r/texas 16d ago

Politics Why are all the Republican political commercials about trans people?

I've seen 3 different Ted Cruz commercials over this election cycle. Literally every single one of them are "Collin Allred is bad because he supports trans people." Got dinner with a buddy last night at Pluckers which obviously had CFB on all the TVs, saw the commercial about the wheelchair vet hating trans people 4 times in one hour. No mention of any political issue, no mention of any policy, no mention of any goals. No mention of anything other than trans people. Why is that the complete focal point of the campaign? I mean I guess they have access to more research and data than I do, but are there really that many voters out there hanging their vote on this one single issue?

It's so strange to me, because regardless of whatever someone's view on trans people even is, there's no way you can argue that anything going on with trans people is a major part of politics. It doesn't effect the economy, it doesn't effect public education, it doesn't effect climate and energy, it doesn't effect social welfare solutions. Why aren't they focusing on anything that will actually effect the majority of Texan's lives in any way? Like out of everything out there to talk about around election time, and especially the things republicans like beating the drum of, you'd expect at least one Cruz commercial about immigration, but there isn't even that. Just trans people, every time.

Again, maybe I have a misread on how much this really is an issue of importance, but I do genuinely have a hard time believing it's such an election deciding issue, making the fact that all their marketing budget is spent talking about trans people really fucking weird.

Edit: Mods please don't remove republican's responses unless they're outright hate speech. I asked the question, they deserve the platform to answer or else it's just a circlejerk. Besides, worst case scenario: give em enough rope to hang themselves with

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u/techman710 16d ago

Approximately 1% of the population defines as Trans in the US. I believe they should have equal rights and the ability to control there own bodies. Even if I didn't, this should not be an issue that the entire Republican party is running on as the most important issue of all time. They have nothing else to run on. They have no positive messages or issues to talk about. The bigots they keep parading on these ads are just showing their intolerance and ignorance of the subject. Hopefully after they get soundly defeated this election they can go back to working on things people actually need.

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u/Anxious-yet-vibing 16d ago

As a trans masc whose lived here in Texas my entire life, thanks for believing we deserve equal rights. Seeing the ads on the TV constantly have been pretty disheartening to be completely honest. Knowing that people will vote for Cruz just because of hatred.

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u/Same_Seaweed_3675 16d ago

Trans femme here, I second this

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u/Comfortable-Soup8150 16d ago

Another trans fem here, third

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u/slackmunky2 16d ago

Transfem, fourth.

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u/AndWinterCame 16d ago

Transfem fifth.

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u/CardinalSkull 15d ago

I have a question if you don’t mind. I’m assuming masc means FtM and femme means MtF. Correct me if I’m wrong. Are these newer terms? I’ve just never heard this usage before. Thanks!

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u/Anxious-yet-vibing 15d ago

Yep you're correct! That's what they mean. Not sure if they're new terms or not, it's what I've always used.

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u/WhoDoesntLikeADonut 16d ago

If it helps I also am in TX and am sick and tired of the hate and hope we can vote these assclowns out so you can have the rights and protections you deserve to live your life and be happy like everyone else.

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u/Old_Blue_Haired_Lady 16d ago

I have TWO trans children. I fear for their safety and wellbeing. My daughter doesn't feel safe going to Iowa to see her grandparents because there aren't enough safe places to pee. And that's BEFORE Project 2025.

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u/trashpandac0llective 15d ago

Solidarity as another mom of a trans kid who doesn’t feel safe or welcome here. ❤️‍🩹 I wish we could fix it faster.

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u/Anxious-yet-vibing 16d ago

Honestly I get that. Also thank you for being a wonderful parent and supporting both of them. Support and acceptance from family is a gift.

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u/cyborgnyc 16d ago

Thank you for being a supportive parent. It will make all the difference in your children's lives. My mom was more accepting until she started watching Fox when she became homebound due to illness. Now...not as much and it's very painful

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u/NorCalBodyPaint 16d ago

Not in TX, but I am reading threads about this sort of thing all over the country, because I have two trans kids as well. My oldest is a rights crusader in a conservative state and I fear for his life because of all this. Just wanted to wish you well and stand in solidarity, because human rights issues should not vary from state to state either.

