Georgia Senator Vows to Protect Girl, But Then Runs Away After Learning She Is Trans

During a visit to lobby legislators on transgender issues, Senator Carden Summers ® knelt down and told a child he would protect her. When he learned she was trans, he backed away.

On Feb. 6, a group of families met to lobby senators on issues affecting the local transgender community in Georgia. One mother, Lena Kotler, decided to take her two children with her to give the topic a human face. While waiting to meet with Democratic Sen. Kim Jackson, who they had heard was a big supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, another senator passed by — Republican Sen. Carden Summers, the primary sponsor of the state’s bathroom ban bill. Little did he know that one of the children he would be interacting with, Aleix, 8 years old, was a transgender child.

According to Kotler and other families who were present, the senator stopped to say hello. That’s when Kotler spoke to Senator Summers about how she was there with her kids to “talk to legislators about keeping her kids safe.” Although she did not mention that one of her children was trans, they were present with LGBTQ+ signage - something the Senator apparently missed when he knelt down in front of Aleix and said, according to Kotler, “Well you know, we’re working on that and I’m going to protect kids like you.”

Kotler then replied, “Yeah - Alex is trans, and she wants to be safe at school, she wants to go to the bathroom and be safe.”

That is when, according to multiple witnesses, Sen. Summers stood up and fumbled his words, repeating, “I mean, yeah, I’m going to make sure she’s safe by going to the right bathroom,” continuing to use the correct pronouns for Aleix. When asked if he would make her go to a boy’s bathroom, he then allegedly backed away, saying, “You’re attacking me,” turned around, and walked off quickly.

read more: erininthemorning.com/…/georgia-senator-vows-to-pr…

givesomefucks,

When asked if he would make her go to a boy’s bathroom, he then allegedly backed away, saying, “You’re attacking me,” turned around, and walked off quickly.

I mean, maybe we should just yell that at conservatives?

Maybe it takes something so blunt for them to get it as hearing “you’re attacking me”.

And if it doesn’t, I’m pretty sure that’s all you need to say to use stand your ground laws in red states.

mindbleach,

Other girls aren’t afraid of this little girl.

You’re afraid of this little girl.

moosetwin,
@moosetwin@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

Imagine having to be that kid, someone saying they’ll protect you and then accusing you of attacking them for part of yourself that you have no control over

dlpkl,

deleted_by_moderator

    •
    Godwins_Law,

    Fair criticism, but ultimately this needs to be fought. The simple hypocrisy that was shown just by the child’s presence needs to be highlighted.

    DragonTypeWyvern,

    It isn’t, and everyone that read the beginning of the article knows they were there to meet someone else.

    The goose-stepping goon made a completely unforced error to try and turn them into props.

    VaultBoyNewVegas,

    Then fucking comes back with more bs. I wish these twats would actually just say the quiet part out loud instead of pussyfooting around trying and failing to be clever with their agenda pushing.

    Schmoo,

    They were there waiting to meet a Democratic supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, and did not seem to be seeking confrontation. Even the way the mother spoke to the Republican senator was about as non-confrontational as you could get, so I don’t see any evidence the mother is putting the kid in any situation she can’t handle. I’m sure the kid is glad to show up in support of her rights, and very much doubt she will regret doing so later.

    Save your cynicism for when it’s appropriate.

    dlpkl,

    The article states that they went to the legislative building to lobby politicians. While they were waiting to meet a democratic senator, this interaction took place. It doesn’t say anywhere in the article that they went with the express intent to only interact with said democrat. But whether you’re meeting allies or opponents, it’s the same shit. You’re using children as tools.

    stoned_ape,

    If those children are representative of the oppressed group, shouldn’t they also have a voice and a face?

    Emmet Till’s mother was just using his death as a tool by your logic.

    Sanctus,
    @Sanctus@lemmy.world avatar

    Thats the thing about these people. I have a trans coworker and they wont dare use the wrong pronoun for her while it can reach HR’s ears. Go ahead, say what you want to say don’t hide it now. They hide behind legislation and screens.

    maness300,

    How are children mature enough to realize they are trans?

