Conservative proposals targeting the rights of transgender people have swept the nation, and that's particularly true for Texas. Most recently, right-wing Governor Greg Abbott imposed a directive for the city's child services department to begin investigating parents of transgender children for child abuse—a move which has led state officials to demand the medical records of transgender children, showing up at their homes and schools.
Now, the state's far-right Attorney General, Ken Paxton, is making waves on social media for calling Dr. Rachel Levine—President Joe Biden's assistant Secretary of Health, who happens to be a transgender woman—a man.
Twitter soon flagged the tweet for violating its rules against hateful conduct.
Rachel Levine is a man. pic.twitter.com/OWgpKUmfHz
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) March 17, 2022
Paxton has since doubled down, issuing a lengthy statement once again misgendering Levine and claiming he was just trying to "follow the science."
The statement read in part:
"This whole insane episode represents a two-pronged attack from the left—both of which I'm vigorously fighting against. First is the left's war against human biology, and especially against women. Second is their weaponization of Big Tech against conservative voices."
Shortly after, Paxton posted another tweet calling NCAA swimmer and trans woman Lia Thomas a man. Both his smear against Thomas and his longer statement regarding his tweet about Levine have been flagged for hateful conduct.
Conservatives like Paxton frequently use "science" to invalidate transgender people, who have existed for thousands of years. Not only are there differences between sex (which deals with phenotypical and genetic characteristics) and gender (which deals with societal roles assigned by humans based on genitalia), but actual science is by no means binary in terms of sex.
What's more, repeated misgendering of transgender individuals has been proven to lead to emotional distress and suicidal ideation, which is likely why Twitter flagged Paxton's tweet for hateful conduct.
Nevertheless, conservatives on social media were enraged that the tweet got flagged, and soon began echoing Paxton's misrepresentation of science.
Not hateful, simply science. Science is useful to the Left only when it promotes their jacked up views. https://t.co/gii5rHO8BF
— MyTwo (@my_twotoo) March 20, 2022
And here @Twitter seems to have a problem with basic facts. @TwitterSupport @TwitterCreators https://t.co/RpFyAt2xtd
— Amanda (@Ahmo9513) March 20, 2022
So saying something true is hateful on twitter. The world is ass-backwards 🤦🏼♂️ https://t.co/qDlcyQ8Fj7
— Sven Joborgenson (@joborgenson) March 20, 2022
Just twitter hiding the truth as usual https://t.co/eZadAXJZQL
— westy198420🍊👀 (@westy198420) March 18, 2022
But not everyone was on board with Paxton's hate, with many noting his indictment on securities-fraud charges.
@KenPaxtonTX needs no introduction. His bigotry and hatefulness precede him as always. Just know that Texans are utterly ashamed that he is our Attorney General.#VotePaxtonOut #VoteAbbottOut https://t.co/k3KO17FQmA pic.twitter.com/9uotbF8UeC
— Greg Abbot Hates Women & Puffins (@AtheistPuffin) March 18, 2022
Twitter could just #BanKenPaxton, because the "this is hate speech, but" disclaimers aren't going to stop bigots from just rallying around it anyway plus crying "cEnSoRsHiP," and then the rest of us wouldn't have to deal with him https://t.co/zCrYsjQwgC
— Kevbot (@Kevbot716) March 18, 2022
https://t.co/wCIKhMtrLq
How is someone literally being indicted for fraud gonna tell someone they aren't who they say they are https://t.co/GoDfaFjopf
— LockJoce Alcoholism Era (@JocelynTheMH) March 18, 2022
In case there was any doubt Ken Paxton’s motives were about protecting children. This was always about hate.@TwitterSupport#BanKenPaxton https://t.co/RM40Hz9MOw
— Corinne Busche 🏳️⚧️ (@CorinneBusche) March 18, 2022
In the social digital hellscape that is today, sitting state AGs who are currently under indictment can start a moral crusade against a class of people and violate the hate speech guidelines everyone else has to follow and... this happens #WTF https://t.co/WSDCZIJzX4
— Белла Чао Чао Чао 🌻 (@Dolly_Martella) March 18, 2022
Paxton remains popular with conservative voters in the Lone Star State.
@DonaldJTrumpJr/X
@DogRightGirl/X