What is the most effective way to deal with adverse ideas about our community

[stephaniec]

Just curious if others have ideas about how to deal with views of prominent and non prominent people who have access to the media or open mic or Blogs etc. that propose Ideas counter to the well being of the transgender community as a whole. A nonviolent respectful approach to countering misinformation and derisive opinion. Maybe an organized media blitz on education about the transgender community . I'm sure there is quite a numerous number of LGBT organizations that could unite at some level and produce some sort of educational platform for wide spread education on what being transgender is all about. As long as we're moving forward with entertainment figures coming out , we should be able to encourage a wave education to counter uninformed views and assumptions.

[suzifrommd]

I'd favor the model used by the women's movement and the civil rights movement. Groups like the NAACP and NOW made sure their views got an airing.

[Ms Grace]

A nonviolent respectful approach to countering misinformation and derisive opinion.

At the moment though the knee jerk overreaction seems to be the model many trans activists and allies are using. Maybe it's the only way to get through to some people and shut them down - but a lot of time the problem is ignorance and immaturity rather than outright transphobia and hatred. Familiarisation, engagement and education is likely to make the most difference. Yelling abuse and death threats via the anonymity of social media has all the hallmarks of a village lynch mob about to kill Frankenstein's monster; it does us no service and - as evidenced by Greer's latest outing - rarely gives the offender any reason to change their thinking or attitude.