
Pelosi & Biden; LGBT & Olympics; SI Swimsuit Edition
7/23/2021 | 26m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Politics, sports, and society this week
Pelosi & Biden: The differing roles of two of the top politicians in the country. LGBT & Olympics: A record number of LGBT athletes compete in Tokyo. SI Swimsuit Edition: The first trans model to grace the cover is set to appear. Hitting stands July 22 - swimsuit.si.com. PANEL: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Rina Shah, Erin Matson, Ann Stone
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Funding for TO THE CONTRARY is provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, the Park Foundation and the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation.

Pelosi & Biden; LGBT & Olympics; SI Swimsuit Edition
7/23/2021 | 26m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Pelosi & Biden: The differing roles of two of the top politicians in the country. LGBT & Olympics: A record number of LGBT athletes compete in Tokyo. SI Swimsuit Edition: The first trans model to grace the cover is set to appear. Hitting stands July 22 - swimsuit.si.com. PANEL: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Rina Shah, Erin Matson, Ann Stone
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY, UP FIRST, GENDER NONCONFORMING ROLES IN THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP.
THEN A HISTORICALLY DIVERSE OLYMPICS ILLUSTRATED GOING WOKE WITH ITS INFAMOUS SWIMSUIT EDITION.
>> HELLO, I AM BONNIE ERBE.
WELCOME 2 TO THE CONTRARY, IT WEEKLY DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
UP FIRST, NANCY PELOSI AND PRESIDENT BIDEN, GENDER SWAPPING ON ROLES.
THE U.S. SENATE CAUSED PRESIDENT BIDEN'S INITIAL BID FOR ACROSS THE AISLE COOPERATION AS REPUBLICANS BLOCKED DEBATE ON I HIGHLY TOUTED BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, ALTHOUGH DISCUSSIONS DO GO ON.
AS THE PRESIDENT TRIES TO GET BOTH SIDES TO WORK TOGETHER.
>> THIS REMINDS ME OF THE DAYS WE USED TO GET AN AWFUL LOT DONE IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH, WE GOT BIPARTISAN DEAL.
BIPARTISAN DEAL MADE TO COVER MICE.
HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI IS TALKING VERY TOUGH TO REPUBLICAN HOUSE LEADERS AND IS LESS CONCERNED ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP.
>> IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TO MAKE SURE WE GET TO THE TRUTH ON THIS AND WE WILL NOT LET THEIR ANTICS STAND IN THE WAY OF THAT.
>> THE BIPARTISAN HOUSE INVESTIGATION OF THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION FELL APART AS PELOSI TOOK A CONTROVERSIAL AND TOUGH STANCE.
SHE BLOCKED TO EXTREMIST REPUBLICAN MEMBERS FROM SITTING ON THE PANEL.
BOTH JIM JORDAN AND JIM BANKS SUPPORTED FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND CLAIMING BIDEN ACTUALLY LOST THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WHICH IS FACTUALLY INACCURATE.
IS THIS A GENDER ROLE REVERSAL WITH PELOSI, A WOMAN PLAYING HARDBALL WHILE THE PRESIDENT TRIES TO SOFT PEDAL THINGS?
WITH US TODAY RDC DELICATE ELEANOR HOLMESW NORTON, RINA SHAH BHARARA, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.
JEN SIX, COFOUNDER OF REPROACTION AND ANN STONE, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR.
>> IS NANCY PELOSI PLAYING HARDBALL AND BIDEN, YOU KNOW, SOFT PEDDLING EVERYTHING AND IS THAT GENDER ROLE SWAPPING IN THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP?
>> WELL IT IS GENDER ROLE REVERSAL, BUT IT IS TYPICAL NANCY PELOSI, DO NOT MESS WITH NANCY BECAUSE SHE WILL MESS BACK.
SO SHE'S PLAYING THE ROLE THAT SHE HAS TYPICALLY PLAYED AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT PLAYING.
>> WITH THE PRESIDENT PLAYING THE NICE GUY AND NANCY PELOSI REALLY HITTING BACK HARD I REPUBLICANS ON NOT JUST THE SITUATION, EVERYTHING REALLY SHE SAYS A LOT OF THINGS THAT A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WON'T SAY LIKE THIS WAS A LIE, OR THIS WAS FACTUALLY INACCURATE, OR THIS WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION.
IS THIS GOOD FOR YOUNG GIRLS TO SEE AS A ROLE MODEL?
