by H. White | news
One Million Moms has led the charge for a boycott against the beloved Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade after taking issue with the inclusion of transgender and non-binary participants.
One Million Moms Lands a New Target
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One Million Moms, a conservative movement that has made headlines for its LGBTQ agenda, created a petition calling for a boycott of the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Anti-Trans Beliefs Behind Boycott
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This response was due to the revelation that non-binary actors might be among the casts of two musical numbers that will be part of the day’s festivities. The actors have not been confirmed to appear, but the petition calls them out by name.
Non-Binary Performers Singled Out
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Justin David Sullivan, known for the role of May in Broadway’s & Juliet, and Alex Newell, a Tony award winner who plays Lulu in the show Shucked, are at the center of the petition. One Million Moms singled the two out based on their gender identity.
Parade Will Be a “Non-binary and Transgender Extravaganza,” Says Petition
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“The non-binary and transgender extravaganza on display this Thanksgiving will be brought to you by Macy’s during their annually sponsored Thanksgiving Day Parade,” says the petition.
Concerns of “Exposure” to the “Liberal LGBTQ Agenda”
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It goes on to claim that “this year’s holiday parade will potentially expose tens of millions of viewers at home to the liberal LGBTQ agenda.”
One Million Moms Called Hate Group by SPLC
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One Million Moms is under the American Family Association umbrella, having been created by AFA to “stop the exploitation of children” by protesting LGBTQ representation in the media. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) designated AFA as a hate group in 2010.
Petition Is “Quickly Picking Up Momentum”
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Director of One Million Moms, Monica Cole, stood behind the petition in a statement. “Our One Million Moms ‘Say No to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’ petition has over 24,000+ signatures already and is quickly picking up momentum,” Cole said.
“Macy’s Is Leaving Conservative Families With No Other Choice”
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“By including non-binary performers, potentially exposing millions of viewers to this liberal nonsense, Macy’s is leaving conservative families with no other choice than to not watch this parade and no longer patronize their stores either,” she continued.
Historical Parade to Continue as Planned
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The parade, which has been held almost every year since 1924, will celebrate its 97th year in 2023. Cole said that it “is no longer family-friendly” and argued that “pushing the gay agenda during primetime is completely unnecessary.”
Kim Petras Criticized in Petition for Past Performance
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One Million Moms’ petition also names a 2021 performance by transgender pop star Kim Petras, who made history as the first trans star to perform in the parade.
“Shame on Macy’s”
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“Shame on Macy’s for promoting and sponsoring this type of entertainment,” the petition read. “We still cannot trust Macy’s Dept. Store. It is clear that Macy’s does not have our children’s best interests in mind.”
Other Companies Targeted for LGBTQ Inclusion
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This is far from the first major boycott that One Million Moms has led. In 2021, the group targeted American Girl after the toy company awarded its “2021 Girl of the Year” title to a doll named after a girl with lesbian aunts.
One Million Moms has also gone after Oreos, Hallmark, and Pixar over products or characters with LGBTQ themes.
Macy’s Responds
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It is unclear whether the boycott will make a dent in the nearly 28 million parade viewers. However, Macy’s is not accepting criticism of the parade’s performers.
Company Unbothered by Petition
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In a statement in response to the boycott, Macy’s sent a clear message that they were not bothered by the petition.
Performers Have “One Mission”
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“Every performer and volunteer is there with one mission – to entertain millions of spectators and kick off the holiday season. We look forward to celebrating this iconic Thanksgiving tradition again next week,” they said.
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by H. White | news
Representative Dean Phillips (D-MN) has announced that he plans to give up his congressional seat at the end of this term.
Dean Phillips Will Not Run For Re-Election to Congress
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In a statement released November 24th, Dean Phillips announced that he will not run for re-election in 2024, choosing instead to challenge President Biden for the Democratic nomination to the White House.
“It Is Time to Pass the Torch”
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“After three terms, it is time to pass the torch,” Phillips’ statement read.
