 Hi, my name is Sandy Barrett and I'm here with Chris Aaron Felker who is the chair of the Republican Party here in Burlington There might be a two or three Republicans. Yes, ma'am. We've got a few and actually not on city council not on city council yet, but you know it takes time to rebuild parties up and build a real movement and in the last Year of my tenure as the chairman of the Burlington Party Republican Party We've increased our membership or active membership by at least 12% so far Terrific, I mean I think I think of the Republicans as all in the banks, you know They're all bank presidents and all that stuff So I would appreciate if we got some of that. We're running for office because in many ways There's very little balance on city council. It seems to me there is very little balance on city council and there are a lot of voices you'd like to be activist and and talk about Causes that are important to them But there are very few members of city council that actually represent the working class in and the working class interest We see current makeup of city council Well, they love to talk about their activism and their activities and how we could direct the city to be a more socially just movement They don't hesitate Time and time again every time a resolution or something comes across their desk that will Increase the cost of living in Burlington increase the taxes in Burlington I vote for it. They vote for it every time that without any reservation or any kind of objection to it They're like, I love this and that's the Democrats as well. You think yeah They're the more conservative actually part of our and there are usually you will hear a couple of a job an objection from at least one Democrat and an independent when it comes to any kind of Bond vote or a resolution that will result in increasing tax What about the high school? Oh, what's gonna happen? Wow, do you think well with high with school? Bonding votes they tend to win I know because it's one of those subjects that the electorate is just like well It's for the kids and you know, we all can agree. It's not we can't spend too much on our children's education But we can spend more than the taxpayers can afford exactly and this bond measure Which the mayor has already admitted exceeds the city's bonding capacity recommended capacity. Yeah. Yeah The mayor for over a year and a half spoke about how the city's bonding capacity was maxed out would be maxed at 150 And that's what the cap should be for the school But the district came forward with this proposal for a hundred and sixty five million dollars which exceeds 150 and They all voted for it Excitedly you couldn't you can go home and you could watch it on on CCTV Saying exactly to vote well, we don't need to go that we need to talk about other issues I think that people should vote their conscience on this just knowing that There is an embedded 15% property tax increase in this which will affect you if you own your home But it will impact renters in Berlin and more than it will homeowners because If you are a renter the person who owns that property is required to pay a hundred and twenty percent of the assessed value So your rents are gonna go up. So vote your conscience. I'm not gonna tell you what to do. Just vote your conscience, right? Okay. All right, so I will thank you very much All right, but I want to get back to something that you've been involved with lately and I was there I observed what happened at the demonstration for outright Vermont they had a fundraiser and a tractor pole and You were there and they were there and I was observing that scene and what I saw was Rather I Wasn't certain of what to think because it seemed to me that many that you guys had been blocked in your ability to speak and So anyway, you tell me what happened. Absolutely and and when we're getting started I just like to state that my activities and activism along Involved in that day were not representing. I was not representing the Burlington Republican Party as chairman I was representing a newfound organization that I founded with Historic gay rights activist Fred Sargent and that organization is the LGB Alliance BT And that's what I was there on behalf of that day. Okay, but wait a minute. Let's go back a little bit So there was outright Vermont which which I could observe seemed to be mainly young gay people Is that I don't believe they'd call themselves gay? I think that they're the groups that call themselves queer Especially since the Pride Center Vermont has now issued that the term gay is exclusionary Really, what's that all about? Well, there's been a schism between the many members of the lesbian gay and bisexual community and the transqueer and Really? Yes since 2015 Mayor Murrow Weinberger even admitted this back and I believe it was his September 21st morning meeting. He's he was very aware that since 2015 there's been a schism here Well, okay, so go back a bit So there's the what is this because I didn't know a thing about it So there's a schism in the outright movement There's a schism within the LGB community and the LGB for people who are lesbian gay and bisexuals And then the TQ is for