>> I WOULD ABSOLUTELY SAY SO.
I MEAN IF THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID, NANCY PELOSI IS A TITAN OF THE EDGES IN TERMS OF EXERCISING POLITICAL POWER NOTHING WHAT THIS ALSO ILLUSTRATES IS THAT GENDER ROLES ARE REALLY OUTDATED AND THE FACT IS THAT WOMEN CAN BE STRONG AND HARSH AND BRASH, AND MEN CAN BE CUDDLY AND SWEET, AND CAJOLE AND THE FACT IS THAT WE SHOULD BE INDOCTRINATING PEOPLE AND SAYING YOU SHOULD BE THE CERTAIN WAY BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU WERE BORN.
FROM SUPPORTER VOTES?
>> WELL, I THINK WE BRING A GOOD POINT.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN NANCY POSEY AND JOE BIDEN, I THINK IT'S THE NEED FOR MANY AMERICANS OUT THERE TO SEE A STRONG MAN IN THE POWER WHEN I WALK IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
AND SO HAS I CAN WAIT?
THAT'S WHAT I REALLY AM INTERESTED - - WHO IS COMING UP IN THE RANKS, WHO IS LOOKING LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO SUCCEED?
SOME OF THE OLDER FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE GARDEN FOR SO LONG, WHETHER WERE TALKING THE SENATE SIDE, WERE TALKING ABOUT CHUCK SCHUMER, FOR EXAMPLE, WE NEED TO SEE WHO'S COMING TO POWER IN THE NEXT GENERATION AND ARE THOSE GOING TO BE YOUNGER WOMEN, YOUNGER WOMEN LIKE STEPHANIE MURPHY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO NANCY PELOSI TOLD THE STORY ABOUT SAYING SHE WAS AN IMMIGRANT AND CAME UP OVER AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE AND TOLD THE STORY OF SAYING - - MID ATLANTIC, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A GREATER IMPACT.
>> ALRIGHT, CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON, WHAT DO YOU ON THE MIDTERMS?
ACROSS AS TOO SOFT TO ANY INDEPENDENT OR REPUBLICAN MEN WHO MIGHT HAVE OTHERWISE VOTED THEM CREDIT?
>> WHILE BONNIE, I'M GOING TO MAKE A PRODUCTION HERE, AND THE PREDICTION IS THAT JOE BIDEN IS GOING TO, INDEED, THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO DEFY THE USUAL MIDTERMS.
THIS IS A POPULAR PRECEDENT.
PARTICULARLY IF THE RESEARCHER BILL GETS THROUGH, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON ITS WAY.
NOBODY'S DONE FOR THE PANDEMIC.
THIS WOULD DEFY THE ODDS.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT ALTHOUGH WE CONTROL THE HOUSE, THE SENATE, BARELY BOTH OF THEM, AND THE PRESIDENCY, THAT THE COUNTRY IS IN A MOOD FOR A PRESIDENT AND AND MADE ELECTION THAT SAYS WE ARE ALL TOGETHER.
SO I SAY I PREDICT HERE ON TO THE CONTRARY, DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO DEFY THE ODDS.
>> OKAY, AND WE WILL HOLD YOU TO THAT IS THE MIDTERMS COME ALONG.
>> RESPECTFULLY CONGRESSWOMAN, I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A RED TSUNAMI, IT IS GOING TO BE STRONGER THAN 2010.
I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO BE WIPED OUT.
PEOPLE AT THE GRASSROOTS ARE VERY ANGRY ABOUT A LOT OF ISSUES.
THEY ARE ANGRY ABOUT CRIME, THEY ARE ANGRY ABOUT THE BORDER, THEY ARE ANGRY ABOUT EDUCATION, AND THEY ARE HOLDING, AND THAT'S THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
THEY ARE HOLDING DEMOCRATS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
SO I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A REAL BLOWBACK IN THE POLLING WE ARE SEEING WERE SAYING THAT ALREADY.
>> ALRIGHT.
BUT SHE MADE A GREAT POINT ABOUT A POPULAR PRESIDENT.
HISTORIC HIGHS 60 PERCENT APPROVAL RATING.
>> DOESN'T DOESN'T MATTER.
AND SOME POLLING HAS A MUCH LOWER.
HE'S POPULAR AS A PERSON BUT NOT ON ISSUES.
HE'S UNDERWATER WITH ALL THE ISSUES FOR THE VACCINE.
HE'S UNDERWATER ON THE CRIME.