    Seems like children are too impressionable to be able to make decisions like that.

    trafficnab,

    That’s why children have parents and medical professionals to ultimately investigate and make important decisions for them

    maness300,

    Yeah, because neither group has ever been manipulated into making the wrong decisions for other people.

    trafficnab,

    You’re right, we should instead trust the well-known-as-100%-infallible politicians to unilaterally make those decisions for us instead

    maness300,

    Those are your words, not mine.

    trafficnab, (edited )

    Well what are you proposing? In my mind we either trust parents to be able to ultimately make decisions like this for their children, or we don’t and we make it illegal?

    Every time I see someone bring up “why are we trusting kids to decide that they’re trans”, I remind them that they’re not making decisions by themselves, they have parents and counselors/doctors/professionals making decisions for them, which either is not engaged with (most common response) or is met with “We can’t trust parents and doctors either”.

    Frankly, if we can’t broadly trust parents and childcare professionals to have their children’s best interests in mind, we’re already fucked, so we might as well do nothing and hopefully at least let the actual trans kids live their life in peace anyway.

    FlyingSquid, (edited )
    @FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

    “I mean, yeah, I’m going to make sure she’s safe by going to the right bathroom,” continuing to use the correct pronouns for Aleix.

    Gotta love that he doesn’t even realize he’s saying Aleix is a girl and girls should be using the girls’ bathroom.

    Edit: I really want to know if the people downvoting me are anti-trans bigots or don’t understand that an anti-trans bigot accidentally took her side even after realizing she’s trans?

    doggle,

    Worth noting he’s a senator in the state legislature, not one of Georgia’s federal senators who are both broadly pro LGBT+

    grayman,

    8 year olds have an IQ around 20. There’s zero chance an 8 year old comprehends being trans. The mother is a narcissist.

    BorgDrone,

    Someone here has an IQ of 20, but it’s not that kid.

    crackajack,

    I don’t know the full story of the kid’s family, but some people already realise their sexuality at early age.

    UraniumBlazer,

    Have you actually met trans people? Have you talked to them about their childhoods?

    grayman,

    Yes and yes.

    Landsharkgun,

    You do not need a high IQ to experience gender dysphoria. There are huge piles of evidence showing that children that young can, in fact, have a gender identity. Actually, significantly younger than 8. You are woefully ignorant of the fundamentals of the topic being discussed.

    HawlSera,

    That’s not how IQ works

    mellowheat, (edited )

    Saying that 8 year old has an IQ of 20 displays a misunderstanding of IQ and intelligence, but otherwise it’s indeed very probable that the girl(?) is very confused.

    I thought this article describes the still ongoing problem pretty well: npr.org/…/two-families-grapple-with-sons-gender-p…

    Zucker has come to believe that taking the view that kids are born transgender ultimately produces more transgender people.

    “By declaring the child as transgendered at, say, age 3 or age 4 or age 6, and then saying in a sense, ‘Go with the flow,’ … that will impact, I believe, on how the kid’s gender identity differentiates,” he says.

    The article was from 2008. Recent data shows that he was right on the money.

    slappy,

    deleted_by_author

    •
    mellowheat,

    Recent data shows a sharp rise (at least double the amount since 2017) in children identifying as trans. But I believe it’s still controversial as to why this happened.

    slappy,

    deleted_by_author

    •
    mellowheat,

    Yep. I think it’s fascinating how this can be a generational phenomenon when I believe the understanding is that you get your sexual and gender identities more or less at birth. I mean if the liberalization of attitudes is the reason why more people identify as LGBT, shouldn’t that affect the older generations as well?

    I think the truth and sort of a non-answer is that the brain is a very complicated organ and everything affects it.

    kilgore_trout,

    That “previous understanding” is still correct, despite new desires to feel special.

    Sexual orientation is defined up to the first two months after birth, and homosexual population in humans is around 5-10%.

    SuddenlyMelissa,

    I’m 40, I have know I’m trans my whole life. I have been to afraid to cone out and face that because of people with your false beliefs. I have struggled immensely in life for 35 years because I didn’t feel it was safe to talk about or explore. I’ve decided it’s finally time to take my life back.

