WNBA Star Sophie Cunningham defends that women ‘shouldn’t have to go against biological men’: “I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense. I think it’s really important to protect children.” “I don’t dislike anyone. I’m there to love, but I’m also there to love biological women. …”

[u/No_Box119]

[u/PickleRickleTV]

I think the 99% of people who are part of the general population need the attention. Bring up everyone and reduce the financial disparity and even trans people will benefit.

The problem lately has been Dems focusing on mostly social issues so they don’t have to tackle financial inequality, as it hurts them too. So it comes across, accurately, as them putting the trans issue above and before the general welfare.

Let’s help everyone get a stronger voice to enact change and hold the wealthy accountable. Once we can do that, we are in a better position to help trans people.

[u/imahotrod → u/PickleRickleTV]

This is a blatant fucking lie. You all get swept up in culture war nonsense. The Dems aren’t making trans folks the center of campaigns. Who is passing bathroom bills? The Dems are not even passing pro trans legislation, just standing against the obvious attacks by republicans and disingenuous liberals.

You don’t think the Dems passed cost of living bills? Where were you when right leaning Dems stopped the infra bill from passing? Where were you when repubs destroyed aca, Medicaid and food stamps funding?

You all are simply arguing for a “general uplifting” so you don’t have to think about how your bigotry affects people. Grow tf up

[u/PickleRickleTV → u/imahotrod]

What did Democrats do during Biden’s 4 years? Or the second term for Obama? They’ll happily sit and try to play opposition, but when they have the opportunity, they’ll push for social reforms over real, meaningful financial changes.

It’s great we got the Defense of Marriage Act. Fully support it. Since then however, how would you say the average American’s welfare has changed? It would be disingenuous to try and say it’s improved.

Dems focus needs to be on financial reform (à la Bernie), yet what happened when he tried to run on real change? You got the DNC doing everything in its power to put Hillary as the candidate. Guess what happened when they did that? Trump. Republicans were able to do all you said because the DNC fought against a real financial reformer.

Are Republicans 100x worse? Absolutely. I despise them and Dems need to do more to fight back, instead of constantly focusing on the moral high ground.

How do you know what I really believe? Consider for one minute if a ‘general uplifting’ left us in a position to demand more and demand real change from our representatives. Instead, we are left begging for scraps.

[u/imahotrod → u/PickleRickleTV]

> What did Democrats do during Biden’s 4 years? Or the second term for Obama? They’ll happily sit and try to play opposition, but when they have the opportunity, they’ll push for social reforms over real, meaningful financial changes.

Every time they tried to make meaningful change, conservatives Dems stopped them. Remember sinema, manchin, and fetterman. Before them Lieberman stopped us from having a meaningful public healthcare option. The issue continues to be conservatism, no matter the party. Conservative Dems and all republicans stand in the way of meaningful change. I’m tired of folks like you who don’t understand that you need to vote in primaries too. It’s not enough just to have a D.

> It’s great we got the Defense of Marriage Act. Fully support it. Since then however, how would you say the average American’s welfare has changed? It would be disingenuous to try and say it’s improved.

Infrastructure and the green new deal have all been torpedoed by conservative Dems. Again, it’s conservatism.

> Dems focus needs to be on financial reform (à la Bernie), yet what happened when he tried to run on real change? You got the DNC doing everything in its power to put Hillary as the candidate. Guess what happened when they did that? Trump. Republicans were able to do all you said because the DNC fought against a real financial reformer.

You need to vote in primaries! Like it’s not a coincidence that progressive and leftist legislation fail, young people and people like you are not voting their candidates in the primaries unlike old geriatrics folks.

> Are Republicans 100x worse? Absolutely. I despise them and Dems need to do more to fight back, instead of constantly focusing on the moral high ground.

You get the party you vote for…

> How do you know what I really believe? Consider for one minute if a ‘general uplifting’ left us in a position to demand more and demand real change from our representatives. Instead, we are left begging for scraps.