trans and queer. Okay, and they have branched. They are now separate Is that well now they're together at outright and in and in Pride Center But one of the reasons for our activism and our motivation in creating this new organization is because we do not believe that those organizations accurately represent our interests or our policy objectives any longer, okay? There was a shift after the path after Oberfell and marriage equality where many of the historic gay organizations Pivoted their missions to Transitioning children wait a minute. Okay, so you're talking about the T Okay, so but you're also saying that there's a split between those I guess gay people who Divided on that issue. Is that correct? Many of us are divided on this issue You've heard for years of lesbians that That have been questioning gender critical lesbians lesbians that are unhappy with The advice that we're getting from our local gay charities telling us that we need to be more accommodating and accepting of individuals that aren't representative by our Sex-oriented fields that we are interested in uh-huh, but I still don't know what you mean by whom exactly Okay, so there there does seem to be some kind of a political Shift correct. Yes, ma'am. All right. And so what I observed was that shift is often to do And I've seen this by the way in the feminist community too with those who believe in transgender rights and those who Kind of question that which is that fair to say? I believe that that's a good accurate depiction of it we worry because with the With the onset or the rapid advancement of what is referred to as self-identification Where one does not have to actually medically transition to the opposite They just have to they just have to say it That many women and rightfully so Recognize that the ability for a male to just self-id as a female fundamentally risks all sex-based rights All right, so And that was playing out. I thought at the at this outright demonstration that you were at correct Yes, ma'am. We we showed up to stage of silent protest Primarily because I mean we have objections with many things that outright does in addition to what pride center does but safeguarding children should be paramount and outright Vermont in particular engages in Well, they support what's called the so-called affirmative care model of transitioning young children and that includes medically transitioning yeah These hormones with hormones with so-called puberty blockers both of these are being used off label They're being used in this in the city. Do you think oh, yes, they are okay. Yeah, we're a UV at where and well There's the UVM Gender clinic and there's also Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood is actually one of the largest medical Transitioners of people they don't do they don't they don't do the surgeries, but they'll do the puberty blockers the hormones They'll do your your account though really recommendation. Yeah. Yeah. All right, so that's the division then right It's about safeguarding children because truly No, the division is those who say they are safeguarding children by prescribing gender-affirming health care They say their self guard itself. They say they're guarding the children also correct. I Know they think that this is just You know they think it's healthcare they think it's healthcare, but it's not okay, and we just okay But let's go to only their views for the moment okay, so that's their view that this safeguards the health of children because I think the argument also is that children get very Suicidal is that one of the things that that argument says the Trevor project and other organizations have tried to track many suicidal statistics around they are self-reported and The truth is well suicidality is high among children who are minors who experience gender dysphoria But that suicidality does not decrease or diminish after medical. All right, okay But that is their argument correct. All right So the opposite view then so that's that argument and that argument has been pretty prevalent and allowed In the public sphere, right? Yes, especially here in the United States. There's been a lot more pushback internationally including in Finland Sweden France the United Kingdom all these nations have pulled back from the so-called Affirmative care model, but did they start? Yes, they did. That's where it originally came over here Okay, so and then when it came here that was the argument and then there are peers to be now a counter-argument Also a lot from gay people. Is that true? Yes. All right, so that day is the first day I saw that being played out so I kind of see this as kind of a free speech Question as well. Okay, so you have spoken out You know and what is your view in the first place? Well, my view after reviewing a lot of your new alliance to correct My view after reviewing a lot of the data and there are 11 studies that demonstrate that Many minors the majority of minors over 80 percent who are experiencing gender dysphoria and you that's really just yeah Yeah, they have gender incongruence and they're diagnosed as gender dysphoric by a doctor Over 80 percent of them 80 percent by the time that