Marci Ansen
Happy happy happy
Today I'm super happy because here in Australia we've just thrown out a misogynistic, transphobic, climate-change denying, corrupt, dysfunctional and TBH, incompetent government.
The right wing Liberal/National Part Coalition government we've just de-elected was edging closer and closer to right-wing populism, with (former, haha) Prime Minister Scott Morrison happy to throw vulnerable trans kids under the bus (among other appalling acts) in an effort to try and get more votes.
Happily, it backfired terribly. A bunch of his party's members of parliament (all male, pale and stale) lost their seats to women independents, all smart, professional women, campaigning on policies of real action on climate change, equality, and a national anti-corruption watchdog with real teeth (believe me, it's needed!).
Transphobic comments and dogwhistling backfired horribly for them, which has been so so encouraging to see.
And our new Prime Minister, Antony Albanese, after first promising a First Nations voice to parliament (a critical step in coming to terms with Australia's toxic colonial past), also did a shout out to all the diverse people in his electorate (of which I am one).
What's the opposite of a dog-whistle. because that sure was one. Lots of people would have missed that shout out to diversity, but those of us outside the mainstream/binary, including #girlslikeus / #tgirlslikeus sure heard it loud and clear...
Happy happy happy
Today I'm super happy because here in Australia we've just thrown out a misogynistic, transphobic, climate-change denying, corrupt, dysfunctional and TBH, incompetent government.
The right wing Liberal/National Part Coalition government we've just de-elected was edging closer and closer to right-wing populism, with (former, haha) Prime Minister Scott Morrison happy to throw vulnerable trans kids under the bus (among other appalling acts) in an effort to try and get more votes.
Happily, it backfired terribly. A bunch of his party's members of parliament (all male, pale and stale) lost their seats to women independents, all smart, professional women, campaigning on policies of real action on climate change, equality, and a national anti-corruption watchdog with real teeth (believe me, it's needed!).
Transphobic comments and dogwhistling backfired horribly for them, which has been so so encouraging to see.
And our new Prime Minister, Antony Albanese, after first promising a First Nations voice to parliament (a critical step in coming to terms with Australia's toxic colonial past), also did a shout out to all the diverse people in his electorate (of which I am one).
What's the opposite of a dog-whistle. because that sure was one. Lots of people would have missed that shout out to diversity, but those of us outside the mainstream/binary, including #girlslikeus / #tgirlslikeus sure heard it loud and clear...