Racist Republicans Like Trump More After Attacks

As an indication of just how hierarchical the Republican Party has become, here are the results of poll showing that Republicans support Trump in his racism.

"A new poll indicates why GOP members are reluctant to chastise the president. Although a USA Today/Ipsos poll found that a majority of people, 68 percent, saw Trump’s tweets as offensive, there was a stark partisan divide: 93 percent of Democrats and 68 percent of independents found the tweet offensive, while only 37 percent of Republicans did, according to the poll, which was released on Wednesday. Meanwhile, 57 percent of Republicans said they agreed with Trump’s tweets, while only 7 percent of Democrats agreed.

"Only 45 percent of Republicans found telling minorities to “go back where they came from” to be a racist statement, which starkly contrasts with the 85 percent of Democrats who think that way."

Republicans are obviously very, very Clueless at the Top of their hierarchies.

https://www.vox.com/2019/7/17/20697721/trump-racist-tweet-polling

Republicans - Their Leader Can't Possibly Be Racist

Nicholas Kristoff does a great job of pointing out that people who place themselves on top of hierarchies are terrific at passing on any responsibility to the people who are calling out the hierarchy.

"But the question put to Congress this week was a resolution properly condemning the presidential tirade. It was grotesque to see Republicans who had been mute at presidential bigotry suddenly protest that the backers of the resolution violated rules of decorum.

"Really? We’re left again with the question: How can members of the party of Lincoln today protest the label of racism, but not the racism itself — in a man who for 45 years has shown himself to be a racist from his mandible to his metatarsals?"

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/17/opinion/donald-trump-racist.html

This Pink-Haired Lesbian is My Hero

"Under stern social rules, women are constantly criticized for not presenting as “proper,” formal, or gentle enough. We are pigeonholed into traditional household, “caretaker” roles, or seen as rude and mean when we disapprove of something. We are afraid to make mistakes, and we are groomed to fear what other people will think of us if we do.

"Rapinoe gives me hope that more women, including myself, will worry less about others’ opinions and worry more that topics often treated like taboos in mainstream platforms — such as the LGBTQ+ community, sexism, and political opposition — are addressed head-on.

"She is exactly the person we need to show how women can defy the systems limiting us and inspire other women to be fearless in expressing our opinions."

 -Carmina Hachenburg, Philadephia Inquirer

https://www.inquirer.com/news/megan-rapinoe-soccer-women-world-cup-equal-pay-gender-gap-20190717.html

My God, Rapinoe's Attitude Felt Good

"Feminism is not, we know, about women simply aping men’s bad behaviour, but there was a context for Rapinoe’s 'rudeness'. It was a correction to every shuffling, downward-looking, unequal-pay-earning posture adopted by women through the ages. Certainly, a woman who is not only a lesbian but is openly so, unapologetically strutting about in the limelight, had an almost medicinal effect on a culture traumatised by the bigot in Washington. Not even Trump could get away with calling this woman a loser."

"Rapinoe’s detractors on Twitter called her attitude monstrous, a piece of egotism that took away from the team. For many women watching, however, her intent was clear. Rapinoe’s win and her subsequent attitude to winning was, in fact, purely one for the team. My God, it felt good."

– Emma Brockes, The Guardian columnist

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/12/megan-rapinoe-us-football-women-trump

Hierarchy in Sports - West Virginia Suggests No Money for Men's World Cup Until Equality

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia introduced a bill Tuesday that would order the federal government to stop providing funding for the 2026 Men's FIFA World Cup until the United States Soccer Federation agrees to equal pay for its men's and women's national teams.
 
"No federal funds may be appropriated or otherwise made available to provide support for the 2026 World Cup, including support for a host city, a participating State or local agency, the United States Soccer Federation, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), or the Federation de Football Association (FIFA), until the date on which the United States Soccer Federation agrees to provide equitable pay," the bill reads.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states/story/3897533/senator-no-equal-payno-public-26-wc-funds

Brandi Chastain - Statue Honoring 1999 World Cup Team

A statue of Brandi Chastain in celebration of her 1999 World Cup penalty kick was revealed today in Pasadena, California, complete with her very famous sports bra out for all to see after she ripped off her jersey.

The cause of controversy, her sports bra out for all to see started a movement of women who were proud to be fit, and proud to dress in ways that included not hiding their fitness.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brandi-chastain-statue-rose-bowl-pasadena-california-commemorates-1999-womens-world-cup-team/

Smithsonian: Gay/Straight Alliances at Schools Reduce Suicide Rates for All

Friendships between gay and straight students benefits everyone, according to a study from the University of British Columbia.

In Canadian schools with gay-straight alliances, students were less likely to be discriminated against, had lower odds of suicidal thoughts and had fewer suicide attempts—regardless of whether they were gay or straight.

“We know that LGBTQ students are at higher risk for suicide, in part because they are more often targeted for bullying and discrimination,” Elizabeth Saewyc, lead author of the study and professor with the UBC School of Nursing. “But heterosexual students can also be the target of homophobic bullying. When policies and supportive programs like GSAs are in place long enough to change the environment of the school, it’s better for students’ mental health, no matter what their orientation.”

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/simply-having-gay-straight-alliance-reduces-suicide-risk-all-students-180949462/?fbclid=IwAR3ZxkP5yuV2fHA4AEUWscjPZflQIF8ol6tTSKS_XS6_f8syFOLRfnD5nPM