Why…

[Shana A]

Why...
dyssonance

http://www.dyssonance.com/?p=398

Why isn't there a decent Trans-centric news and info blog that has a wide readership similar to HuffPost and PHB and the like?

Why isn't there an awareness of transculture?

Why isn't there a social network for transfolk akin to myspace and facebook?

Why isn't there an elected transperson in Congress?

Why is there more stigma for being involved in sex work than there is for having a mental health diagnosis?

[NicholeW.]

*sigh* Sometimes I wish she were at Susan's. She's so incredibly brilliant that even her questions cut to the heart of the matter.

[Feever]

There is the LOGO channel, but that is mostly for LBGs, they tend to overlook the T.

I dont think there is much of a market for a Trans channel, but maybe a TNN (Transsexual News Network) website would be cool.

[lisagurl]

*sigh* Sometimes I wish she were at Susan's.

You can find her at http://www.tgboards.com/forums/index.php

Personally I wonder, Why we need a trans-culture? Can not all of society be mixed and respect each other as long as we all contribute and live harmoniously?

[NicholeW.]

You can find her at http://www.tgboards.com/forums/index.php

Personally I wonder, Why we need a trans-culture? Can not all of society be mixed and respect each other as long as we all contribute and live harmoniously?

I can "find" her by calling her. Or sending her an email.

I tend to agree with your point about a "trans-culture" and a way to make an inclusive culture.

[tekla]

Why isn't there a decent Trans-centric news and info blog that has a wide readership similar to HuffPost and PHB and the like?

Numbers for one thing.  Second, as so many people are in stelth, its hard to get anyone to identify as such and be out and proud about it. 

Why isn't there an awareness of transculture?

I'm not sure there is a trans culture.  At best what you might be able to get is a trans sub culture, like the gay subculture.

Why isn't there a social network for transfolk akin to myspace and facebook?

Because most of us want to be part of the mainstream, not exiled to some little out of the way ghetto.

Why isn't there an elected transperson in Congress?

How do you elect someone to be, according to what many in here believe, represent an illness?  Its like saying "how come therer isn't a cancer congressperson."

Why is there more stigma for being involved in sex work than there is for having a mental health diagnosis?

I'm not even sure that you're right about this.  I think I could almost argue the other way round.

[Mister]

Why isn't there a social network for transfolk akin to myspace and facebook?

there is one.

Why isn't there an elected transperson in Congress?

this question should probably be "an elected out transperson" because really, you never know.

Why is there more stigma for being involved in sex work than there is for having a mental health diagnosis?

because we feel bad for people who are mentally ill and our country runs on the idea that sex is dirty and shameful, unless it's man-on-top for procreation only. 

[RebeccaFog]

You can find her at http://www.tgboards.com/forums/index.php

Personally I wonder, Why we need a trans-culture? Can not all of society be mixed and respect each other as long as we all contribute and live harmoniously?

No. It cannot.

[lisagurl]

No. It cannot

I take it that you are not an optimist.

[dyssonance]

That or a realist, Lisagurl

Thank you for the crossposting -- I am honored

Might I ask for the social networking link, please?

I would think that there is no elected Congressperson because none have run -- but ya
never know as noted   Gimmie a few years.  Maybe I'll get there.

As for sex work, you'd think that we'd feel bad for sex workers since the primary excuse is that they do it out of survival.

(Of course, that would fail, since most don't).

What illness?  Transsexualism?  It isn't an illness.  Its a blessing.

Numbers - trans* is far more than transsexuals, and the numbers are tremendous.

A sub culture is still a culture. And we do indeed have one.  Its incredible and dynamic and amazing.

Needless to say, I'm always up for an argument. Not always very good at it, mind you, but always game

And dear sweet Nichole -- you wished.  So here I am.  Bets on how long I last?

[Steph]

Tekla hit the nail on the head.  I would imagine that many if not most Transsexuals who successfully transitioned and integrated themselves into society do not want to compromise what they have achieved after what has been a life of living hell, and I count myself amongst them.

-={LR}=-

[Jeannette]

Transsexuals who successfully transitioned and integrated themselves into society do not want to compromise what they have achieved after what has been a life of living hell, and I count myself amongst them.

