that brought Caitlyn Jenner into the conversation using her as an example of someone who:
I’m just pointing out that Caitlyn isn’t the transgender activist that people might think she is. She says there’s indoctrination from Democrats into turning children trans and advocates for parent rights in these cases. We shouldn’t let children make medical transition decisions without total input from their parents.
Hiram, since you like to ask questions I have one for you. Should schools be allowed to aide children transition without their parent’s knowledge or input?
You should ask David what a “safe space” means, as I’m not the one who initially brought it up. I’d definite that as a space which discourages bullying (of all types) – something that school districts have historically been quite ineffective at preventing. Especially for white kids attending big city schools, from my own experience and from what I witnessed on a WIDESPREAD LEVEL for others, as well. Which I suspect still occurs to this day.
As far as “encouraging transgenderism”, perhaps that would consist of school districts which believe it should be part of the curriculum (e.g., for elementary-school age kids)? And perhaps without their parents’ knowledge?
The types of places where LBGTQ teachers seek “affirmation” from their own students regarding their (meaning the teacher’s) identity? (There’s examples of this on the Internet, though one cannot determine how widespread that is.)
You know, rather than focusing on math, English, science, etc. And keeping all kids safe – including white “CIS” kids. (Again, when they can simply do these things, I’ll be impressed by the “change”. Truth be told, some of them should be shut down entirely, as it’s been a multi-decade failure, in some places. (Almost certainly not Davis, though.)
I realize this is a question for Keith, but at what point do you think minors should go “under the knife” – so to speak? Especially when doctors and hospitals can make a profit at it?
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/sep/21/videos-of-tennessee-hospital-officials-discussing-transgender-care-spark-calls-for-investigation/
In my opinion, it is not “oversaturated with trans people” themselves. It’s overwhelmed with this as an “issue” (including corporations getting “on board”). Which I find more amusing, than anything else. Either that, or a disgusting indictment of disingenuous advertising, which is nothing new.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVGDPlG42bU
But it’s really a question for Jenner, not Keith or me, as is this:
Hiram Jackson, I would be very interested in hearing your answer to the following question that I asked yesterday:
This is the district’s position from a few months ago:
The issue I think is largely Kaiser and the fact that students 12 and older have confidentiality rights: “Part of every appointment is confidential for youth age 12 and older.”
https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/structured-content/#/Treatment_Puberty_Blocker_Medications_and_Gender-Affirming_Care_-_Pediatric_Endocrinology.xml
What does ‘aide’ mean to you in this context?
I support the district’s We All Belong resolution. If a student genuinely presents themselves as trans, then I think we have to respect that. As far as I know, school district staff cannot prescribe anything or perform surgery.
Aid as in counsel or lead to the child to other agencies that do administer things such as breast binding for instance without the parent’s knowledge or input. It happens:
Bravo to these two women who had the guts to stand up and speak their minds. Davis could use more of this.
I think if you ask many of the parents who don’t want their children subjected to what they see as trans indoctrination and grooming feel as though their children are the targets. Are their concerns not important?
The commenters here that are opposed to the aims of the Phoenix Coalition betray an honest ignorance of the issues and reality faced by many individuals. I say this, because as members of the dominant white, patriarchal (probably Christian) social order, they honestly don’t see what the issue is or why something like a drag show is important to anyone who doesn’t share their position or stature. They obviously are not trying to understand what is going on, but are in total reaction mode. These two lady speakers (and their brave Marine) are fearfully trying to stem the rising tide of people who are insisting on being honest about their own gender identity after keeping it hidden. The two ladies are honestly fearful, but that doesn’t mean their viewpoint is acceptable any more than someone who is spouts racist speech, or someone who shoots someone who is unarmed in the moment because of what they might believe is true about that person. Seems like the biggest problem is being so convinced you are right that you have no ability to allow for the possibility you might be wrong.
Don’t you think that should apply to both sides of this issue?
Who would that be, as I’m not seeing anyone claim any of those things?
What?
And who are you talking to (as there’s no indication that they even read this blog)?
From the link to Kaiser that David provided:
Wow.
Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a liberal/conservative issue. I’m sorry that some feel a need to take sides, whenever they think that an issue has been presented that way.
This is a medical intervention issue, and not one to be taken lightly due to a desire to pick a political “side”. Truth be told, I would not go along with this, assuming there’s nothing “ambiguous” with a child’s biological sex. For their own sake, not mine.