By:Jazz Paz
Have you ever been bullied? Has your child? It’s a despairing, defeating, infuriating experience.
Bullies lack morals or empathy. They “need” domination to bolster their pitiable lack of self-respect, and seek out “lower status” victims to abuse. Bullies use their authority to ridicule and vilify their chosen prey. Bullies propagandize loathing and horror of those they exploit. They reinforce their power by threatening, endangering and humiliating anyone “different” and thrill to promote divisions among brethren.
Many politicians are professional bullies. Republican state Rep. Tom Oliverson of NW Harris County recently introduced a bill making it a felony to exist as a trans person.
His bill is a national embarrassment and proves that legislation persecuting GLBT people has become more life- threatening in Texas. Last month, Republican Texas state Rep. Brent Money introduced a bill would outlaw health care providers who o er support to adults with gender-arming care, and prohibit medical institutions from receiving public funds if they provide treatments. Professionals and patients know that appropriate transitional care improves mental health but Texas lawmakers have announced over eighty bills so far in 2025 aggressively suppressing LGBTQ rights. “These bills target our community’s basic rights and freedoms, from healthcare access to education to simply being able to live our lives with dignity. They aim to marginalize LGBTQIA+ Texans and erase our existence from public life,” Texas’ Interim CEO Equality Texas Director Brad Pritchett said a few weeks ago a er Governor Abbott threatened to fire all LGBTQ-tolerating teachers. Remember when Black’s appeal for civil rights was deemed “special” rights? This is why most of us feel passionate, compassionate solidarity with other burdened minorities. Doc- tor Martin Luther King reminded us repeatedly of the importance of binding ourselves with other oppressed people to double our energies and our chances of victory.
Whether you are acquainted with a trans person, or hold an opinion about personal, human or civil rights, recognize that these disconnected, healthy and wealthy, straight white men are usurping the civil liberties of people who are strangers to them, just as their political ancestors did and continue to do to honorable Black citizens, just because they are Black, and appear to be politicly poorer and weaker.
“First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.” – Martin Niemöller
