Even in my darkest moments in 2016, I didn't picture myself in 2020 casually telling Matt that I'm making dinner from our pandemic rations because I forgot to get groceries before the police curfew.
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Ryan Thoreson
@ryanthoreson
Assistant professor at , working on human rights, con law, torts, and sexual justice. 
Ryan Thoreson’s Tweets
Because #Florida officials are once again spreading misinformation about the #DontSayGay bill, I want to once again lay out what it does and doesn't actually say. (You can see the text and history of the legislation for yourself here: flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2.)
Can't wait for the student loan forgiveness opinion where the majority chides the rest of America for getting tuition assistance.
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Harlan Crow paid the tuition of Justice Clarence Thomas's grandnephew the entire time he was a student at a private boarding school, a former administrator tells ProPublica. Thomas didn't report the payments on his annual financial disclosures.
propublica.org/article/claren
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First of all, K-3 students are not learning sex ed in Florida schools. They are occasionally learning that some kids have two dads or two moms, though, and that's what's setting off conservative supporters of the bill.
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I'm logging off to go hang out with this nugget but thanks for all the well wishes - it means a lot and excited for Ellie to start meeting our friends and family!
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I'll stop there, but there are very good reasons to oppose #DontSayGay. We know why bills like this are introduced in the absence of actual problems, and it's telling that proponents resisted every effort to make classrooms more inclusive and keep LGBT kids safe.
I’m increasingly convinced that the only way to save American democracy is to Freaky Friday every lawmaker with one of their constituents.
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Conservatives call it a sex ed bill but it doesn't actually address instruction on sexual activity. It prohibits instruction on *sexual orientation and gender identity,* singling out some families and kids as off-limits for school discussion.
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You can see the actual intent in the refusal to amend and fix the bill. Rep. Carlos Smith (D) in fact proposed an amendment that would prohibit discussion of sexual activity, rather than sexual orientation or gender identity. It failed.
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No opponent of the bill sought to expand sex ed to K-3 students - they sought to ensure that LGBT people and families could still be discussed and not erased, and for some reason they were voted down by the conservative majority every time.
I'm sad to announce I’m back on the law teaching market. As some of you know, I accepted an offer last year to teach human rights law at the University of Hong Kong, and recently found out my visa was denied.
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Sen. Lauren Book (D) proposed an amendment to clarify that discussing same-sex families, history, bullying, questions asked by students, etc. would be permitted. It failed.
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In fact, opponents of the bill *tried* to amend it so it would instead prohibit discussions of sexual activity in K-3 grades, and for some reason that nobody can explain to me, the proponents of the bill voted that down.
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Look, we'll manage. If you're able, please support these Black-led #LGBTQ organizations, with credit to & for pulling this together:
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Why am I skeptical that LGBT kids would get the info they need? Because Florida sex ed law *already* stacks the deck against LGBT kids, requiring instructors in HIV/AIDS education to specifically encourage heterosexual marriage.
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Sen. Randolph Bracy (D) and Rep. Woodson (D) proposed amendments to clarify that conversations among LGBT students would be permitted. Those amendments were rejected.
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Sen. Tina Polsky (D) proposed an amendment clarifying that sexual orientation and gender identity include heterosexuality and cisgender identity – that was rejected.
"We march for kids who are bullied in schools. We march for those who can't." - Sen. #Pride2017 #HereTogether
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A second misconception is that this is just about K-3 grades; the bill also prohibits those discussions in older grades if the state deems those conversations not "age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."
I think it's wild that people claim they didn't learn about sexual orientation or gender identity as a young kid. I promise you did - you just learned very particular ideas of what boys and girls should like and do and what families look like.
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Sen. Jeff Brandes (R) proposed an amendment to make it about human sexuality more broadly. It failed.
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You can see in that provision that Florida sex ed law *already* requires that instruction must be "appropriate for the grade and age of the student." The only point of this additional legislation is to prevent discussions of LGBT people and families.