they reach the end of puberty Naturally desist becoming comfortable in their own bodies as either a butch lesbian or an effeminate gay man That's one of the reasons or a straight person person person period. Yeah, but yeah Comfortable in one's body. Love yourself. Don't cut yourselves kids The truth is many doctors and gays and lesbians in particular view that medically transitioning a child before they have reached adolescent development is a sense Transing the gay away and a new version of conversion therapy and We see it's harmful and it's one of the main reasons why we stand up to speak for safeguarding children against this horrible practice Okay. All right. So those are the two positions though, correct? Wouldn't you say I think that there are different gradations I mean anytime you bring a large groups of people together, especially groups that span the entire political spectrum You might find a couple of gradations, but this is primarily where we land. That's the argument right argument is safeguarding children stopping this Medical that's your argument. Yes the but there is an oppositional argument that says that gender affirming care is preserving kids, right Those are the all I'm saying. No, you're right. I mean they make that argument I believe it's completely fallacy, right? Okay, that but that's what I'm getting to all right So at this demonstration, which I was there at your invitation by the way And I'm happy that you did that because I got a chance to really see it being played out You guys were standing in back of the demonstration silently but with signs. Yes, ma'am And one of your signs I thought was it yours that said no one is born in the wrong body. That's one of the signs that I was holding No one is born and that is your belief as well. Absolutely They I'm not certain that the outright people had signs at all Did they well the outright people themselves didn't have signs But the there were they were tipped off that we were coming and so there were counter protesters to our protest And so they came with large signs and then more people came with signs and then flags and tried to Block our signage from being viewed which since we're here to talk about the first amendment I mean I I love the first amendment Everybody has the right to assemble and to protest and people can stand in front of me and protest if they want and try and hide And they did I saw that but they also swarmed all around us Yeah, and I think that that kind of gets into a little bit of a gray area where right I saw that that's what made me very curious because your signs seem so kind of correct in a way No one's born in the wrong body. What could be more dignified in a way, but I saw them trying to block you Okay, so let me get to that. All right. So what has happened to your? Position in the press or in wherever in the public space your position then is that if you're gonna preserve the health of kids You leave their bodies alone. Yes, and you let them you let those bodies Grow right of course. All right, so and we have a reason to believe this to I'm Yeah, there are I mean aside for removing gender from this equation just talking about the the development of the Adolescent brain. We've heard in recent years here in Vermont and in Montpelier. We've talked about how The adolescent mind isn't fully capable understanding the consequence of their actions So in the criminal system, we may move their cases of 22 year olds to back to family. I know I know not may They often are moved Way the adult options then they can't smoke either. Can they they can't not into well at 22 they can smoke but they can't Why would we say well 12 year olds certainly can can give provide informed consent to sterilization? That's well, let's let's talk about that a bit. So your argument. I guess supported by data is also that puberty blockers Cause permanent sterilization. Well, is that what the data shows? Okay, so there's a path that people begin on and you start with the off-label use of puberty blockers and Then there are no real good control group or studies on this So the people who start taking puberty blockers inevitably just go right on to cross sex cross sex hormones now importantly enough Lupron, which is the puberty blocker that they tend to prescribe that puberty blocker Totally forgot where I was going with this. Well, what does it do to the body? Oh, thank you The FDA just recently slapped a warning label on there are citing Brain swelling and harms to children. So Luprons now just got slapped with an FDA warning Okay, cross sex hormones. Well, let's just face it The female body isn't meant to be able to process that much testosterone and the male body is not meant to process that much Estrogen you have an increase in hormone-driven cancers Bone brittle brittle bones and yeah, so these are all dangerous the human the whole field of endocrinology is to bring the Patience endocrine system into balance not to throw it completely out of balance Which is it which is how to balance a puberty anyway, right? Don't you remember puberty is difficult for everybody? Even the most beautiful kids that you went to high school with had a difficult time