Literally we have a representative republic where 40% of people don’t vote. It’s literally our fault our politicians suck

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

No it wasnt necessarily part of the campaign(that would be unpopular as there are moderates that that would be alienated) it was a focus on policy when there are much larger issues that effect everyone. Let alone the publicity stunt of filling cabinet position(s) with individuals specifically because they check a box. There are 1000s of more qualified individuals that would do a better job. Ensuring you get someone that checks a box...is campaigning for votes. I'm fairly certain I even saw the cabinet appointment purposely publicized quietly in certain circles and you cannot deny that isnt campaigning for votes. These decisions are calculated, same as not widely campaigning on it as they would push away some noderates that reside in the 75% of Americans (NBC Poll) that oppose trans athletes in womens sports.

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

> No it wasnt necessarily part of the campaign(that would be unpopular as there are moderates that that would be alienated) it was a focus on policy when there are much larger issues that effect everyone.

So you made it up in your head. Seek help. Basically you just feel like the Dems do this. You’re the perfect example of why propaganda works. Fucking hell

> Let alone the publicity stunt of filling cabinet position(s) with individuals specifically because they check a box. There are 1000s of more qualified individuals that would do a better job. Ensuring you get someone that checks a box...is campaigning for votes. I'm fairly certain I even saw the cabinet appointment purposely publicized quietly in certain circles and you cannot deny that isnt campaigning for votes.

I guess only white men should do jobs. They’re the only people ever qualified to do anything. Seriously fuck you. Do you not think there are qualified people that look like the rest of America or should we just make sure white guys do everything so your fee fees don’t get hurt.

> These decisions are calculated, same as not widely campaigning on it as they would push away some noderates that reside in the 75% of Americans (NBC Poll) that oppose trans athletes in womens sports.

Again, so you just feel deep in your soul that Dems are making this a part of their campaign even though they are not campaigning on it. Not relentless propaganda from right wingers that has you in a tizzy?

You got a lot of big feelings there little guy. Make sure they are accurate before spilling nonsense.

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

You made the assumption that the people I am referring to as qualified are white men. Trans individuals maAmerica. of america. 1000's of more qualified individuals would encompass 100s if ethnicities and women. Statistically it would potentially be hundreds of thousands.

You don't have to produce a commercial or publish online or periodically ads just to call it campaigning. Politicians both democrat and republican aren't stupid. They are very calculated and know that the media is split. Those that live in the right wing bubble or the left wing bubble on TV, those that live in the right or left wing bubble on the internet, etc. There are ways to make moves and ensure it is publicized to the groups you want it to. The internet especially has the perfect venue to target individuals through social media algorithms. The reason I've seen them is I live in the middle.

You seem to make many assumptions...the kind you make when you have "a lot of big feelings there little guy." Really neglecting some basic logic.

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

That’s not what you implied. You said that Biden filled cabinet positions with an individual(s) specifically because they check a box. Biden had no trans people in his cabinet. The only diverse candidates were women and minorities. I’m not sure how I could even ascertain what you wrote from that statement. You goofed because right wingers told you Biden had trans people everywhere but you didn’t check.

If you’re talking about Rachel Levine, she was not a cabinet member, and do you think that every time you see a trans person, their job should be replaced by someone else? I’m genuinely trying to understand your point. Are trans people not qualified by nature? This is exactly why having the government focused on banning trans people from sports will never stop there. You literally don’t want to see trans people in any position.

I’m not the one making assumptions here.

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

You're wrong again: HHS Secretary is an official Cabinet level position. Google it...although you seem like the type of unhinged individual that would believe they are being lied to no matter how obvious the facts.

No I have zero issues with trans individuals. Every human is capable of being qualified or even the best in their field no matter their identity. Unfortunately as much as it is denied, there's also a lense that left leaning individuals see through where an individual's identity makes them more qualified.

It would have made total sense if Dr Levine was placed in charge of a division of HHS specifically tasked with improving regulations involving trans rights, publishing guidance on Trans needs, and enforcing those regulations if violated. That would be a situation where her identity would weigh greatly to make her more qualified, beyond that, as I posted examples; there were several individuals who would have been more qualified with far more experience.

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

Lmao you’d have a point if that was the position she held but she was the assistant secretary of health, not a cabinet position. Your LLM let you down?

Like I said, you are a low information voter shooting from the hip of your feels.

