anyone that lives in michigan, PLEASE call your reps to oppose bill 4938
all information comes from this post, i am sharing this information in more tags to spread the word
if you dont live in michigan its very important that you reblog this because of how dangerous this bill is and the possibility that it could spread outside of michigan and even outside of the united states
This bill would prohibit:
The depiction of sexual acts in any manner, including written and of fictional characters
The "depiction, description, or simulation, whether real, animated, digitally generated, written, or auditory, that includes a disconnection between biology and gender by an individual of biological sex imitating, depicting, or representing himself or herself to be of the other biological sex by means of a combination of attire, cosmetology, or prosthetics, or as having a reproductive nature contrary to the individual's biological sex." Meaning any representation of Trans people or GNC people.
"The promotion or sale of circumvention tools to access prohibited material" meaning VPNs.
If you live in Michigan, here is what you can do:
Contact your STATE LEGISLATORS. This means your representatives in the Michigan House and Michigan Senate. These are the individuals with direct power over this bill, NOT your representatives to the national House and Senate.
Here is a website that will help you locate your representatives. It will also provide you with their contact information.
It is PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT that you contact your House Representatives if they are Josh Schriver (District 66, covering parts of Oakland, Washington, Addison, Oxford); Joseph Pavlov (District 64, Tappan, West Tappan, Wadham, Kimball, Atkins, Lakeport, Lexington Heights and surrounding); Matt Maddock (District 51, incl W Highland, Milford, parts of White Lake, parts of Commerce, and surrounding); James DeSana (District 29, incl Flat Rock, Berlin, Huron, Ash, parts of Frenchtown, the area outside of Monroe); Joseph Fox (District 101, incl parts of Cadillac, Fremont, Big Rapids, Big Prairie, Croton, Lilley, Colfax, Baldwin, Sauble, Mesick); Jennifer Wortz (District 35, incl Coldwater, Hillsdale, Algansee, Cambria, Jonesville, Matteson, Bronson and surrounding). These are the bill's sponsors.
It is also important that if you live in their districts you contact Sarah Lightner (District 45), Brian BeGole (Dist 71), Tyrone Carter (Dist 1), Douglas Wozniak (Dist 59), Mike Harris (Dist 52), Jay DeBoyer (Dist 63), Gina Johnson (Dist 78), Bill Schuette (Dist 95), Kara Hope (Dist 74), Kelly Breen (Dist 21), and Helena Scott (Dist 8), who are the members of the Michigan State House Judiciary Committee, which is where the bill has been referred. The bill must make it out of the committee before it can be voted on on the floor.
It is possible that the Republicans in particular will not listen to you, HOWEVER you can make their lives hell over this bill. You can make this bill and others like it VERY undesirable to sponsor in future by calling, emailing, faxing, and sending physical letters.
Resources for contacting your legislators: 5 calls, ResistBot
It is also likely that the local Democratic Party offices will organize against this bill. You can build coalition with them (or any parties/organizations left of them) and move to defeat the bill. It is likely that LGBTQ organizations will also organize to resist the bill, possibly building coalition with ISPs and VPN providers, whose business would be seriously impacted by the passage of the bill. You may also look out for information from the Attorney General of Michigan's office, as they would be forced to enact the prohibitions.
Hello, my name is [blank] and I am a constituent calling from [address, including zipcode]. My phone number is [blank].
I am reaching out today to request that [representative blank] vote NO to HB 4938, or the Anticorruption of Public Morals Act. This bill would be costly to enforce, and it would impede on the first amendment rights of every citizen in our wonderful state of Michigan. Please, protect the freedom of media and the freedom of speech that our country holds so dear.
Thank you for your time. Have a good day.
I am writing in today to ask that Representative [Rep Name] vote NO to HB 4938, the Anticorruption of Public Morals Act. This act would constitute a level of censorship that vastly oversteps what any democracy should be allowed to force upon its people. It would be incredibly costly to enforce, and it would infringe upon freedom of speech. Please, protect the freedom of speech of your constituents, and vote NO to HB 4938.