and struggled with puberty Everybody does. Yes. It's not easy. I know I can remember. I remember. I remember. Yeah. Well, well at that age many women destroy their bodies by anorexia by bulimia, you know Which bring up a really important point because we talk about Anorexia and bulimia being a body dysmorphic disorder and we don't affirm the bulimic or the anorexic saying You're right. You shouldn't have eaten that your fat go throw up But that's how we treat gender dysphoric children. Well, that's okay. That is the right the opinion What I want to talk about is what has happened to your views of This controversy it appears to me that often the views that you're expressing have been censored If you criticize The so-called trans agenda often it seems to me in the public spaces in the media that gets Censored is that correct or not? Yes, it is. It sadly is correct And that's what I'm concerned about. I am a free speech nut Yeah, so I don't want that kind of censorship of any views Do you feel like that is the the prevalent view is I Even from the president is to support trans gender Issues and transgender rights and that has led to in your view is Has it led to the censorship of views like yours which are questioning the whole idea of puberty blockers and transitioning in kids Well, yes, and we actually can see evidence of that taking place within just this year I believe it was the AMA wrote to the Department of Justice Attorney General Merrick Garland and was requesting that any kind of information that runs incongruent to medically transitioning children be censored right okay jailed we that these people should be prosecuted people like Matt Wall should be Prosecuted that is I mean for somebody who's a First Amendment advocate like well, that's what I'm concerned about Sleazy is Okay, that's what that's what is really up-concerned to me That's what I think because I'm a free speech nut and I've observed this I saw it that day as well And that is of concern to me that anybody's views on such an important topic is censored is Against the First Amendment is against the US Constitution I want to talk about a case that I read about in Randolph too this whole idea that a male Can be in women's locker rooms in women's bathrooms And that they can compete in women's sports. I don't get it I mean and that again is I guess allowable by the president even correct and by Vermont law Unfortunately, there are real issues here when we talk about again self identification as males can identify as female That means that they have now access to women's locker room spaces And that happened in Randolph correct and that's what happened in Randolph But there's also in addition to them competing on these teams and taking potentially scholarship places from young girls There are genuine safety concerns here without a doubt the adolescent male body is Stronger stronger larger has more mass than a comparable age of female And if you're talking about certain kind of contact or semi-contact sports that could have serious Serious risks it interests me this so that girls going to become boys Don't play football with men. Oh, they don't know and they also know that they can still Even if they medically transition or have been identifying as male They can still go back and participate Oh, they can. Is that right? And that's that's here in Vermont too. Oh my okay, so Anyway, it seems to me that what well what happened to you have your views been censored Yes, and not only well, of course, I mean I expect the crowd wanted to try and censor me that yeah I wasn't but that was fair enough fair enough, right? I wasn't expecting nobody or anything Right, right. I mean we'll come back to that at some other point. There was somebody back me into a wall pretty hard and That circle of love they talked about wasn't they weren't singing kumbaya No, they were singing I noted that but um more alarming was the request for a meeting With Mayor Weinberger that was flat out refused and I was told by his chief of staff Jordan Rodell that she wouldn't legitimize somebody like me or a group like mine Let's talk about censorship. This is a non part the LGBT Alliance Vermont is part of a Is the local chapter of a both national and international organization of Nonpartisan L lesbians gays and bisexuals about people like the rest of us We can't be part of that. Well, you can you can be one of our allies, but this is a this is a very Designed well, maybe we could bring you on as our as our legal advocate Maybe but we we advocate for the rights of Lesbians and bisexuals in our country. All right, this is our niche We need to make sure if nobody else is going to be looking out for our rights clearly They aren't somebody needs to and we're happy to say and the mayor's we don't have much time left But the mayor refused to meet with you. Well, Jordan Rodell refused to allow the mayor to meet with me. Oh, well Okay, so let's keep pressing on him. Oh, yeah, you you betcha. Okay. I will too all right But anyway, so the point I want to advocate always is for free speech And so I'm happy that you came and talked about that issue today and good luck. Thanks very much. Thanks a lot