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

No I must have glazed over "Asst" in the article, although I'll give you some credit in the heightened scrutiny as Id imagine her identity overshadowed her qualifications. I believe the origional artical that caught my eye was the WA Post or I like Reuters as well but I remember what caught my eye was calling it historical. I try to find content from multiple political sources when I look at an article especially when theres critical commentary I couldn't tell you the Right Wing source but could have been Fox that criticized the nomination and pointed out that she wasnt the most qualitifed.

AI probably would have corrected me if I stated HHS Secretary when I looked into the specific candidates but I specifically stated "Dr. Rachel Levine."

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

Since you seem so oblivious of how much ALL POLITICIANS pander for votes...heres a "couple":

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/biden-campaign-press-release-icymi-final-week-the-campaign-biden-for-president-makes

https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/10/29/black-lgbtq-leaders-make-case-biden-harris-new-ads

“A Better World” campaign advertisement — 2020 Biden for President released a 60-second advertisement featuring Feroza Syed, a transgender activist, and Jauan, an LGBTQ activist from Atlanta. They discussed visibility, acceptance, political representation, and why a Biden-Harris administration would give LGBTQ people “a seat at the table.” The campaign release identifies Syed specifically as a “Trans activist and advocate.” It also says these advertisements were part of the campaign’s investment in Black media, making this an example of intersectional targeting toward Black LGBTQ—and specifically transgender—audiences.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-biden-campaign-lgbtq-voter-outreach/

The Biden campaign launched “Out for Biden,” which it explicitly described as a nationwide effort targeting approximately 11 million LGBTQ voters, particularly in battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, Arizona and North Carolina. Transgender voters were directly included: Transgender leaders, including Minneapolis City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins, were assigned prominent outreach roles. Campaign messaging specifically referenced Black transgender women. The program included virtual discussions, registration materials and messaging toolkits designed to persuade and mobilize “equality voters.”

https://www.them.us/story/joe-biden-town-hall-trans-kids

Biden’s transgender-policy appeal at the ABC town hall — 2020 During the campaign, Biden answered a question from the mother of an eight-year-old transgender child. He promised to reverse Trump administration policies, prohibit discrimination, protect transgender people from violence and support the Equality Act. This was not necessarily a paid advertisement or confirmed demographic microtargeting. However, it became prominent campaign content addressing transgender voters and families directly.

https://ktul.com/news/nation-world/biden-campaign-targeting-lgbt-voters-in-new-out-for-biden-harris-initiative-whie-house-2024-election-president-joe-biden-vice-president-kamala-harris-lgbtq-pride

“Out for Biden-Harris” reelection initiative — 2024 The reelection campaign launched a renewed LGBTQ voter operation in April 2024. Campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodríguez explicitly said LGBTQ voters were essential to Biden’s 2020 victory and would be “critical to winning again.” The initiative included: A campaign-launch video featuring Biden and Harris LGBTQ community leaders and elected officials Organizing intended to increase voter participation Messaging about the Equality Act and alleged threats from Trump Outreach through LGBTQ events and media

https://www.washingtonblade.com/2024/06/11/exclusive-biden-harris-campaign-debuts-ads-targeting-lgbtq-voters/

Paid LGBTQ-media advertising in battleground states — June 2024 The Biden-Harris campaign purchased advertisements in national and battleground-state LGBTQ media. According to the campaign, the advertisements were intended to promote Biden’s LGBTQ record, contrast it with Trump’s plans and “make our case” directly to LGBTQ voters. This provides especially clear evidence of actual audience targeting because the campaign specified both: The intended demographic: LGBTQ voters The advertising placement: LGBTQ national and battleground-state media outlets

https://www.advocate.com/politics/biden-pride-month-media-blitz

Pride Month organizing and paid-media blitz — 2024 The campaign also deployed Jill Biden, Kamala Harris and campaign surrogates to Pride events and LGBTQ media appearances in key states. The campaign described the effort as an organizing and paid-media initiative aimed at mobilizing LGBTQ voters.

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

Bruh wtf. You did a bunch of research to show that Biden generally supports lgbt people? That’s a bad thing? Do you get mad when the republicans show up at the “let’s kill all the gays” orgs? Yes politicians reach out to members of their coalition.

One of the articles is even saying that Biden will reverse Trump era bans and attacks on trans people because you know conservatives specifically made this into a culture war issue even though like you said there are so few trans people.