HE'S UNDERWATER ON THE BORDER.
HIS UNDERWATER ON WHETHER OR NOT HE IS UNITING US, WHICH PEOPLE ARE SEEING NONE OF THAT.
SO I REALLY THINK IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR BLOWBACK.
>> ALRIGHT, FROM POLITICS TO THE OLYMPICS.
THIS YEAR'S OLYMPICS IN TOKYO WILL BE THE MOST INCLUSIVE IN HISTORY ACCORDING TO THE NEWS OUTLET COME OUT SPORTS.
THERE WILL BE AT LEAST 121 OUT LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, AND NON-BINARY ATHLETES COMPETING.
OUT SPORTS COUNTED 56 LGBT Q ATHLETES AT THE REAL GAMES IN 2016 AND 23 ATHLETES IN THE 2012 SUMMER GAMES IN LONDON.
THIS YEAR'S LIST INCLUDES ATHLETES FROM 25 COUNTRIES COMPETING IN 26 PORTS.
30 OF THE ATHLETES ARE REPRESENTING THE UNITED STATES MAKING IT THE COUNTRY WITH THE LARGEST CONTINGENT OF LGBT Q OLYMPIANS.
SO ERIN MATSON IS THIS PROGRESS OR NOT.
>> WHILE ABSOLUTELY EVERY TIME KIDS SEE PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC EYE OUT AND PROUD AS LGBT Q, THAT MAKES IT SAFER FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD.
SO I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE OLYMPICS THOUGH, BONNIE.
I'M LOOKING AT ATHLETES LIKE.
RICHARDSON, ONE OF THE WONDERFUL RUNNERS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO'S BEEN TOP.
>> ARE TOP RUNNER IN, IN ONE OF THE, IN ONE OF THE CONTEST.
>> YEAH, IT'S HORRIFIC AND DISQUALIFIED FOR LEGALLY USING MARIJUANA IN THE UNITED STATES.
THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
SO THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO IN THE LIPASE, I DON'T WANT TO ACT LIKE IT'S ALL WONDERFUL.
AND THEN THERE'S OTHER PIECES THAT I JUST DON'T LIKE TO BRING UP IN THE EXCITEMENT AND SING OUR TRANSGENDER ATHLETES PICK UP PLAYING THE OLYMPICS.
AND PARTICULARLY I WANT TO TIE BACK TO THE UNITED STATES WHERE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF REALLY CRUEL LAWMAKERS AND THE STATE LEVEL, WHO ARE TRYING TO BULLY TRANSGENDER YOUTH OUT A PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS AND PARTICIPATING SCHOOL PERIOD.
I HOPE THEY'LL WATCH THE LIPASE AND TAKE A PAGE AND START BEING NICE.
>> AND YOUR THOUGHTS, AND?
>> WELL I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A MATTER OF BEING NICE OR NOT.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT I DON'T CARE WHAT SOMEBODY SEXUAL ORIENTATION IS WHEN IT COMES TO LEPIC.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE MORE PARTICIPATION.
AS A CONSERVATIVE I BELIEVE WHAT PEOPLE DO IN THEIR BEDROOMS, THEIR BUSINESS, NOT MINE.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE MORE OF IT.
AND WHOEVER IS GOING TO REPRESENT THE COUNTRY BEST.
I SAY, THAT'S GREAT.
>> YOUR THOUGHTS, RENA.
>> WELL, I CERTAINLY HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF ISSUES - - DELTA VARIANT AROUND THE WORLD.
WE KNOW THE IMPLEMENTATIONS, AND WE SEE IT PLAYING OUT IN REAL TIME, ATHLETES ARE GETTING COVID-19.
THEY ARE HAVING TO STAY BACK OR COMPLETELY HAPPEN AND IT'S JUST A HORRIFIC THING FOR ME TO SEE BECAUSE I THINK THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.
SURE IT'S EXCITING THESE PEOPLE ARE AT THE TOP OF THEIR FIELDS.
IT IS TERRIBLE FOR THEM TO BE DENIED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THOSE ON DISPLAY AT THE BIGGEST ARENA IN THE WORLD, THE OLYMPICS, BUT I THINK THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW A SELECT FEW ELITE PUT PROFITS OVER PEOPLE LIVES.
I THINK PUBLIC HEALTH MATTER HERE AND I THINK THAT TOKYO WAS NOT READY, WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE, AND STILL IS NOT.
