Trans Issues, Political Orientation and Solidarity

[mimpi]

Since coming to this forum, which is the first US based one I've ever participated in, one thing has struck me in particular and that is how different US society and views appears to be from what we are used to here in Europe. However far right our governments may be here even they would hesitate to come out with some of the opinions voiced by the Tea Party and its ilk. Such views here remain confined to those of non mainstream neo fascist parties this side of the ocean. Anyway, after taking some time to get over the culture shock something has been nagging at my mind and it's this:

As Trans people (used as a catch all definition to merely save time), we have been, and in many cases still are, subjected to transphobia, injustice, discrimination, hate crime, prejudice and so on. Some of us who who previously identified as Gay or Lesbian, and even some of us who did not, have been subjected to homophobia however extreme that may have been. Others of us have suffered due to prejudice/discrimination based on our ethnic origin, social class, religious belief/dress and of course our actual gender in the case we happened to be born female.

So in light of this the question remains why do some of us back those who have hurt and harmed and us and appear happy for the status quo to be maintained? Rationally it would be expected that as past victims of persecution if they were not to stay to continue the struggle they would at least show great sympathy for the cause of the victims of prejudice. This site has various categories that we all know: MTF, FTM, post-op, pre-op, non-op, Androgyne, Transgender, Transexual and more that have passed my mind right now... Of course there are always exceptions to anything, but one thing jumps out of the page to me, and that is how some of those categories above tend to be politically more to the left and others to the right. For obvious reasons I won't define how this match up appears to me as that will without doubt cause issues. However it just seems rather sad when there could and should be more solidarity amongst us all. To misuse a well known phrase: Trans people of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains.

[gennee]

Mimpi, I agree wholeheartedly that there should be solidarity of us all. I'm a trasngender MTF am part of the pie. I support causes of the LGBT community as a whole because we are lumped up into one group and suffer the same oppression.

[Michelle.]

I suggest you read Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg.

Being trans or any part of LGBT Dosent shouldn't require embracing neo-Marxist policies.

Now Libertarianism, that's a different matter and also a significant part of the "Tea Party."

[mimpi]

Thanks Gennee

Frankly I'm bored and fed up with the whole segregation of the struggle into various groups. The bottom line is that the issues now in play regard society as a whole and it feels inappropriate to concentrate on Trans issues. Same goes for LGBT and all the other divisions that have been forced upon us. As we can see worldwide the issue has become the 99%. It's not being reported in the UK press but all hell broke loose in Rome today with extreme violence from both the Police and demonstrators.

I do not believe that Trans or LGBT rights are the solution. Society has a whole has to change and that can not be achieved by picking away at the base of the pyramid. Of course freedom and liberty come at a price as both history and present day events show us. Some of us will not come out the other side but that has always been the case. As I type this I'm watching Italian TV (RAI3) showing the police firing tear gas canisters at head height into a crowd as they usually do. Take Alabama too and the horrendous immigration laws that are being enforced.

We should never be so naive as to believe that Fascism hasn't moved on from the days of Hitler and Mussolini. It's alive and well and facing us right now.

Edit: Have just come across this series of graphs which illustrate the issues the US is facing very clearly: http://www.businessinsider.com/what-wall-street-protesters-are-so-angry-about-2011-10?op=1

[mimpi]

I suggest you read Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg.

Being trans or any part of LGBT Dosent shouldn't require embracing neo-Marxist policies.

Now Libertarianism, that's a different matter and also a significant part of the "Tea Party."

Sorry to disappoint you but I'm a Marxist who happens to be Muslim too.

Mr Goldberg appears to be yet another right wing corporate shill.

Enjoy; http://www.amazon.com/this-worst-book-ever-written/forum/Fx3PF8OWTFNQIC2/Tx4QK2VVS7DJS4/1/ref=cm_cd_ef_rt_tft_tp

[Michelle.]

Well at least you admit your a commie.

[justmeinoz]

Australians are different again Mimpi.  The only people who would come anywhere near the Tea party on some issues are a few independent MPs. And even they are not right-wing on all issues, sometimes their policies are decidedly  Socialist too.  There would not be many in this country who would be comfortable as a member of the Tea Party.

We don't have any neo-Fascist parties that are worth taking notice of at the level of Parliamentary representation.  Our Preferential voting system and compulsory voting seems to be  an effective screen against any extremists.  The Communists disbanded years ago when they couldn't even raise a quorum for their meetings. It is possible that the large number of immigrants that Australia has taken in since WW2, many of whom escaped dictatorial regimes may have made us less susceptible to the lure of the simple answer to the complex question.

