Josephine Zhao, a San Franciscan with a strong interest in public education (and landlord rights), decided to run for school board. She got great endorsements, such as Mayor London Breed, and state Senator Scott Weiner. SorryWatch thinks well of Zhao’s focus on making sure students can get algebra classes early enough to take calculus as high school seniors. We think poorly of her past focus on transgender students and bathroom choice. And we despise her focus on being all things to all voters.

Let us explain.

In 2013, Zhao spoke against AB 1266, a state law saying transgender students could participate in school events, or go out for sports teams in ways that match their gender identity. Also they could use the bathrooms that seem right to them.

There was a proposed referendum to overturn AB 1266. On a Cantonese radio show she co-hosted, Zhao said “This is evil legislation.” She added that degenerate officials “are relaxing their moral views. Therefore, they cannot represent our Chinese American ideals.”

Representing the Asian American Voters Organization (she’s a founder), Zhao said “…AB 1266 protects only 2% of those students who are transgender or questioning…, yet offends and violates the rights and privacies of the other 98% of students. Allowing male and female students to share bathrooms and showers will lead to public moral issues, violence, and even create conditions for more incidences of rape…”

This is nonsensical transphobia. Those rapes? ARE NOT A THING.

That didn’t keep Zhao from getting those 2018 endorsements. Then local publications like Mission Local and 48 Hills published translations of some of her Chinese-language remarks. Zhao said they were being taken out of context. It was about preventing bullying in the bathrooms! (No mention of rape.)

The Harvey Milk Democratic Club was among groups and individuals who denounced Zhao’s remarks. (Not even getting into her landlord-rights activism.) “We… have zero tolerance for transphobia, especially from elected officials who espouse transphobic policies or show a real ignorance in the way they make statements that affect the LGBTQ community… We can’t afford them a free pass,” according to co-president Honey Mahogany.

Zhao [issued apologies]. She said she was misinformed.

I was a recent citizen then. I became a citizen in 2011; the incident took place in 2013. Someone took me to a press conference. I only knew one person there. I apologize I got sucked into it.

And:

I was wrong to oppose the [policy]. I have no intention to hurt the transgender community, but my action did, and I apologize for the action.

Flimsy excuses, feeble apology. Despite her portrayal of herself as tottering down a gangplank, being dragged to a press conference, and being shoved onto a podium, Zhao had been living in the US for thirty years, had earned two college degrees here, and was already a political activist.

She has nothing to say about how her action might harm anyone.

Then, some light was thrown on the lousiness of her apology. She sent this cheery message in Cantonese to supporters on WeChat: “I am happy to feel that momentum is building. After the Cow Demons and Snake Spirits at Harvey Milk Dem Club’s smear and attack, I am even more well-known. Today I received the endorsement of the United Democratic Club. This club is the biggest and developing the fastest in San Francisco, 5-6 times of the size of the Cow Demons and Snake Spirits Club…. I have confidence; let’s work hard together and sprint forward.”

Maybe you nod your head wisely at mention of Cow Demons and Snake Spirits. Maybe you jump up and start dancing. Or maybe you ask what that’s about. Short version: A Tang Dynasty poet coined the phrase. Mao Tse-Tung took it up in the 1960s to vilify class enemies and reactionaries. It was used during the Cultural Revolution to describe anyone politically despicable. Particularly intellectuals, traitors, capitalist roaders, and… landlords. (Does Zhao know that part?)

Anyway, when someone calls you Cow Demons and Snake Spirits, it’s not friendly. They are not suggesting you are allies in the fight to protect transgender youth from bullying.

Worse, Zhao is craftily giving different messages to different audiences. On WeChat she differentiated between internal and “external folks” and said “My principles remain in my heart,” she wrote. “I only apologized for the misunderstanding of their legislation, and am not supporting gender-neutral bathrooms.”

As one of her supporters wrote on WeChat, “Body is in Cho’s tent, but heart is with Han.” No wonder her apology was so feeble. Not apologizing for what she actually said WAS HER PLAN.

To rephrase Zhao’s WeChat comments about her so-called principles: ‘I successfully lied to English-speakers and it’s working out great!’

Nifty trick, as long as people don’t actually find out about it. Which they did, thanks to local journalism. Zhao has now dropped out of the school board race.

She is, however, still on the ballot. As the candidate who has raised the most money in this race, she has considerable name recognition. Her signs are still up all over town. She may still be elected. Which raises the possibility of comparing acceptance speeches she makes in different languages.

(Confidential to the Zhao supporter who wrote “Body is in Cho’s tent, but heart is with Han.” It’s risky to think, “Oh, she lies to them, but she tells us the truth.” Maybe. Maybe she’ll lie to you too if it’s convenient. In any case, it is dishonest.)

(UPDATE: Zhao remained on the ballot but did not win a slot on the school board, getting only 3% of the vote. Never underestimate a Cow Demon.)