I THINK IT'S NOT RIGHT FOR THE FIRST LADY JOE BIDEN TO BE TRAVELING OVER THERE GIVEN THE CASES, THE RISING CASES WHERE SING.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE THIS OLYMPICS ANY BETTER AND I THINK IT'S BEEN A ONE IN EVERY WAY ALSO IN TERMS OF THESE ANTIQUATED RULES.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST LAUGHABLE NOW.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LENGTH OF WOMEN'S SHORTS.
ON TOP OF THAT YOU HAVE PARALYMPIC ATHLETES BEING DENIED THEIR DIETS.
IT'S A COMPLETE MESS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CANCELED.
>> WHILE I WOULD HIT BACK AT YOU, THE NORWEGIAN ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE LENGTH OF SHORTS BECAUSE OF THE NORWEGIAN.
>> THE NORWEGIAN WOMEN.
>> BEACH HANDBALL EVENT, WHICH I'M THINKING, WHY IS BEACH AND BOW EVEN AND THEY'RE MAKING MORE AND MORE SPORTS, LIPID LEVELS SPORTS.
WHICH I HEARD, I READ AN ARTICLE THIS WEEK, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FACTUALLY YOU KNOW, FACT CHECK IT, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO ALLOW MULE JUMPING IN THE OLYMPICS ACCORDING TO THE CHRONICLE OF THE HORSE.
SO WHEN DO WE STOP ADDING THESE PARTS OF THE OLYMPICS?
>> ANY SPORT IS FINE IF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE ROLES IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
MARIJUANA IS A PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUG THAT IS RIDICULOUS.
THE IOC HAS NOT KEPT UP.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THE SHORTS WITH THE WOMEN, THERE WAS ANOTHER ATHLETE THAT WAS TOLD THAT HER SHORTS WERE NOT - WHERE IS THE NORWEGIAN TEAM WAS TOLD THAT THERE SHORTS ARE NOT SHORT ENOUGH.
>> THE KERFUFFLE JUST SO OUR VIEWERS NOW, OVER THE NORWEGIAN, AS I SAID THE BEACH HANDBALL TEAM THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO WEAR BIKINI BOTTOMS AND THE MEN OF COURSE ARE ALLOWED TO WEAR SHORTS.
SO THEY REBELLED AGAINST IT AND THEY WERE FINE.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING PLAYED OUT HERE IS THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO FORMING RULES THAT KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES.
I THINK YOU WILL SEE A WHOLE PROPER POST TO ARRIVE WHAT ERIN SAID, JUST BEING SO TALENTED.
IT SEEMS ALMOST UNFAIR TO ENTER INTO THE SPACES ANYMORE WHEN THE RULES HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH THE TIMES AND THAT'S MY BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE LIMBIC SPREAD MOREOVER IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH THAT IS BEING GREATLY PUT AT RISK HERE AND IT'S SO IRRESPONSIBLE TO SEE THE IOC BEHEAD THIS WAY.
>> AND LET'S GET BACK TO, LET'S GET BACK TO THE DEBATE WHICH IS GOING ON HERE IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT WHO IS A WOMAN AND WHO IS A MAN, AND ALLOWING TRANSGENDER'S OF TRANSGENDER MEN AND TRANSGENDER WOMEN TO COMPETE IN SPORTS, WHO HAVE A GREAT ADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF THE HORMONES, MEN FOR EXAMPLE EVEN IF THEY CONVERTED AGE 5 THEY STILL HAVE FIVE YEARS OF TESTOSTERONE MAKING THEIR BONES BIGGER AND STRONGER, AND LONGER.
AND MAKING THEIR MUSCLE STRONGER AS WELL, EVEN WHEN THEY START TAKING ESTROGEN AND OTHER HORMONES THROUGH CONVERT TO BECOME A WOMAN BIOLOGICALLY.
ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> WELL, BONNIE, I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO THAT.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW I'M A RUNNER IN MY PERSONAL LIFE AND I TAKE MY DISTANCE AND TIME VERY SERIOUSLY.
IN FACT EVERY DAY I LOG IN A BOOK AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO SHARE THAT RECENTLY I WON A 5K AMONGST THE MEN AND WOMEN SO THIS IS PERSONAL TO ME AND AS SOMEONE WHO IS A WOMAN'S ADVOCATE AND HAS BEEN LIFELONG AND.
>> AND HAS A DAUGHTER, HAS A NEGRO DAUGHTER.
>> I HAVE A DAUGHTER AND I'M SO PROUD OF HER AND HER ATHLETIC ENDEAVORS IN WHATEVER SHE DOES.
