Texas Agency Spammed by ‘Bee Movie’ Scripts, Gay Porn Over Anti-Trans Policies
Oh noooooooo. In a devastating turn of events, LGBTQIA+ advocates have begun email-spamming the state with links to sex toys, porn, and the entire script from the cult-classic absurd animated film “Bee Movie” over a new anti-trans policy, which banned Texans from changing the sex listed on their driver’s licenses, according to KUT.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to make the change, one of several moves he — and the state at large — have made targeting transgender Texans in recent weeks. KUT’s Lauren McGaughy broke both stories — about the policy change, and then the subsequent backlash. The old policy allowed the change if someone had an original certified court order or an amended birth certificate. Even with a court order, Paxton’s new rule prohibits such changes. And Paxton has asked the state agency to create an internal email address just to keep track of anyone who even requests them. It’s now impossible for transgender Texans to get their licenses to match their gender identity, even in cases where that barrier is both absurd and counter to conservative narratives, like the case covered by Texas Monthly and aptly headlined: “He Was Born Male. He Identifies as Male. Ken Paxton Is Ensuring His Driver’s License Says He’s Female.”
Now, that account is receiving emails like one with the subject line: “All Cowboys Are Gay.” (If only.) To be absolutely and completely clear, The Barbed Wire does not encourage or condone email-spamming the state government at DLCourtorders@dps.texas.gov with hilarious, pointed jokes about queer cowboys. Again, The Barbed Wire does not endorse sending anything to that address.
McGaughy had been looking into the changes and requested copies of all messages sent to the new internal email created for tracking purposes. McGaughy found only one email about a request for a driver’s license sex change. The rest were from people criticizing the new policy, but most were angry emails from constituents and spam — like six copies of the script for “Bee Movie,” starring Jerry Seinfeld. According to the email records, DPS has also received emails from PETA’s newsletter; the Krazy Coupon Lady; QueerMeNow; a gay porn blog; and Lovehoney, a British sex toy business.
A spokesperson from Equality Texas, an LGBTQIA+ rights group, told McGaughy they knew about the spam efforts but did not direct anyone to start them.
“The Texas LGBTQIA+ community was scared and angry,” Johnathan Gooch, of Equality Texas told KUT. “Spamming the (Department of Public Safety) email seems like a natural extension of the frustration that the whole community is experiencing.”
Read more at KUT.