My advice to 1Ls is to invest in good Tupperware because you can live like scavenger kings for the next three years if you do this right.
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(Relatedly, Sen. Gary Farmer (D) offered an amendment to make this part of Florida sex ed law inclusive of all marriages - LGBT people have a constitutional right to marry, after all - but, as you might have guessed, proponents of the bill shot that down.)
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Sen. Janet Cruz (D) and Rep. Kristen Arrington proposed amendments for schools to provide a safe environment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability – those were rejected.
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I think most people recognize the complexity of this - ideally parents are supportive and involved, but the reality is that confidential resources and support in schools are critically important for kids, including some LGBT kids, who may have difficult home lives.
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Again, opponents of the bill sought to address these concerns but were met with resistance. Rep. Angie Nixon (D) proposed an amendment to ensure students were not outed without their consent – that was rejected.
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And as important as the abuse, abandonment, and neglect provision is, the fact is that teachers may not know students' lives well enough to know what kind of backlash or violence they're going to face if they're outed without their consent.
While support from the Biden administration is important, #LGBT people across the US still need clear, durable protection under federal civil rights laws. Here's my latest in urging Congress to enact the #EqualityAct. thehill.com/opinion/civil-
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Ellie was born in early February and we brought her home shortly after, but we wanted to hold off sharing anything publicly until everything was finalized this week. We've wanted this for a long time and all the waiting was worth it the instant we met her.
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Third, the bill requires parental consent to health care services and parental notification of changes to student health and well being, unless there's concern about abuse, abandonment or neglect. There's misunderstanding around this provision too.
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If you ask me, Ellie is named for strong, independent Eleanors (Roosevelt, Holmes-Norton, of Aquitaine, etc.) and if you ask Matthew, she's named for Ellie from the Last of Us, which is his favorite video game. (I hope she asks me, but I like that she contains multitudes.)
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Separately, I couldn’t ask for a better partner in this than , who has made late-night Target runs and cross country road trips and anxious parenting a total blast. I love you and I look forward to sleeping at the same time again someday.
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At one month and change, Ellie's favorite activities include punching ghosts, wearing pants, and taking baths, presumably because she's an Aquarius. She's perfect and we could not love her more fiercely.
This is huge - reading sex discrimination provisions to cover discrimination against LGBT people is the logical outcome of the Bostock decision, but one the Trump administration resisted. Today's EO affirms federal protections for LGBT people in housing, healthcare, and more.
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Confirmed: Biden has signed executive order implementing SCOTUS decision in Bostock v. Clayton County against anti-LGBTQ discrimination in all federal agencies.
"The Pope’s remarks may not immediately translate into stronger protections for LGBT people, but they offer a powerful reminder that LGBT families deserve respect and recognition at a time when that fact is too often ignored." hrw.org/news/2020/10/2
Every student deserves an education free from discrimination, & every school should take steps now to make that a reality. #StandWithGavin
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Replying to @chrisgeidner
BREAKING: #SCOTUS sends Gloucester v. GG back to appeals court, so it can reconsider trans student's case in light of admin's policy change.
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Working class students shouldn’t take out debt they can’t afford, they should get on the Supreme Court and get gifts from billionaires / suddenly sell land / have their debts mysteriously vanish / have their spouses suddenly become wealthy.
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Replying to @chasestrangio
Oklahoma's new bill would make it a felony to provide any gender-affirming care to trans people under 21! Including any care to alleviate distress associated with gender dysphoria. It is beyond cruel & dangerous. webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22
We bought a house! It has a lot of personality and will absolutely be more high maintenance than expected, but Matthew is probably used to that at this point.
This is in one of the bluest states in the country - LGBTQ people are under attack everywhere in the US, and it’s going to take real energy and work to protect our rights. twitter.com/drydenbks/stat
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As lawsuits pour in over the #TransBan, worth remembering that Congress can (and should) stop it from taking effect.
