Watch Trans journalist Erin Reed on PBS Taking on Anti-Trans Ads

Erin Reed appeared on PBS Saturday to talk about the anti-trans ads that have inundated viewers during NFL games.

Reed wrote "Harris's late-campaign surge comes as Trump has flooded the airwaves with anti-trans advertisements during major sporting events. Meanwhile, Republican Senate candidates have also received tens of millions of dollars in support from groups like the Senate Leadership Fund, which has blanketed these swing states with ads about transgender bathroom usage, sports, and health care. Spending on transgender issues dwarfs all others; according to national political reporter Marc Caputo, the Trump campaign has spent more money on anti-trans advertisements than on any other issue, surpassing topics like the economy and immigration."

But why now when early voting is nearly over? GOP campaign of lies, divisiveness,  and disinformation never targeted undecided voters before. Who is Trump reaching for? Reed believes the ads target young male voters a demographic that Trump believes he has an edge on.

However true, I have a slightly different take on this. Trump has fallen behind spectacularly with women voters as he doubles down with statements like "I will protect you whether you like it or not."

Trump's waffling on abortion has also driven women away. Coupled with Vance's position that people with uteruses are worthless if not actively breeding have dug a hole Trump can't lie his way out of.

My take? Trump and the likes of Ted Cruz are hoping women equate transgender athletes with the methodical incubus.  The GOP, the party of hate is losing this election and in a last-ditch effort is demonizing the smallest minority in a clumsy attempt attempt to win over women voters.

Former President Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, said two-and-a-half years ago he was open to a national abortion ban, a stark contrast to comments he made this week where the Ohio senator said he adhered to Trump’s view that abortion should be a state issue.

Vance argued in 2022 that people seeking abortions would travel from states where abortion is banned to states with liberal abortion laws, necessitating federal action.

“I certainly would like abortion to be illegal nationally,” Vance said in January 2022 on a podcast when running for Senate.

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Ted Cruz Finally Pulls Campaign Ad that indiscriminately kills Children

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Five days after being asked and being aired nationally during sports events, the Cruz campaign finally pulled two anti-trans ads that used the images of two Oregon cisgender minors without parental consent.

In both ads, two Oregon students are pictured at a track meet. One ad includes messaging that claims Cruz’s challenger, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, "voted to allow boys in girls’ sports." The second ad reads, "Boys in girls' sport." The ads that ran during NFL games didn't identify the students as either transgender or cisgender.

The Oregon-based school district where they attend class responded in a letter to the Cruz campaign, writing, "It is alarming that your campaign would have produced/distributed/promoted this ad with false information, especially with minor children involved."

As most know Texas long ago banned transgender students from playing in sports and enacted other anti-trans laws raising the suicide rate amongst trans youth to as much as 72% when compared to states that haven't passed such laws. The Cruz campaign most likely used the Oregon children's images because there aren't any transgender youth left to play sports in Texas.

Cruz is not unique in using transgender people as political pawns. Erin Reed reports that over 100 Republicans Are Running On Anti-Trans Platforms In 2024.

However, Ted Cruz is unique in that he doesn't seem to care if it is a cisgender or transgender child who dies as a result of his campaign messaging.

It really fucking sucks to watch any sports event as a trans person right now because of the Trump commercials, and I just need everyone to know that: yes, we do see the ads, and it's demoralizing to know this entire subset of people sees us as subhuman.

- Charlotte Clymer

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Cruz’s campaign had not responded to the school district as of Monday, the district said. However, a spokesperson with the senator’s camp confirmed to Chron that the ads were no longer on the air.