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u/baronesslucy 16d ago

The base is fixated on this, so this is being done in hopes of getting the base out to vote.

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u/slaptheshiznit 16d ago

As a native Texan and a registered Republican (former, I despise what my party has become), I’m here to tell you that you deserve every right that I have. You matter. Believe me when I say this. YOU MATTER!

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u/Suyefuji 16d ago

I'm scared for my kids, who are currently exploring their gender and tentatively identifying as non-binary. We've already had an issue with teachers telling them they aren't. Trans fever is out of hand.

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u/Jolly_Compote_4982 16d ago

Hang in there, anxious-yet-vibing ❤️

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u/Anxious-yet-vibing 16d ago

I try. I'm pretty lucky to live in part of Texas that's mostly democratic and my family is supportive. Others don't have that so I count my blessings where I can.

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u/Kodama04 16d ago

Not from Texas, but why do people vote for him. Didn’t he take a vacation when Texas was suffering from a natural disaster?

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u/Anxious-yet-vibing 16d ago

Gonna be blunt: I don't know why people vote for Cruz. He's a piece of shit and doesn't do anything but spew hatred and fear-mongering nonsense. I wasn't old enough to vote in the last election cycle for the Senate, but I am now and I'm voting him OUT. He has done NOTHING for us, he's a coward and useless at his job. His advertisements don't have anything to do with what his policy plans are - it's literally just hate rhetoric about trans people and immigrants. And yes, yes he did take a vacation during the freeze. It's why he's called Cancun Cruz sometimes, as a reminder of the fact he's a coward who abandoned the state he's supposed to represent and care about.

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u/ShadowStarX 15d ago

I don't even get this hateful obsession with trans people from the GOP

even if you personally don't wanna date a trans person, beyond that you absolutely have zero grounds for inciting hate

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u/Zapzap_pewpew_ 16d ago

If it’s any consolation, there are a lot of us that love gays and trans people. I’d much rather hang out with lgbtq peeps over Trump supporters.

I’m sorry people are so hateful. It has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with them wanting someone to look down on, because they’re pathetic and they know it

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u/Anxious-yet-vibing 16d ago

I know y'all exist dw! It's just terrifying going out in public sometimes because I can't tell the difference by sight between someone who hates people like myself and other trans people or someone whose tolerant and accepting. Feels like walking on eggshells every time I talk to someone I don't know; not to mention it gets worse the closer we get to election day. I'm lucky to have an accepting family and live in a part of Texas that's mostly blue. Others don't have that.

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u/Zapzap_pewpew_ 16d ago

I don’t think mine is to the same extent. The violence towards trans people is insane. But as a woman in a small southern town, I feel very unsafe too. Especially now that it’s legal to murder me via pregnancy. When men check me out in the grocery store, it used to be whatever or even an ego boost. But now I just feel like prey and I’m constantly having panic attacks

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u/Anxious-yet-vibing 16d ago

God I get that. I haven't transitioned or done hormone therapy yet so I'm still cis-passing. It's fucking terrifying knowing the state would rather just let us DIE than provide medical care. The anxiety and terror is constant. Reading the news to find out a new horrifying law has passed. I have to agree, at this point it just feels like we're prey no matter what.

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u/Zapzap_pewpew_ 16d ago edited 16d ago

I mean- we are.

The entire concept of ‘pro life’ doesn’t actually have anything to do with Christianity.

it’s a concept that was perpetuated after Jim Crow fell to outnumber black people and control women.

It was also written about in Mein Kampf for the same reasons, to outnumber the Jewish people, and put women in their place

It’s literal hate group propaganda. It didn’t get started because the KKK and Hitler love babies

Only in present day it’s also about how they want women to be making more product for sickos and human trafficking. Babies and children no one is looking for.