Phillips Spells Out Accomplishments in Release
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In the press release, Phillips highlighted his accomplishments since taking office in 2019. He outlined the legislation he took part in passing as well as the leadership positions he held.
Congressman Looks Back at Time in House
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“Seven years have passed, each presenting historic opportunities to practice a brand of optimistic politics that repairs relationships and improves people’s lives,” said Phillips.
Phillips Expresses Thanks
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Phillips also shared his gratitude for colleagues, constituents, and staff from his time as representative.
Biden Unconcerned About Challenger
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Given the commanding lead that Biden currently holds in the polls, the Democratic frontrunner does not seem to be concerned about a challenge from Phillips.
“Phillips Has Voted for Nearly 100%” of Biden’s Agenda
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“Congressman Phillips has voted for nearly 100% of President Biden’s policies, and the President will miss his support for the Biden-Harris legislative agenda,” said a spokesperson for the White House.
Phillips Chose to Run Based on Biden’s Approval Rating
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While Biden looks to be the likely Democratic nominee, Phillips cited low approval ratings for Biden as the reason the Minnesotan joined the presidential race.
Backlash After Harsh Comments About VP
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Recently, Phillips spoke poorly of Vice President Kamala Harris in an interview with the Atlantic, saying that he had heard Harris was “not well-prepared, doesn’t have the right disposition and the right competencies to execute that office.”
“She’s Not Well Positioned”
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“I hear from others who know her a lot better than I do that many think she’s not well positioned,” Phillips said.
House Democrats Lash Out
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His comments were met with some backlash from colleagues in Congress.
“He Better Keep [Harris’s] Name Out of His Mouth”
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“Apparently Dean Phillips is floundering so hard that he’s now resorting to attacking Vice-President Harris,” said Representative Robert Garcia online. “He better keep [Harris’s] name out of his mouth and apologize.
Phillips Apologizes
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Phillips has since apologized for his statements. He said on social media that he “shouldn’t have referenced other people’s opinions.”
Biden Should Step Aside, Says Phillips
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Previously, Phillips has referred to Biden as a “terrific” leader, but has said it is time for the president to step down and pass the torch to a younger generation of leaders for the United States to move forward.
“I Have Respect for Joe Biden”
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“I have respect for Joe Biden,” Phillips said. “Despite some mistakes and missteps, despite his age – I think he’s a man of decency, of good principle, of compassion, of empathy, and of strength.”
Country Needs “A New Generation”
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“But…no, I don’t,” Phillips said in response to whether Biden should run for re-election. “I think the country would be well served by a new generation of compelling, well-prepared, dynamic Democrats to step up.”
Phillips’s Long-Shot Bid
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Phillips’ campaign is a long shot for the White House, with some Democrats annoyed that he is running at all due to the risk of splitting votes away from Biden. His House term ends in January, at which time he will likely be throwing himself into his campaign for president full-time.
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by H. White | news
A new study broke down the number of births that have occurred as a result of Roe v. Wade having been overturned last year.
New Study Finds Drastic Increase in Births Post Roe v. Wade
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The Institute of Labor Economics released the results of a new study that showed over 30,000 babies born since June of 2022 that likely would have been aborted if Roe v. Wade had not been overturned.
Abortion-Restrictive States Most Affected
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Each of these births happened in states that put abortion restrictions into place after the Supreme Court ruling.
Numbers Remained Steady in States That Protected Abortion Rights
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“Our primary analysis indicates that in the first six months of 2023, births rose by an average of 2.3 percent in states enforcing total abortion bans compared to a control group of states where abortion rights remained protected,” read the study.
Tens of Thousands of Babies Born
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This change saw “approximately 32,000 additional annual births resulting from abortion bans.”
Study Reports Historic Data
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The researchers on the study called it “the most profound transformation of the landscape of U.S. abortion access in 50 years.”
Change Comes After States Set Abortion Laws
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The highly debated Supreme Court decision in the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case ultimately ruled that each individual state could set its laws around abortion access.