    You do not know what you are talking about, at all. Stop assuming you do, and start learning.

    mellowheat, (edited )

    I’m 40, I have know I’m trans my whole life. I have been to afraid to cone out and face that because of people with your false beliefs.

    Please explain what in my comments in this thread is a false belief that would make you be afraid to come out.

    You do not know what you are talking about, at all. Stop assuming you do, and start learning.

    I suggest you stop assuming things about people you don’t know as well. It only generates ill will and really nothing positive. Besides upvotes in this place, I guess.

    captain_oni,

    The same reason there was data showing more people identifying as left-handed once it stopped being taboo and “something to get corrected”.

    But I guess left-handed people brainwashed our youth as well.

    mellowheat,

    Yes, I know that that is one of the possible explanations of this controversy. But just because you have one explanation, and you think strongly that it’s the correct one, doesn’t mean it’s not controversial.

    But I guess you think left-handed people brainwashed our youth as well.

    “But I guess you think” never ends up in a happy place.

    captain_oni,

    Yeah, sorry, that’s why I edited my original comment. Was very unfair of me to put words in your mouth (or I guess “fingers” in this case).

    Most likely just a gut reaction from all the people I see trying to argue a variation on the “we didn’t have so many trans people before this, so something must be turning people trans” idea. Since most people just argue in bad faith, and are not actually looking for an answer.

    (Actually I edited 3 times because of grammar, my brain was just not cooperating when it comes to typing).

    Vytle,

    Jesus christ that headline is the most satirical sounding headline ive ever seen period. It spunds more satirical than actual TheOnion h eadlines

    maness300,

    There’s always someone…

    108,

    So brave

    _sideffect,

    At 8 years old… Does she actually know if she’s trans or did the mother tell her she was?

    kescusay,
    @kescusay@lemmy.world avatar

    This reads as transphobic, but I’m going to leave it up for two reasons:

    • First, your subsequent comments don’t show any malice, just a lack of understanding.
    • Second, that lack of understanding appears to have been rectified by others’ comments, and I think seeing that could be valuable for onlookers.

    I’m not trans myself, but my son is, and he explains how he felt something like this…

    Imagine you’re a pretty average boy, and interested in stereotypical boy things. You like boy clothes, you want to hang out with your friends who are boys, you look forward to growing muscles and a mustache when you’re old enough, etc.

    Now imagine that at the same time, all your clothes are girl clothes, your name is girly, and everyone around you thinks you’re a girl.

    That wouldn’t match up, would it. It would feel incongruous and wrong.

    If you’re cisgender, you can absolutely prove you’re a boy to everyone’s satisfaction, and you’re unlikely to get dressed in the wrong clothes or given a mismatched name in the first place. So you probably don’t ever have to think about your gender and whether it’s being expressed by your body incorrectly.

    But for trans people, it’s not uncommon for them to become acutely aware of gender when they’re young in ways that their cisgender counterparts don’t, precisely because of the mismatch.

    That’s how it was for my son. He didn’t figure out he was trans until he was around thirteen, but he knew something wasn’t right long before then.

    ThatFembyWho, (edited )

    full disclosure: I’m trans - my story at the end.

    It doesn’t really work that way… if she was told “you’re trans” and wasn’t, she would experience the opposite type of gender dysphoria over time and would want to express masculine/boy identity in line with her birth gender and physical traits.

    She’s young enough that it’s not infeasible she might change her mind. Ideally she has been to a licensed therapist and/or psychologist who verified she met the latest DSM diagnostic criteria for gender dysphoria (the only successful treatment for which involves transition), and they are helping the parent manage this process. They’ll be in no hurry for medical intervention since puberty would be 4-5 years away most likely.

    That being said, if you meet enough trans people, it’s not uncommon to hear stories about “knowing since I was 4”. Oftentimes it’s accompanied by a regret that their feelings were suppressed and they had to go through the torments of puberty “in the wrong body” as it were.