I THINK THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS ONE OF INCLUSION IN THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, AS FAR AS CHEMICALS IN THE BODY OR THE HORMONES OF ESTROGEN AND MORE VARIABILITY AMONG WOMEN THAN THERE IS BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN.
SO THERE'S AN ARTIFICIAL DISTINCTION IF YOU LOOK AT SOMEONE LIKE CASTRO (NAME?
), ANOTHER WONDERFUL RUNNER WHO IS INTERSECTS AND HAS A HIGHER LEVEL OF YOU SHOULD NOT TEST THEIR BLOOD, YOU SHOULD NOT BE COMPELLING THEM IN THE CASE THAT IT WAS FOR cASTOR (AUDIO LOST) - - AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THESE THINGS.
>> BRIEFLY NORTON I WANT TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS.
>> WHILE TRANSGENDER IS RELATIVELY NEW FOR OLYMPICS AND IS TIME THAT WE MAKE CLEAR WHAT IS FAIR WHEN IT COMES TO COMPENSATION.
THERE IS NO WAY THAT PEOPLE WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES WOMEN, BUT HAVE NOT HAD THEIR HORMONES ALTERED SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH WOMEN, CASE CLOSED.
I HOPE IT GETS CLOSED IN THESE OLYMPICS.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE ALSO HAVE HAD THE SURGERY BEFORE - THE GENDERED CHANGE IN SURGERY?
>> ON TALK ABOUT HORMONES BUT HORMONES ARE WHAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
>> OKAY WE ARE OUT OF TIME ON THE OLYMPICS, BUT WE ARE GOING TO SPORTS ILLUSTRATED.
>> A TRANSGENDER WOMAN WILL GRACE THE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT COVER FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME ALONGSIDE THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE ATHLETE, AND THE FIRST RAPPER TO APPEAR ON THE COVER.
LEYNA BLOOM AND ACTRESS AND MODEL SAID, SHE USED TO KEEP HER IDENTITY SECRET AND WAS TERRIFIED PEOPLE WOULD FIND OUT THAT SHE WAS TRANS UNTIL SHE CAME OUT IN 2014.
SHE IS JOINED BY TENNIS STAR NAOMI OSAKA, WHO HAS DRAWN PRAISE AND CRITICISM FOR HER DECISION TO STOP ATTENDING PRESS CONFERENCES DUE TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
THE THIRD AND LAST WOMAN ON THE COVER IS .
>> IF I HAD CHOSEN TO PUT PEOPLE WHO HAD TRADITIONALLY NOT BEEN IN THEIR COVERS ON THE COVER.
HOW GREAT IS THAT?
PEOPLE SHOULD SEE FACES, AND SHAPES, AND BODIES OF DIFFERENT TYPES AND THAT'S A GREAT THING WHEN THAT HAPPENS.
MY PROBLEM HERE WITH THIS ENTIRE SCENARIO IS WHAT NAOMI OSAKA IS FACING BACKLASH FROM PEOPLE LIKE FORMER T.V.
HOST - - FOR BEING ON MAGAZINE COVERS AND SAYING, WHY ARE YOU DOING ALL THIS PRESS WHEN YOU CHOOSE NOT TO ANSWER THE PRESS AFTER A MATCH.
HERE'S THE THING BONNIE IS THAT WE HAVE THESE WORLD-CLASS ATHLETES AND YOU SEE THEM ON THE COURT, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW ANY MORE OF THEMSELVES THAN THE REST OF US THAT THEY WANT TO GIVE AND THAT'S THE PART THAT WE AS A SOCIETY WHERE WE HAVE NOT BEEN BARED TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT DOING THAT.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN FAIR AND WE EXPECT THESE PEOPLE TO GIVE US ALL THEMSELVES AND THAT'S FRANKLY WRONG.
I THINK NAOMI WHAT SHE'S DOING FOR STANDING UP FOR HERSELF AND MAKING HER CHOICES, TAKING THE AGENCY THAT SHE HAS IN SAYING THAT THIS IS MY CHOICE, DO NOT SHAMING FOR.