The Pope endorsed civil unions - and while it stops short of marriage equality, this is a big affirmation of legal rights for same-sex couples that will reverberate around the world.
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BREAKING: Pope Francis endorses same-sex civil unions for the first time as pope while being interviewed for the feature-length documentary “Francesco.” “Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God,” Francis said. apne.ws/N8oNNCU
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I'm obviously disappointed by the decision, but grateful for the faculty's interest in my scholarship and teaching, and for the opportunity to work with some really wonderful students as I’ve been teaching remotely.
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The timing is tough, as I got word of the denial after most law schools have finished hiring for this fall. If anyone has leads, please pass them along – I was excited to dig into my first tenure-track job, and eager to get back to it. #lawtwitter
Congrats to #Ecuador, where it looks like marriage equality will soon be the law of the land. Between this, #Botswana, and positive steps in #Bhutan, this is turning out to be a banner #PrideMonth around the globe! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 twitter.com/RexWockner/sta
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We haven’t moved for 90 minutes and it’s becoming increasingly clear that I am not going to the gym tonight.
I aspire to have the same chaotic supportive energy as my mother, who just texted me this out of the blue.
If only there was some kind of critical theory, perhaps about race, that might help us better understand the relationship between racism and legal and political power.
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NEW: In upcoming book, Michael Cohen writes Donald Trump's disdain for Obama was so extreme he hired a "Faux-Bama" to participate in a video in which he "ritualistically belittled the first black president and then fired him." He includes this photo: cnn.com/2020/09/05/pol
The White House has just posted the text of today's #LGBT EO, ordering every agency to review its nondiscrimination protections and pledging to address intersectional discrimination: whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/
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Did I ever make a biglaw salary? No. Did I manage to consume six figures worth of free lukewarm food? Absolutely.
God, grant me the conviction of someone who thinks that Democrats masterfully stole the presidency but somehow forgot to steal the Senate.
It's official - I'm incredibly excited to share that I'll be joining the faculty as an assistant professor at this fall, and can't wait to work with such a wonderful community of scholars and students!
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We're thrilled to welcome scholars Ryan Thoreson and Kristie Bluett to our faculty this fall. Read more about them 
zcu.io/XALK
zcu.io/XALK"I'm here not because this could happen to me one day, but because it's happening to people now." #ProtectTransYouth #StandWithGavin
"For the first time in Lebanese history, electoral candidates are promoting gay rights... Nearly 100 candidates have publicly called for the decriminalization of homosexuality." cnn.com/2018/05/04/mid
BBC News - Same-sex marriage now legal in Northern Ireland bbc.com/news/uk-northe
Just turned in the keys to my office at , almost ten years to the day after moving here to start law school. Looking forward to a new chapter this fall!
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This is partially because lawmakers seem completely oblivious to the basic things people need - a path out of debt, a living wage, affordable healthcare, a clean environment - and partially because I think 538 random people would do a better job at this point.
With everything heavy in the world, my one *completely* uncomplicated job each week is catching Pokémon for my husband to give to one of his pediatric cancer patients.
In interviews for , queer youth across the US have told me is a lifesaver. explains why.
THIS. The first statewide gender identity protections were in Minnesota, first robust statewide sexual orientation protections were in Wisconsin, and Iowa had marriage before most of the coasts. It's neither accurate nor helpful to suggest the midwest is baffled by #LGBTQ rights.
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There is an elitist tendency among some to suggest they are fully in support of trans rights--but those yokels in flyover country will never be. This is not only demeaning to trans people; it's an entitled dismissal of the intelligence of anyone outside the Acela corridor. twitter.com/WalkerBragman/…
Marching with folks from and 2nd Ave is at a standstill. The crowd is so big the #WomensMarch can't move.
