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San Jose council member granted restraining order against transphobic Instagramer (www.advocate.com)

submitted 10 months ago by tree@lemmy.zip to c/usa@lemmy.ml

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An elected official in California has been temporarily shielded from attacks by a right-wing extremist. San Jose City Councilmember Peter Ortiz recently obtained a restraining order against Robert Saenz, the owner of a popular Instagram page called “ESSJ Times.”

The action comes in response to Saenz’s posts on the social media platform, which Ortiz says have put him and his girlfriend in danger and has incited hateful messaging toward the LGBTQ+ community, The Mercury Newsreports.

The “ESSJ Times” Instagram account, with more than 66,000 followers, features content about crime and public safety in San Jose. Recently, Saenz began to obsessively post transphobic content, including controversial material regarding medical treatment for transgender children. He used the term “groomer” in these posts, a term that falsely associates legitimate medical care for transgender youth with child abuse and fosters violence against the LGBTQ+ community. The account also spread propaganda from the extremist group Gays Against Groomers.

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[+] aelwero@lemmy.world -16 points 10 months ago (4 children)

Do I understand this correctly, that a court order states that one party can't post on their own social media about some other party, because a random third party might see the post and do the stupid?

A judge actually blessed off on this?

There's more to this, right?

[–] Cogency@lemmy.world 18 points 10 months ago (2 children)

For those in the back, a right to free speech does not include the right to incite others to acts of terrorism.

This government official and his partner are being harassed because he supports the rights of trans individuals to make a private medical decision.

[–] SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Could you imagine saying you live in the land of the free and meaning that the government gets to decide who you love and what medical procedures you’re allowed to have?

[–] Cogency@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

It's the world they want and are actively marching towards. Restrictions/criminalization of everyone not cis, white, male, "christian", and heterosexual.

On a note about the city counselor, it's hard to see someone get demonized and terrorized because they support equal rights for all. And to go after his partner is just sick. My empathy and thanks to him for fighting with us. I swear the witch hunt of trans people hurts just as many cis people like this as it does us.

[–] feedum_sneedson@lemmy.world 0 points 10 months ago

The back of where?

[–] mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 5 points 10 months ago

Bigoted libel has consequences? The devil you say!

[–] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 2 points 10 months ago

When speech causes harm there can be limitations imposed. Harassment isn't "just saying stuff".

[–] spaphy@lemmy.ml 1 points 10 months ago

Mmm I think the expectation is set so that this guy basically can't stalk the official. Which is sort of fucked because that's a government official: you're being judged on the merits of your time spent in public office.

I get what you're saying though. I think if it was journalism it would be viewed differently.