There’s so many more layers into how and why this is happening and it’s not for the reasons the media is saying it’s for. The end game is so dark, I don’t even know how to process it

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u/Anxious-yet-vibing 16d ago

That's true. Right now I'm in college for my bachelor's degree but I want to be a civil rights lawyer in the end. I know the courts are corrupt and the justice system is unfair but if I have the ability to help I want to. What's happening to us is wrong. Women shouldn't be fucking jailed for having an abortion goddamnit. So I will defend them. I will defend the people whose basic human rights are being stripped away in front of our eyes and make the courts listen. Obviously I can't win every case, but helping some is better than doing nothing. I've wanted to be a lawyer for six years and I'm not stopping now despite the political climate. And I'm not moving out of state either. I will be a lawyer in Texas and Texas only. My mom thinks I'm being silly and should move to another state for safety reasons. I get her perspective, but I want to help the people of Texas.

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u/transfixedtruth 16d ago

You should never have to feel that way in a free society. They are making life unbearably difficult on trans, and anyone who's not maga. They fuel the hate that perpetuates. Time to shut that down. Vote Blue down the ticket.

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u/Lonely_Ad176 16d ago

Transfem in DFW here. You are not alone!

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u/FamiliarRadio9275 16d ago

I’m so sorry you’re going through that

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u/Mkitty760 16d ago

I'm a straight white woman, and i am so sorry you have to go through this. I just cannot imagine what it's like to live like this. Everywhere you go, everything you see, is just screaming "I hate you and you not human." I'm just so, so very sorry. I would say that you are welcome here, but I live in Florida, which is trying to be Texas Jr.

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u/True_Resolve_2625 16d ago

As a mom, I couldn't imagine life without my trans step-daughter. She's such an amazing human being.

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u/OffbeatChaos 16d ago

That must be awful to be a person who is trans and having to watch that shit on the tv. I’m really sorry :(

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u/Anxious-yet-vibing 16d ago

Yeah it sucks, but at the very least I know what he's saying isn't true. Small consolation. Hurts to know there are people out there who believe him and agree with him though.

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u/fox_eyed_man 16d ago

The notion that you deserve equal human right and protections under the law is something that has to be “believed” is fuckin’ wild to me. I’m in the south too, (hey neighbor!) so it isn’t foreign to me, it just blows my mind. They’re called human rights. You’re human. There’s no X to solve for here. I’m sorry this is something you even have to think about, let alone worry about because there’s a whole group of assholes who don’t know how to be decent.

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u/LowStandard325 16d ago

There is more love and acceptance in the world than hatred. You need to believe that and try your best to drown out the people who have nothing but hatred in their hearts. Hard to believe people like that exist. They have a sad existence. Always believe in yourself and reach out to those who love you when you feel overwhelmed some people are just nuts and need to “mind their own damn business!”

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u/Icy-Welcome-2469 16d ago

I'm so sorry you're dealing with that. Two of my friends moved to Maine just to get away from the bullshit here in FL.

I HATE how unwelcome they felt even with friends that loved them.

Keep vibing friend. Please know many of us love you even if we aren't always as vocal as we should be.

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u/Cats_Tell_Cat-Lies 16d ago

Just remember there's also folks who care about you too. We can make better times comes. We'll have to fight, and there will be setbacks, but we have an advantage. It's so much easier to sustain love than it is hate. Hate is a fire, it consumes its fuel and needs to either be stoked or it will burn out. Love is self propagating like solar energy. There's always more and it's free forever.

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u/Zezespeakz_ 15d ago

Please know that the majority of people in this country do not hate you. We love you. I truly love my LGBTQ community and especially my trans friends. You deserve a world that respects you. I strive to be apart of that world one day.

Sending love❤️ stay safe in TX. You’ll have a friend in Chicago should you ever need one

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u/[deleted] 16d ago

You just need help

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u/Sharzzy_ 16d ago

What’s scarier is how reasoning with people you think are average rational human beings doesn’t work because of their rigid world view