Very excited to announce that my piece on discriminalization and the carceral turn in global LGBT advocacy is forthcoming in volume 110 of , and really looking forward to working with the editors there on the piece! papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cf
BREAKING: The US Supreme Court just ruled that existing employment discrimination laws prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity - a major win for the human rights of #LGBT people and setback for the Trump administration. #PRIDE2020
I'm spending my #InaugurationDay prepping responses to anti-#trans bills in state legislatures. The fights were tough before Trump and they'll be tough after. But here are some signs for hope:
Psychologists in #Albania have prohibited anti-#LGBT #conversiontherapy, effectively banning the discredited, harmful practice. It's great news, and their colleagues elsewhere in Europe should similarly denounce the practice. My latest for :
Awful news out of Ghana, where terrible legislation is moving through parliament. twitter.com/RightifyGhana/
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Congratulations to all the activists & couples who've worked so hard to make this victory a reality!!
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BREAKING: Taiwan's Constitutional Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage. apne.ws/2qUGr1n
In the US, the House has once again passed the #EqualityAct - a bill that would expressly extend basic nondiscrimination protections to #LGBT people. Here's why the Senate should act to make it law: thehill.com/opinion/civil-
In advance of the #TransDayOfRemembrance, has just released a new report examining violence against transgender people in the United States as an urgent human rights concern. #TransAwarenessWeek
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I would be shocked if it gains traction. But lawmakers need to understand the toll that it takes when they file bill after bill, year after year, demonizing the LGBT residents in their state.
This is prejudice, not policymaking. Spurious concerns about cost & readiness aren't some free pass for blatant, blanket discrimination.
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Breaking News: Trump said that the U.S. will not "allow or accept" any transgender person to serve in the military nyti.ms/2uBFhaK
A framed photo of Brett Kavanaugh hangs outside my office at . I was wondering how long this would take. #thekidsarealright
I’m leaving NYC after seven years and couldn’t think of bucket list things I wanted to do so I panicked and went to the M&M Store in Times Square.
"The twentieth anniversary of the September 11 attacks is a moment both to remember the victims and to reassess the profoundly misguided aspects of the US government response."
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9/11 Unleashed a Global Storm of Human Rights Abuses | Victims of Attacks Still Await Justice trib.al/OCeAJp1 #September11th
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I’m blocking the (tiny) number of people who are being hostile, but we’re very grateful to Ellie’s birth mother for making an adoption plan and thrilled to be her dads, and anything beyond that is Ellie’s story and not something we owe to strangers on the internet.
She was very well behaved but I'm not going to make a habit of bringing a baby with me every time I lecture on Roe and Casey.
Scotland's biggest teachers' union votes for #LGBT issues to be included in school curricula & teacher training. 🌈 scotsman.com/news/education
Rallying for #trans youth at #Stonewall with - we're in this fight for the long haul #ProtectTransKids #StandWithGavin
The imminent caning of two women for engaging in same-sex intimacy shows why it is so urgent for #Malaysia's new government to "seek to abolish all laws against same-sex conduct and end the cruel practice of caning once and for all.” hrw.org/news/2018/08/2
It's out! I'm excited to share my new article in grappling with the use of carceral penalties to punish anti-LGBT discrimination around the globe. californialawreview.org/print/discrimi
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And I realize it sounds naive, but seriously, where does this vicious animus in the legislature come from? I grew up in the Dakotas and have family all over them, and it feels so deeply out of touch with where actual citizens are at on these issues.
The recommendations from Sweden, Finland, the UK, and France all allow for puberty blockers in some instances, and none of those countries discourage social transition. The conclusions, even in those cherry-picked countries, don’t support Florida’s stance.
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Replying to @LibbySkarin
HB 1225 fails to receive enough votes to pass. It’s dead. #sdleg
The performance at tonight's #Oscars was powerful and important - watch The Hunting Ground and visit itsonus.org.
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Somebody should probably start a registry for Fiona Hill.
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My great honor!!! twitter.com/LogCabinGOP/st…
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For once, I wish we'd see lawmakers in #sdleg propose a bill to prohibit bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, or ban conversion therapy, or expand access to confidential counseling - something that actually benefits kids in the state.