I have questions, but Chait says I’m not allowed to ask any

black-and-white photos of Trump and Harris are the background to the article headline: How Progressive Overreach Gave Trump His Favorite Attack Ad. Harris's 2019 campaign continues haunting her from the grave. By Jonathan Chait, who's been a New York political columnist since 2011.

Per Jonathan Chait’s NY Intelligencer column, trans people who ask questions are risking the 2024 election. When will we be allowed to speak? Can we speak up after the election? No, as then we’ll be told to start worrying about the next election.

Sorry, I’m out-of-body right now

silhouette of long-haired person lifts arms to the sky. there's a dramatic cloud.

I’ll answer your hate mail in another lifetime. Asking fake questions about etymologies and intra-community debates they don’t care about. They’ll follow up with fake theories about floating out-of-body.

It’s easy for this guy to challenge transphobia

Jon Stewart, seated in a living room, moving his hands animatedly, talking

Listen to Jon Stewart do it. Stewart’s comedic approach regarding Leslie Rutledge, the Arkansas attorney general, was straightforward. He learned to see through organized transphobia. Reporters can learn to do this too. Ask real questions.

Transphobia is a form of denialism

person lifts hand as if to refuse something or ask someone to stop

We have to counter Holocaust denial, and also transphobia. Transphobia is an ideological lie. Certain arguments can identify and deconstruct it. (Transgender atheist Jews, by the way, also have humanities degrees.)

Hate-crimers and their pronouns

person in a formal gray suit, crossing their fingers behind their back

Ignore the Club Q shooter’s statement of gender identity. A homophobic, transphobic murderer says they’re what? Let’s differentiate good-faith and bad-faith declarations, as well as reality and fiction.

On ‘The Nonwedding of Stewart and Mike’

two men in suits holding hands in a field. visual overlay of blue flowers obscures their faces and bodies

Dearly beloved, we are nongathered here today… Real-life Stewart is straight but not narrow, and regarding Smith’s Supreme Court Case, he told the journalist: ‘I couldn’t disagree with her stance more.’

The people who use LGB-minus-T are homophobes

Brendan O’Neill does not support gay marriage and is impressed with the LGB Alliance. Yes, everyone may speak their mind. What’s on mine: Gay organizations that are trans-exclusive are homophobic too in complicated ways. Homophobes love this.