Yes this topic can be charged. Snap, crackle, pop.
I think retransition makes some great points about both our shared history and shared success. Stonewall was us, strength in unity is tried and true and a huge percentage of trans people consider themselves lesbians, gay, queer or bisexual in orientation. It is amazing to me that transgender is now a household word. I sure wish it was in 1950-60 when I was a kid. We have come a long way and we did not do it alone.
Last night I was at the Q Center in Portland, Oregon and the sense of welcome, belonging, inclusion and safety is unparalleled for me in any other venue. The Q Center has opportunities for LGBTQ people to be themselves with groups that speak to any member of this rainbow. Thousands of people worked to realize the Q center. I have been an activist in the "gay rights" movement since 1975 but that did not stop people from dissing me because I was Bi. Yes people who have experienced discrimination and prejudice can still dish it out. We do have work to do to educate ourselves and our community. Yes I have experienced LGBs who think we drag (pun intended) them down and I have also worked with them to change the law and gain further protections for us. Does marriage equality impact you? Do restroom issues apply to everyone?
We have discussed how we feel about inclusion here, as Devlyn notes, and so much is vested in simple if really unhelpful labels. I am bisexual and transsexual but I do not like those terms as the emphasis is too often on the "sexual" vs intimate relationships, romance and love.
Many of us clearly see the need to change our cultures and communities to help remedy the tragic statistics that LearnedHand included in his initial post. What are we going to do about that? Affecting change is easier with supportive allies. Let's be the allies we all need.
