Chris Crain discusses “trans-jacking” in a great editorial at sovo.com.

WHEN THE U.S. House passed hate crimes legislation last month that included “gender identity” as well as “sexual orientation” as protected categories, transgender rights activists were understandably thrilled. It was, after all, the first time that trans rights had passed either house of Congress.

But they couldn’t resist a little gloating as well. Mara Keisling, of the National Center for Transgender Equality, told this publication that the vote proved trans activists were justified in demanding inclusion of “gender identity” on other federal gay rights legislation because it didn’t hurt chances of passage.

“It shows unequivocally that those who thought Congress couldn’t pass a trans-inclusive bill were just wrong,” Keisling said. “I don’t know of a single vote we lost because [the hate crime measure] was trans-inclusive.”

While the Sept. 14 vote was the first time the U.S. House passed a gay and trans-inclusive hate crime bill, it wasn’t the first time House members had voted on such a measure.

A 40-vote margin in the House four years ago in favor of accepting gay-inclusive hate crimes legislation passed by the Senate had shrunk to just 24 votes last month for the gay and trans-inclusive bill. And the number of “no” votes this time around was 13 votes higher than just last year when, in June, the House again voted to accept a gay-inclusive bill passed by the Senate.

The numbers don’t lie.

THE BIGGER PICTURE is even more important. A number of us have criticized transgender rights activists for “trans-jacking” federal gay rights legislation by not only demanding inclusion of “gender identity” but also insisting that gay rights groups oppose even gay-inclusive legislation that failed to include trans protections.

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