14 States Have Near-Total Abortion Bans
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The study showed that 14 states so far have banned almost all abortions. Before the decision, women seeking abortion had to travel an average of 43 miles each way to obtain one. Now, there is an average distance of 330 miles between a patient and an abortion clinic.
Anti-Abortion Advocates Celebrate “Triumph”
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President of Students for Life of America Kristan Hawkins is celebrating the results of the study, saying that the abortion access challenges have led to a “triumph that pro-life policies result in lives saved.”
Pro-Lifers Happy That “More Children Welcomed”
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“The insinuation of a lot of coverage of such data points is that it’s a bad thing for there to be more children welcomed in states with better laws than in states that fast-track abortion,” Hawkins said.
“An Assault on Reproductive Autonomy”
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Alison Gemmill, who works as an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said these states have committed “an assault on reproductive autonomy.”
“Something’s Really Going On”
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“We don’t always detect signals in these population aggregates because there’s a lot of variation when you group everybody together,” said Gemmill. “The fact that there is a signal at the population level means that something’s really going on.”
Evidence Shows Abortion Bans Caused Population Growth
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Since there is not generally a large shift in the number of births in the United States each year, Gemmill said there is “pretty strong evidence” that the abortion restrictions are responsible for the change.
“Diminished Abortion Access Poses a Risk”
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Some people are concerned about what will happen to the tens of thousands of children who may have been born into difficult financial or family situations.
The study’s authors said that “diminished abortion access poses a risk to the health and financial stability of this vulnerable population.”
Majority of Abortion-Seekers Are Struggling
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The study pointed to the fact that the vast majority of people seeking abortions are from low-income backgrounds, have children already, and/or are struggling with a “disruptive life event such as falling behind on the rent or losing a job.”
Most Vulnerable Are Most Affected
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Young women ages 20-24 and women of color were the most heavily affected by the abortion bans, the study found.
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by H. White | news
November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance and President Biden released a statement acknowledging the 26 transgender Americans who have died due to transphobic violence in 2023.
Biden Speaks Out for Murdered Trans People
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In a statement released Monday, President Biden addressed Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day observed to honor trans people killed in transphobic attacks.
“There Is No Place for Hate in America”
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“There is no place for hate in America and no one should be discriminated against simply for being themselves,” Biden’s statement read.
“There Is More to Do” to Prevent Trans Discrimination
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“Today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance we are reminded that there is more to do [to] meet that promise, as we grieve the 26 transgender Americans whose lives were taken this year,” it continued.
Trans Women of Color at Highest Risk
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Biden also acknowledged the fact that transgender women of color make up the majority of trans victims, and that such crimes often go unreported.
Actual Death Toll Likely Much Higher
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“While each one of these deaths is a tragedy – the true toll of those victimized is likely even higher, with the majority of those targeted being women of color,” Biden said.
An “Epidemic of Violence”
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An “epidemic of violence” is captured in a report by the Human Rights Campaign which shows that Black trans women are at the highest risk of being killed for being transgender.
Secretary of State Speaks Up
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also released a statement to honor transgender Americans on Monday.
“Trans individuals are a part of every country, every culture, and every faith tradition,” he said. “The United States honors Transgender Day of Remembrance to affirm the humanity and human rights of transgender persons globally.”
Trans People Are “Disproportionately” Targeted
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Blinken addressed the higher rates of violence toward the trans community, confirming the “disproportionately high levels of homicide and assault.”
Many Anti-trans Crimes Go Unreported or Unsolved
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“Their families and loved ones too often see no justice,” Blinken said.
Anti-LGBTQ Bills Threatening Trans Safety
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Due to the overwhelming number of anti-LGBTQ bills that have been passed in recent months around the United States, the landscape for transgender Americans is more uncertain than ever.
HRC Declared State of Emergency for Queer Americans
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The Human Rights Campaign issued a warning to queer people in the country, calling it a “state of emergency,” because of laws that have put the safety of LGBTQ people at risk.
“It Is Everyone’s Responsibility”
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In his statement, Blinken put the onus on all Americans to protect trans people, saying that “it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure trans people can live full lives of dignity, without fear of violence or harm.”
