i came across an article on salon How did the T get in LGBT? and read through the usual unlikely bedfellows arguments. what particularly struck me was panther58’s comment in the letters.
I mean, you might be able to convince a married, straight conservative that a gay man can feel the same thing for another man that a straight feels for his wife. It’s a much harder sell, though, to convince a straight person that some guys will only feel whole after their penis has been lopped off.
here is a perfect showcase for misunderstanding. the stereotypical transgender narrative, created by patriarchal medicine, used to further push us into a corner. in the minds of “married, straight conservatives”, transgender people are simply men who will only feel whole after lopping off their penis.
never mind that transgender people include those assigned female at birth, as well as those assigned male at birth. never mind that a huge majority of transgender people never have their “penis lopped off”. never mind that most transgender people i know date members of the sex opposite to the one they were assigned at birth, rendering them gay after they transition.
don’t confuse them with the facts. it’s much easier to hate someone whose entire existence is defined by their need to cut off their penis.
i don’t believe panther58’s opinion is unique to the straight community. walt baby love, who posted on joe.my.god’s post about donna rose’s resignation from the hrc, says:
I always thought of transsexuals as gays who were so self loathing they were willing to mutilate themselves rather than be labeled gay.
Just being honest about what I think.
thanks for your honesty, walt. at least we know how horribly wrong the narrative forced upon us has manifested in the minds and souls of our fellow human beings. that same narrative trans people are forced to use (or were in some cases, in which therapists and other medical providers finally got a clue) to obtain medical care.
so what can we do? i guess continue the fight. continue the education. continue protesting harmful stereotypes. and wait until these dinosaurs die off.
It is a sad day in GLBT America!
Although it is good to know where people really are in the spectrum of understanding within our own community, though at times it is dissappointing…
My opinion is we (GLBT) and our struggles are inter-connected in many way’s.
Gender expression and identity are an integral part of being gay, lesbian, bi, transgendered and straight for that matter.
My feeling is some people express a gender other than their own biological, or social dictate because that is who they really are, some just for fun, some for recreation, some for a turn on, and some for fundraising and sustenance.
If HRC had advocated like an advocacy group is intended to do rather than taking an arogant “We Dictate Policy” position I would still be a dues paying member. HRC was an advocacy group and it was arrogant for them to step into the position of compromise like they are an elected official.
Below is a copy of a letter the the editor I sent to the Advocate, Echo, and Washington Blade about
HRC’s “Stark Reality” Feel free to copy and post it anywhere you want…
Editor,
I am a gay male and longtime supporter of HRC.I have cancelled my HRC Partner Membership and I urge other’s to do the same.
My “Stark Reality” is that I cannot afford to support an organization that isn’t willing to stand up for the all inclusive ideal of equality.
Saying that HRC will only support ENDA with “Gender Identity” inclusive language, but won’t stand for the ideal by urging the defeat of the non inclusive legislation is unacceptable.
Politicians can be slimy and sell people out for political reason’s and they do it all the time, it’s a shame, but it is another “Stark Reality”.
HRC is behaving like an elected politician, with all of her/his arrogance. Since HRC won’t be on my ballot next year I can only vote against it by withdrawing my
support and terminating my membership.
A civil/human rights advocacy organization should stand for the ideal purpose it purports to advocate on behalf of.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” hasn’t been helpful to us and neither will ENDA without “Gender Identity”.
Sincerely,
D.John Martin Jr.
Comment by John — October 12, 2007 @ 2:37 am
great letter john, thanks for sharing it! and you’re right, these days we expect politicians to flip-flop back and forth in their support for the issue of the day. but when it comes to an organization that claims to be “working for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equal rights”, i don’t think it’s acceptable to throw anyone “under the bus”, as the saying goes.
Comment by nexy — October 12, 2007 @ 9:47 am
I was disgusted but not surprised by John Aravosis’s stance. More upsetting was the letters and the ignorance.
Ignorance of trans issues is no excuse. I’m pretty ignorant myself, but the way I deal with that is to shut up, listen and read, and respect the narratives of actual transpersons. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, is it?
Comment by kactus — October 14, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
i think that applies to every minority group of which one is not a part. i try to do the same. in my mind, those are words to live by. thanks for your comment, kactus
Comment by nexy — October 14, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
Oh did you see Susan Stryker’s response to this in Salon?
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/10/11/transgender/
Comment by queen emily — October 16, 2007 @ 4:23 am
that was great! thanks for the link.
Comment by nexy — October 16, 2007 @ 10:51 am
My friend didn’t have her penis cut off, it was inverted.
Comment by Stacey — October 18, 2007 @ 11:30 am
exactly stacey, the same was done to mine. see, for these people, it’s all about the almighty penis. for the transwomen who opt for grs, it’s all about having a vagina. i have nothing against the penis - some of my best friends have them.
Comment by nexy — October 18, 2007 @ 12:00 pm