Count me in too please.

[Shana A]

Thank you for the crossposting -- I am honored

Thanks for asking important questions Dyssonance! I thought folks here would want to see and ponder them. And many thanks for joining us here!

Z

[NicholeW.]

And dear sweet Nichole -- you wished.  So here I am.  Bets on how long I last?

I did and you did. Thanks, luv.

How long? I dunno. Until we drop the ring into Mt. Doom and that nasty ole eye falls apart?

Be sure to follow the TOS and that should keep you here for awhile. If you feel like someone's trolling please report to the moderation staff rather than using a broadsword! otherwise like Susan says, "it's common sense." Butcha might be surprised how rare "common sense" can be.

N~

[Hazumu]

Tekla hit the nail on the head.  I would imagine that many if not most Transsexuals who successfully transitioned and integrated themselves into society do not want to compromise what they have achieved after what has been a life of living hell, and I count myself amongst them.

-={LR}=-

Count me in too please.

'Scuse me,  I have both.  I'm out AND stealth.  I have been in groups where I'm out to some and stealth to others (my allies have long since gotten past the need to 'drop the bomb,' and are now feeling privileged to be in on the secret as I'm perceived as 100% female by those who are not yet aware of my being male-bodied/female-brained.)

I don't out myself when it's unnecessary, and I find I'm not read.

But I will out myself to advance the cause of full equality for the transgender community.  For everybody in the community, including those who have chosen to go and remain stealth.

My rule for me -- I don't out myself without a good reason to do so, and I'm not ashamed to out myself when there's a good reason, because I am not ashamed of myself.

(Standard disclaimer:  "Your Mileage May Vary")

Karen

[lisagurl]

That or a realist, Lisagurl

A realist is a subjective idea based on a person's experience. Example is, I never experienced a gay culture or been in a social situation with a gay person. So a gay culture is foreign to me. What is real to me would be the culture it takes to run a nuclear plant without mistakes. I could be optimistic about that happening but not optimistic about ever meeting someone in a bar.

[tekla]

Funny, I worked for the world's largest builder of Nuke plants and we had a LOT of gay men and women working for us. 

And, not all gay people participate in the gay subculture, nor are all the people in that subculture gay.

As for the political issue, its going to be hard to win in the areas with the most trans persons, as those places tend to be very set politically.  SF has a large number of trans persons, but running against Miss Nancy and winning, ain't gonna happen.  Moreover it tend to take a real movement.  Here, let my friend explain it, he does it very well.

But in the real world individual heroics are a fools gold when compared with the genuine value of building political movements.  The immense obstacles to to effective grassroots organizing can be overcome not by lone rangers, but by persistent organizers and coalition builders.

[dyssonance]

fascinating side discussion -- and what is interesting is that many seek to define themselves in ways that are pointedly addressed in the questions asked.

So, this still leaves the question unanswered, and lets try a different question:

Why do we define our identities the way we do?

What is it that makes some of claim transgender or transsexual, while others do not?  What's the reasoning behind it -- what do you claim for yourself, and *why* do you claim it?

Not a friendly set of questions -- people will often take the statements and ideas of others as an attack on themselves, and the language we will use in describing such will often be insulting to others.

But it runs deep, and its a conversation we avoid and we talk around, but why we identify the way we do has much to do with why we are othered.

And not always in the way people expect.

[tekla]

Transsexualism ends when transition ends.

Then why would anyone need TS rights?

[dyssonance]

What you are *is* your identity, however.  You can identify as many things -- identity is not exclusive.  IF you see yourself as a woman, as female, then that is your identity.

Woman/female is only one of my identities. And transsexualism does not have an endpoint, de facto, especially under the categorization (which is further opinion) you give it. -- but that's an interesting opinion, and could be a further discussion of value. As a congential condition, it would directly inheritable and incurable.

So the questions still stand, applicable even then.



Post Merge: May 23, 2009, 01:09:36 PM

Transsexualism ends when transition ends.

Then why would anyone need TS rights?

TS rights? Rights for only transsexuals? (curious and asking to clarify so I avoid leaping to a conclusion that's unsupported in the statement)