Cathy Brennan & Elizabeth Hungerford take their anti-trans hysteria to the UN

[Natasha]

Cathy Brennan & Elizabeth Hungerford take their anti-trans hysteria to the UN

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/19702/cathy-brennan-elizabeth-hungerford-take-their-antitrans-hysteria-to-the-un
8/5/11
Laurel Ramseyer

Brennan & Hungerford are alleging that laws protecting all our rights -- but in particular trans women's rights -- to use public bathrooms and locker rooms puts non-trans women at greater risk of predation by men.  It's "bathroom bill" rhetoric dressed up to look like feminism.

The problem for Brennan & Hungerford is that their allegations about the consequences of including gender identity in anti-discrimination laws are not only dehumanizing to trans people, they're based on intellectual dishonesty and the same fear mongering used by the radical religious-right.

Like Brennan & Hungerford, I am a lesbian born with a female brain and a female body.  (For a trans woman's take on the letter, read Mercedes Allen's post here.)  Unlike Brennan & Hungerford, I demand solid reasoning from anyone who would seek to deprive a fellow human being of basic civil and human rights.  So when I see members of my demographic jumping on the international stage, engaging in intellectual dishonesty while seeking to deprive others of their rights, I am compelled to call them out lest my silence be interpreted as tacit support.  It is not.

[spacial]

The page is no longer available. Also, a quick google couldn't find much about them either.

But think these two are chasing the wind here. Along with those idiots who tried to spread their American gun message. They have it completely wrong. We've had mixed toilets here for years.

[Lisbeth]

This might help. http://www.bilerico.com/2011/08/less_than_woman_less_than_human.php

"In their paper, Cathy Brennan and Elizabeth Hungerford (who if they want to sign their names to this, I'm happy to give them ample credit for it) adamantly and explicitly oppose the extension of basic human rights to transsexuals, under the premise that providing rights protections under the classes of gender identity and gender expression 'erodes' womens' rights. Conveniently, Cathy Brennan and Elizabeth Hungerford waited until the deadline for submissions before making this public, so that transsexuals are not given an opportunity to respond, and once again have no voice at all in the question."

[Lisbeth]

"we recognize the legitimate needs of transgender and transsexual women to operate in the world free from irrational discrimination."

This wording suggests that they believe there is something like rational discrimination.

[sarahg]

Frankly, I think lesbians like these two people, if you want to call them people, are the most hypocritical, cynical, hateful variety of humanity that I have ever had the displeasure of being subjected to.  For me, I find most lesbians far too hateful and bigoted.  I prefer dykes, queers and everyone else.  I'm severely turned off by lesbians in general--and would never in a million years identify as one.  This society will always be plagued by bigots.  It seems that it is inherent in the culture...