What are the issues that bother TG people?

[Jamie D]

OK big topic.

A few of you know me.

I've been asked to start a site for people in Australia and New Zealand to promote the issues that they face at a political and social levels. It has nothing to do with Susan's. It has no related issues. My commitments to Susan's remains at 100% in every way I contribute to the site.

But although I have specific questions for ANZ people, what are the world wide problems?

I'm not interested in the small problems here (yes I know your problem is major). The major ones. The concept problems. What will affect world political, medical, societal problems?

I'm thinking of the Gates Foundation model. All the money needed to solve the problem financially is available, can you identify the problem and give me a a few sentences about how you would solve it? And if you can, be serious although I am prone to humour on occasions. As you all know I'm not prone to hate in any form.

I will self Mod this thread.

I look forward to your thoughts.

Cindy

Gradualism.  You build consensus and trust by coming to agreements on small items and philosophies first, and building on that.

I learned in negotiations a long time ago, you do not box your "opponent" in.  A corned foe will fight ferociously.  Give them a way out, to "save face," even if that means you must temporarily compromise.  It is about working together and extending a hand in friendship.

[Cindy]

I've let this run and the responses, on both sites, have been interesting. Education, particularly in the need to let people know that we are no danger, no different, no threat to them comes through from many as a key target.
This is a concept that also came through in the LGB community in their drives for acceptance. They started promoting through literature and art etc of their normality.

We appear to be reluctant to do that.

Yes there are specific legal problems in treatment, particularly in rescuing minors with puberty blockers, same sex marriage, availability of medical services.

But in the USA that would seem a long way a way when basic toileting needs appear to be a problem. Where the lack of anti-discrimination law, or the inability to enforce them is still a burning issue, and there appears an ingrained 'belief' that discrimination against the 'different' is a right, regardless of the difference. There appears to be a need for general education that people are different to each other and that acceptance of differences is an important part of humanity, a thing to be not only accepted but to be welcomed.

That seems a long way off.

The other issue that seems to come through on a different level is fear.

"Yes! please someone do something but for god's sake never let me be identified as 'one of them'. Please someone do something but no I'm too busy to be involved."

Strangely this has also come from the professional area as well. 'Yes there needs to be change but I'm too busy to push it' is an non-stated attitude but one that appears to prevail.

Why?

Change is never accomplished without people discussing the need for it. It takes little risk to write a letter or an email to a newspaper of politician that discrimination is terrible and has to be addressed. But we appear to be reluctant to do so, and yet very many people have served in their country's armed forces to protect their country and people they love.

In another thread someone asked 'where are the leaders?' I think leaders appear when there is a need. At the moment the trans* community is too fragmented to be led. How do we change that?

So where next? How do we move forward?

[Lesley_Roberta]

Visibility

Often we think we are more than we is.

I know of plenty of issues important to plenty of people who simply don't realize their numbers are not nearly what they think they are.

In the case of TG, well in town, if I had to find another person that was TG, I would expect to be very frustrated finding anyone.

Hell I am not sure I could point out a working girl or a drug dealer. Some people just never see some things, that some of us think are so much more visible than they really might be.

I have a few friends that are always on about internet based issues such as ISPs and decent service. I often wonder if most of society is even aware the issues exist.

Most people go blindly through the day unable to see a lot of what is out there.