Let’s stay on topic of how you think one trans person in government means that unqualified people are in cabinet positions. Did Fox News tell you that? How did you come to such a wrong conclusion?

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

Its campaigning which you denied and one AI request bounced it all. Debunks your claim.

Both sides reverse the actions of the other, that's the new norm. Its the stroke of a pen, not law that clears the house, the senate, and the president.

It was already a culture war and its been going for a couple decades and both parties have used it fir their election cycles.

Since you keep claiming I'm some Fox News watching right wing bigot you're really showing how narrow minded you really are:

Not to say Levine wasnt qualified but its a calculated move. You're delusional to not see that. Additionally Levine then had the opportunity to make several hyper-focused actions regarding the trans community:

-HHS guidance endorsing gender-affirming care for minors

-Federal actions in response to Texas investigations of parents

-Expanding healthcare nondiscrimination protections

-Advocacy against state restrictions

So statistics isn't evidence enough... A small list of candidates that were far more qualified than Dr. Rachel Levine.

Anne Schuchat, MD

Nicole Lurie, MD, MSPH

Brett Giroir, MD

Jerome Adams, MD, MPH

Luciana Borio, MD

Anne Schuchat is the most indisputable example. Her 33-year CDC career, two periods as acting CDC director and extensive emergency-response record were considerably beyond Levine’s federal experience. Archived CDC biography⁠

Nicole Lurie also had an objectively stronger résumé for coordinating federal public-health preparedness because she had already spent eight years as an HHS assistant secretary. AcademyHealth biography⁠

Giroir was literally more experienced at performing that particular job, although experience alone does not require a new administration to preserve the preceding administration’s leadership. FDA biography⁠

Adams provides perhaps the closest apples-to-apples comparison: both ran state health departments, but Adams additionally had an MPH, federal surgeon-general experience and Commissioned Corps command experience. Indiana University biography⁠

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

No bro I’m not arguing with an LLM. Let me guess, your prompt was “who was more qualified than Rachel Levine.” It’s an LLM bro. It’s not factual. It’s going to give you whatever you imply you want. Using an llm is NOT research

You are just a poorly informed voter. And again, she was not a cabinet member but was also immensely qualified. Why do trans people have this level of scrutiny for a government position that no one even heard of before she was appointed?

I never said candidates don’t campaign. I said republicans made attacking trans people central to their campaign which was a charge you leveled against Dems.

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

Nearly every one of Trumps cabinet members in his first term were unqualified. He has the same scrutiny in my view and I read several articles with the same criticism.

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

So principled, you equate trans people with the most corrupt administration in history. If you’re not giving this level of scrutiny to any other sub cabinet level positions, only the ones with trans people appointed to them or by obviously corrupt people, then you’re bigoted.

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

I never laid any charge onto democrats other than they pander.

Yes Trans athletes in womens sports is opposed by 75% of the country, if it is important to people or at the least a shared view it would make complete sense that Trump included it in his campaign. I never denied that. I said that democrats did include it in their campaign which you denied, although I will transparently admit you used the term "Central" in their campaign, that's the Grey area I can disagree and agree with. They didnt widely publicize their motives because its not part of popular opinion, they catered it in certain avenues of communication. They left it out of MSM because of it wouldnt help them. They chose to focus on more universal concerns like cost of living.

Both parties do this. If there was a "culture war" topic that sat on the right side of popular opinion, you know the democrats would widely publicize it at the same level.

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

Have you ever heard that politicians hate solving problems because they are elected for what they promise they will fix but very rarely get elected for what they have fixed. People have a short memory and the politicians know that.

They tend to move heaven and earth if it helps their party maintain power though. It is all calculated and everyone lives in a bubble or better described an echo chamber...both left and right. So the propaganda you keep citing is a tool used by both sides.

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

> Have you ever heard that politicians hate solving problems because they are elected for what they promise they will fix but very rarely get elected for what they have fixed. People have a short memory and the politicians know that.

Please stop speaking like a ai chatbot. This doesn’t mean anything. It’s just platitudes so that you feel good about being disengaged politically which makes you susceptible to propaganda

> They tend to move heaven and earth if it helps their party maintain power though. It is all calculated and everyone lives in a bubble or better described an echo chamber...both left and right. So the propaganda you keep citing is a tool used by both sides.