    My own story is different. I didn’t “know” until my thirties, even if I can see signs going back to childhood in retrospect. Apparently at three years old I told my mom “I’m a butterfly and I’m going to be a girl”. She never told me that, I found out after she died last year, looking through her old notes. She assumed I meant reincarnation. Ironic considering I have adopted a butterfly metaphor to express my transition to a woman.

    Anyway, yes, an eight year old can absolutely tell adults they are a different gender than they were assigned at birth. Whether they literally say “I’m trans” is kinda beside the point.

    TJDetweiler,

    Thanks for the candid response. I appreciate the honest discussion.

    mellowheat, (edited )

    Anyway, yes, an eight year old can absolutely tell adults they are a different gender than they were assigned at birth. Whether they literally say “I’m trans” is kinda beside the point.

    I think the mistake parents might make is take this super seriously and start hovering on the issue (either validating or opposing), instead of letting the children grow naturally.

    ThatFembyWho,

    Well, it doesn’t take long before a child needs to use a multi-occupant bathroom… so which do you suggest the child in the story to use? Or they participate in some other gender-segregated activity, like sports. A choice has to be made.

    Little Bobby says he is a boy, but the school won’t let him in the boy’s bathroom. Little Alice says she’s a girl, but she isn’t allowed to join the girl’s soccer team.

    You see it’s not really possible to grow naturally when half of US states try to dictate which bathroom a child uses based on psuedoscience and definitions that erase gender completely.

    But yes, of course, unrelated to the story there are many mistakes a parent could make. Honestly though if I have a child, and the state decides to bully my child for political-religious agendas, yeah that’s a hill I’m going to die on

    _sideffect,

    Thank you for explaining things without jumping down my neck right off the bat; it’s very appreciated (and hard to come by nowadays).

    I guess because I personally never thought of those things as a kid that I can’t picture an 8, (or 4) year old, that would worry (or even think) about that issue at such a young age.

    It’s why people argue too much over religion, and personal experiences; just because it didn’t happen to you, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

    ThatFembyWho,

    Oh hey, I have also met many cisgender folks like yourself. And yes, you have literally no reason to think about gender, because it aligns with your body, your hormones, and your life experience. It “just fits”. If you can imagine, that sensation is exactly how it feels for me to be transitioning now – a welcome change from despair :)

    _sideffect,

    That’s great to hear; I’m glad you finally feel like you belong in your own body and can live a happier life :)

    HowManyNimons,

    “You’re attacking meeeee”

    It’s never not projection with these doofs.

    WaxedWookie,

    In response to an 8 year old existing.

    Given his fragility, cowardice, lack of self-assurance and failure to defend himself - all feminine traits (to these ghouls anyway) are we sure the good senator isn’t trans himself? He’s certainly not the picture of brave, confident masculinity.

    DeSantis wears high heels - I’m pretty sure Trump does too (though smaller) - projection indeed.

    PeckerBrown,

    Aleix is trans, but Summers is a pussy…does that mean that he’s transitioning, as well?

    Mycatiskai,

    He is no pussy, they take a pounding while providing pleasure to all involved.

    Summers is a scrotum, thin skinned, can’t take even a light strike without assuming an attack, and he shriveled away when he realized the temperature was a bit cold to him.

    VaultBoyNewVegas,

    Some people do enjoy some CBT though. He’s scum.

    TheLowestStone,
    @TheLowestStone@lemmy.world avatar

    I’m going to have to remember this.

    profdc9,

    If Summers was really serious about “protecting” trans children, he should have said he was going to place the child into state custody. If there was an actual threat against the child, that’s what he should do, but there is not and Summers knows it.

    otp,

    When asked if he would make her go to a boy’s bathroom, he then allegedly backed away, saying, “You’re attacking me,” turned around, and walked off quickly.

    LMAO

    Is he a moron, or is that a strategy? Lol

    FlyingSquid,
    @FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

    “Will your bill do what it says?”

    “HOW DARE YOU!”

    And this is a legislator.

    CeruleanRuin,
    @CeruleanRuin@lemmy.world avatar

    He’s a coward, just like everyone else in his party. Afraid of a fucking child. His ancestors would be ashamed of him, and his descendants will disown him.

    aStonedSanta,

    This is what facism looks like imo. Through and through.

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