Bill Maher: Trans bathroom fights need to be put on hold until election
Comedian and host of "Real Time" worries emphasis on social issues will inspire Trump voters to turn out
“From now until Election Day, every issue, every fight, every cause, has to take a backseat to defeating Trump. He’s like an infection. You don’t fool around with it.”
— Comedian Bill Maher, in a monologue as part of his “New Rules” segment on Real Time with Bill Maher.
Maher warned liberals that although Trump is currently experiencing the pitfalls of negative press coverage, things can change between now and the election. As such, Maher thinks the Left shouldn’t focus on personal or social issues that are not as popular outside of liberal circles, such as transgender rights.
Using his own vocal support for legalizing marijuana as an example, Maher said: “If someone told me that pushing for pot might cost Hillary Ohio, until Nov. 8, I’m just going to shut the fuck up about it.”
“I know liberals are feeling pretty good about Hillary’s chances this week, but history has taught us that Democrats are pretty good at blowing elections,” Maher said. “And Republicans are masters at winning elections, with solutions in search of a problem. And the problem they’re imagining lately is that the transgendered (sic), or sex fiends pretending to be transgendered (sic), roam America’s restrooms, in drag, looking for a chance to watch people pee.”
Maher acknowledged that advocates for transgender equality are in the right, saying he was not trying to “throw the transgendered (sic) under the bus” or ignore their struggle. But he also said that liberals should not take the bait to engage on potentially divisive social issues at the expense of energizing conservative voters, thereby allowing Trump to be elected. Maher said transgender bathroom rights is the type of “culture war issue that rousts a certain type of voter out of their trailers on Election Day.”
Instead, Maher argued, it should be left up to Hollywood to slowly change societal norms and push for transgender rights and visibility. Just as Hollywood normalized the gay and lesbian community to the wider public, it can do the same with transgender issues, he said.
“Here’s what we can’t do this election: get tricked into symbolic fights about college campus pet peeves,” said Maher. “Hillary, if someone asks you if Christmas is unfair to the disabled because the reindeer laugh at Rudolph’s nose, just say, ‘I don’t care.’ I know, we’re liberals, and there’s an infinite list of ideas for making the world better by making it less like Duck Dynasty. But there’s no room for boutique issues in an Armageddon election.”
See Maher’s monologue below:
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
You must be logged in to post a comment.