MEGYN KELLY , SHE SHOULD BE THESE BULLIES LIKE MEGYN KELLY AND CHRISSY TEAGAN WHO GO AFTER OTHER WOMEN AND SAY THINGS THAT ARE UNACCEPTABLE AND THEY NEVER SAY IT TO THEIR FACE AND THE STATEMENT AND DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT - - >> ALRIGHT, TO EXPLAIN SOME OF WHAT THE OTHER SIDE IS SAYING I ACTUALLY HAD A PARENT TELL ME A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL KIDS KIND OF FEEL UNDER PRESSURE BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH PUBLICITY LOUDLY THE NON BINARY AND THE REST OF IT AND THESE KIDS WHO WILL FOR A WHILE THINK THAT THEY ARE GAY OR BISEXUAL, OR WHATEVER THEY LATER COME BACK TO STRAIGHT, BUT THAT IS CAUSING PRESSURE ON SOME KIDS TO BE COOL.
WHAT DO WE THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE BIG NEGATIVES.
I'M GLAD YOU RAISED THAT BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN MY CONCERN AS WELL AND YOU DO HEAR FROM PARENTS ALL OVER.
YOU ARE HEARING IT FROM NONTRADITIONAL PARENTS AS WELL AS MINORITY PARENTS ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT WHAT IS BEING PUT OUT THERE IN THE SCHOOLS, AND IN THE CULTURE AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU I THINK NAOMI IS A GREAT ROLE MODEL, MEGAN - - THAT IS MORE APPROPRIATE PERHAPS THAN THE OTHER TWO.
IN TERMS OF THE WRAPPER PICKING ONE WHO HAS LYRICS THAT ARE SO DISGUSTING.
I JUST CALL UPON THE WRAPPER COMMUNITY AS OTHERS HAVE BEFORE ME TO REALLY RAISE THE STANDARDS BECAUSE WOMEN ARE STILL BEING DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD AND MOST OF THE RAP LYRICS BUT IT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO ADD TO THE CULTURE.
IN TERMS OF A TRANSGENDER MODEL, INTERESTING, WORTHY PERHAPS.
SHE CERTAINLY IS BEAUTIFUL.
WHETHER OR NOT THE MARKET IS GOING TO THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
>> EXACTLY.
IT DOES I'LL GET BACK TO ERIN TO SELLING MAGAZINES, RIGHT?
DO YOU THINK THEY WILL GET MORE SALES ON THIS ONE?
>> WHILE I THINK PRINT MAGAZINES HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING FOR A WHILE AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK ABOUT IS VICTORIA SECRET SEEMS TO BE TAKING A SIMILAR PAGE OUT OF THE BOOK THAT (NAME?)
HAS RECENTLY BEEN SO VICTORIA SECRET HAS GONE AWAY FROM THE ANGELS FRAMEWORK AND THOSE HORRIFIC PRIME TIME SHOWS THAT THEY HAD OF WOMEN IN LINGERIE NO ONE OF THE SPOKESPEOPLE IS MEGAN RAPINOE.
THEY ARE TRAINED TO BE REAL.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING AND SAY REALLY CLEARLY, TO PEOPLE ESPECIALLY ANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE TRANS WATCHING THIS, YOU MATTER, AND IT'S OKAY.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO STAND UP FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE TRANSGENDER, WHO HAVE A REALLY HIGH SUICIDE RATE AND SUICIDAL IDEATION.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH.
I HAD A TRANSGENDER YOUTH GROW UP ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME.
IN MY DAUGHTER'S GENERATION I SEE A LOT MORE ACCEPTANCE.
SO I THINK A LOT OF THESE CONCERNS THAT ARE COMING, THEY WILL BE WORKED OUT IN FUTURE GENERATIONS.
>> CONGRESSWOMAN, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS?
>> WHAT INTERESTED ME WAS THE COVER FEATURED THREE BLOCKS AND THREE WOMEN.
THAT CONFLUENCE TELLS ME THAT THIS IS MORE THAN MAGAZINES.
THEY LOOK AT TWO GROUPS THAT LOOK FOR THEMSELVES AND WOMEN WHO ARE NOT FEATURED ENOUGH AND CERTAINLY BLACKS ARE NOT AND THEY COME TOGETHER ON A COVER OF A MAGAZINE AT A TIME WHERE BLACK LIVES MATTER IS IN AND BLACK IS IN.
SO I THINK IT IS A COMMERCIAL MOVE AND A MOVE THAT LOOKS TO WHERE THE CULTURE IS IN OUR COUNTRY.
>> ALRIGHT.
OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT DISCUSSION.
PLEASE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH US BY FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER, ON FACEBOOK, AND ON OUR PBS WEBSITE, WHICH IS PBS .ORG/ TWO-,-THE CONTRARY.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.
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