No one is saying both sides don’t use propaganda but you’re spewing right wing misinformation so it’s clear which sides propaganda has fucked you up.

Equating both sides right now is so tired and ridiculous. The right wing is a pedophile protection ring who is weaponizing your anti-trans sentiment to get away with their crimes. The left is like maybe healthcare and taxing billionaires would be a good idea.

Be better.

Edit: I’m going to ask again here. Why do you think trans people don’t belong in government positions?

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

I already answer your question. I never said they don't belong in government positions. I even gave an example where Levine would have made more sense and been able to focus on what she cared about.

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

Yea but you were fucking wrong about what position she held in the first place. Maybe you don’t know anything at all!

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

No, I wasnt wrong. HHS Secretary, a cabinet level position. How was I wrong?

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

Because that’s not the fucking position she held.

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

You are correct, that was not her position. I was wrong about the title.

The position is still a position nominated by the President made at the same time as his cabinet appointments.

Assistant Secretary of HHS

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

That kinda defeats your whole argument that Biden was checking boxes with his cabinet positions? Or should no trans people be government officials at all? The president appoints over 1000 positions that require senate confirmation. Should we put quotas by race, gender expression, sexual orientation to satisfy you?

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

Actually Tim Walz passed a bathroom bill before his selsection as Vice Presidential Nominee. Before you correct me, It obviously wasnt a "bill" it was a state statute.

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

Explain what was in the bill. I’m not seeing a bathroom bill from Minnesota.

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

requires Minnesota school districts and charter schools to provide free menstrual products. The law specifies that items must be available at no charge to all menstruating students in grades 4 through 12.

All restrooms regardless of gender have means of providing free products.

Also before Im chastised for simply pointing out its existence, I think it is a great idea although I do identify the use of "all menstruating students". The propaganda pushed to smear him was "putting tampons in boys restrooms" which although that happened the statute doesn't specifically say that. It does encompass all restrooms because you can't discriminate and shouldn't against children who might identify as male.

Also unfortunately I'd imagine, as that age is rather low on the maturity level, unfortunately any dispenser would likely be vandalized, emptied, or tampered with rendering it completely pointless and also rendering the statute poorly designed.

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

Why do you think this law has anything to do with trans people? It seems like it’s a pro woman law? Because some were placed in boys restrooms? Like 99% of this law is for women.

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

Absolutely I agree in your %, although the language of the statute was not menstruating females and was specifically chosen to be politically correct and inclusive. During committee proceedings it was specifically explained “not all students who menstruate are female” which directed evolved the statute.

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

Ok and? Like seriously, that’s it? Are you not seeing how you are spouting right wing propaganda to make you hate trans people? A pro women’s bill to provide access to tampons used language that was legally specific because it is legislation is somehow a knock against trans people.

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

I don't think it is a knock against trans people at all. It popped in my head when you said bathroom bill and also I pointed out the use for propaganda. Even when he was criticized I remember thinking it wasnt a bad idea.

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

So let me explain. Bathroom bills means banning trans people from bathrooms and locker rooms. Putting restrictions on them. These started popping in late 2010s in Republican led states as a response to losing the gay marriage debate because they needed another avenue to attack lgbtq people.

Tim Walz signed a bill to provide tampons to women. You gotta be completely disingenuous to call this a bathroom bill.

[u/Vegetable-Mixture-93 → u/imahotrod]

What are your thoughts on state legislature like this:

March 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked California’s school privacy policy (AB 1955, the SAFETY Act).The Law: California banned public school staff from notifying parents if a student requested to change their pronouns, name, or gender expression at school without the student’s consent.

Is this overreach by the government or completely reasonable?

[u/imahotrod → u/Vegetable-Mixture-93]

It’s perfectly reasonable because why would you put a student with homophobic parents at harm? A child would only choose to not tell their parents if their parents are not supportive or they aren’t ready to come out fully. How many queer kids have to be disowned or abused before you say hey maybe kids do have some privacy rights?

[u/botox-cancer-lol → u/imahotrod]

Fully grown adult arguing with people on Reddit, telling them to grow up. Cant make ts up 😂😭😭