Both major parties, Labor and Liberal/National Party, are opposed to marriage equality at the Federal level, although the majority of people seem to be in favour.  The State Gov'ts have all come out in favour except for NSW so it will be interesting to see what happens before the next Federal Election, or even the next Federal Labor conference.

Karen.

[mimpi]

I won't mention Cricket or 'who is whinging now', I promise!

Yes, it's good to see that Pauline Hanson is out of the limelight and things are changing. Hopefully much will change in the next couple of years, insha'Allah

"Never let fear determine who you are, & never let where you come from determine where you are going."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCC_3MVYdBk&feature=related

Got to this from reports that he managed to win his first and last professional fight last night at the age of 52. Respect to the man.

[fionabell]

I couldn't understand anything in the OP so I disagree by default

[Michelle.]

^ROFLMFAO!!!!

Welcome to Susan's.

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

Before transition Labour and Greens...After Transition Labour and Greens, both here and when I lived in Aussie...Perhaps a little more so tree-hugging Green now...

The Labour political party used to have quite a number of gays politicians and one transsexual M2F politician 'Georgina Beyers', there's still a few gays but no longer a transsexual ...

The Greens have gay politicians and very trans-friendly, they used to have a dope smoking dreadlock Rasta politician sitting in Parliament who would stand up and before speaking before the house say "Jah Rastafari Every Living Ever Fearful Ever True !"
 
Metta Zenda

[Mahsa Tezani]

I'm not a liberal. I'm a Catholic and I support trans rights. It's only right...we all deserve equal rights and equal opportunities.

Sorry I don't agree with the masses when it comes to politics or religion. But my trans identity is a very very very small part of who I am.

[Mahsa Tezani]

Since coming to this forum, which is the first US based one I've ever participated in, one thing has struck me in particular and that is how different US society and views appears to be from what we are used to here in Europe. However far right our governments may be here even they would hesitate to come out with some of the opinions voiced by the Tea Party and its ilk. Such views here remain confined to those of non mainstream neo fascist parties this side of the ocean.

Nothing wrong with the Tea Party. They just think differently than you do. I guess that makes you right.

[Joelene9]

I'm not a liberal. I'm a Catholic and I support trans rights. It's only right...we all deserve equal rights and equal opportunities.

Sorry I don't agree with the masses when it comes to politics or religion. But my trans identity is a very very very small part of who I am.

Ditto.  Just another Methodist here, but I support trans rights though.  It is up to us to educate people that we are not of the types seen on Jerry Springer nor the types seen on east Colfax out here plying their trade with the other prostitutes.  A lot of people out here still see us as such. 
  Joelene

[Mahsa Tezani]

  Ditto.  Just another Methodist here, but I support trans rights though.  It is up to us to educate people that we are not of the types seen on Jerry Springer nor the types seen on east Colfax out here plying their trade with the other prostitutes.  A lot of people out here still see us as such. 
  Joelene

Really? I am a part time "female impersonator" and could easily be the stereotypical "trans" image when I am in "face" in behavior and stuff. I prefer that over the trans-masses of anime, cosplay, computer programmers, etc.

But I am not a sex object... I have high morals and won't have sex with just anyone. Those days of being a "sex object" stopped before I transitioned.

[fionabell]

^ROFLMFAO!!!!

Welcome to Susan's.

ha ha!! it's BS hey? It just gives us a bad name!

[fionabell]

But I am not a sex object...

:angel:I am lol. But i still agree with everything you said 

[Mahsa Tezani]

:angel:I am lol. But i still agree with everything you said 

I am too...but shhhhhh. Nevermind what I said earlier. 

[justmeinoz]

The Liberal Party  in Australia is a centre-right party Mahsa.  What you mean by "liberal"  is Labour or the Greens here.
Personally I will vote for the Sex Party from now on. Yes, it really does exist and apart from a general libertarian philosophy actually has some interesting policies.

Karen. Who was a Sex Object in High School.  If I mentioned sex the girls would object. 

[Mahsa Tezani]

The Liberal Party  in Australia is a centre-right party Mahsa.  What you mean by "liberal"  is Labour or the Greens here.
Personally I will vote for the Sex Party from now on. Yes, it really does exist and apart from a general libertarian philosophy actually has some interesting policies.

Karen. Who was a Sex Object in High School.  If I mentioned sex the girls would object. 

I voted republican. Not this time...Not gonna vote for the big nO either.