Trans Day of Remembrance on 24th Year
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Transgender Day of Remembrance, sometimes called TDOR or Trans Day of Remembrance, began in 1999 and has been celebrated each November 20th since. Founded by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, it began as a memorial to slain transgender woman Rita Hester.
“It Is Vitally Important…to Fight for Justice”
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“Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence,” Smith said. “It is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.”
Biden Encourages Efforts to End Violence
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President Biden’s statement concluded with a call to action against anti-transgender violence.
“We Must Never Be Silent in the Face of Hate”
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“We must never be silent in the face of hate,” he said. “As we mourn the loss of transgender Americans taken too soon this year, we must also recommit ourselves to never stop fighting until all Americans can live free from discrimination.”
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by H. White | news
A recent poll found that 20% of Black American voters might vote for Trump, but Biden thinks he has it.
Is Biden Alienating Black Voters?
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Three years after an interview between Biden and Charlamagne tha God went viral for the former’s comments about Black voters, Biden seems to be losing traction with a demographic he feels confident is on his side.
Controversial Comment
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“I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t Black,” Biden said in 2020.
More Black Voters Support Trump Than 2020
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In a new poll, 20% of Black voters said that a Trump vote was not off the table for them, which has concerned Democrats.
Voters Feel Left Behind by Biden
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John Thomas, a Black voter from Ohio, said he doesn’t support Trump, but also does not feel that Biden has earned his vote.
“What Has He Done for Black People?”
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“I’m not a Trump supporter – let’s make that clear. But I was concerned about President Biden. What has he done for Black people, who were a big reason for him winning?” Thomas said.
Black People Tend to Support Democrats
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Historically, Black people have largely backed the Democratic candidate since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson. But there are concerns now about whether Biden is doing anything to support the Black community.
Black Voter Support for Biden Decreasing
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Only 12% of Black voters cast their ballot for Trump in 2020, compared with 87% for Biden. Now, Biden is losing more Black supporters as his overall approval rating dips to the lowest it has ever been.
“Black Vote” Instrumental in Biden’s Success
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Biden has admitted that his 2020 victory was due in large part to support from Black Americans.
As uncertainty among Black voters rises ahead of the next election, Biden will need to earn trust from the community in order to secure their support.
How Much Do Polls Really Reveal?
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State Representative April Berg, a Black Democrat from Washington, suggested that she thinks the waning support is a call to action for Biden, but does not think it means Black people will vote for Trump.
“Don’t Take Us for Granted”
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“I really think Black voters are saying, ‘Biden, pay attention. Don’t take us for granted. We came through for you in 2020,’” she said. “And in the end, I just don’t believe the polls mean an affirmative vote for Trump and his core values.”
“It’s Biden All Day”
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“If it’s Trump versus Biden, it’s Biden all day for Black voters,” Berg said.
Some Citizens Feel “Hopeless” About the Election
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Berg also thinks there may be a collective “sense of hopelessness” among Black people in the country.
“We Might as Well Go With Something Else”
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“Sometimes folks make choices feeling like there’s no hope, there is no difference and no good choice. And maybe through the polls they are sending us a message: ‘We might as well go with something else,’” she said.
Polls Don’t Tell the Whole Story, Says Voter
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One Wisconsin voter, Dean Howard, thinks the polls should be taken with a grain of salt.
“I’m Voting Against Trump No Matter What”
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“After 2016, we should not take polls as the end-all, be-all. I’m voting against Trump no matter what. But that doesn’t mean other Black people feel like I feel,” Howard said.
Can Biden Earn the Black Vote in 2024?
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Time will tell if Biden can garner enough support from Black voters to ensure a 2024 victory, and Representative Berg has some advice for Biden and other Democrats.
“We Have to Do Better”
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“I don’t think we should be out there screaming the same way the Republicans are. But we have to do better at messaging, at stating how we value everyone. A lot of folks don’t understand that our party really is about shared prosperity.”
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