Dear Mr. Gold

[Shana A]

Friday, December 11, 2009
Dear Mr. Gold
Posted by Véronique at 6:20 PM

http://tgnotwhatyouthink.blogspot.com/2009/12/dear-mr-gold.html

On December 10, Ronald Gold, a pioneering gay rights activist, posted his first entry on The Bilerico Project as a regular contributor. It was entitled "'No' to the notion of transgender." In it, Gold ripped into the idea that being transgender even exists, and did so in a manner that I find hard to perceive as anything but insulting.

The post elicited hundreds of comments, including from me. It spawned entries posted in response. And it was generally perceived that Gold didn't just miss the mark; he couldn't even find the target. Incessant blog writer that I am, I felt that I had to post something more than comments.

[aerosolchild]

Ugh. This is an idea that ridiculously common in the gay community, especially among gay men, where I live. It's really upsetting, and frustrating. Like the people who wanted to drop TG protection from ENDA... Especially since we all need each other if we're going to get anything accomplished!

[CA_Medicine_Woman]

Friday, December 11, 2009
Dear Mr. Gold
Posted by Véronique at 6:20 PM

http://tgnotwhatyouthink.blogspot.com/2009/12/dear-mr-gold.html

On December 10, Ronald Gold, a pioneering gay rights activist, posted his first entry on The Bilerico Project as a regular contributor. It was entitled "'No' to the notion of transgender." In it, Gold ripped into the idea that being transgender even exists, and did so in a manner that I find hard to perceive as anything but insulting.

The post elicited hundreds of comments, including from me. It spawned entries posted in response. And it was generally perceived that Gold didn't just miss the mark; he couldn't even find the target. Incessant blog writer that I am, I felt that I had to post something more than comments.

Well, despite attempts to scrub the internet of the original article, I did find it here http://www.pamshouseblend.com/upload/Autumn/Daniel%20Gold_NoToTheNotionOfTransgender.pdf (thank you Pam!)

I then popped over to your blog, and read your response to Gold's pseudo-science opinion piece.  Well done!  Personally, I would have loved it had The Bilerico Project left Gold's post up and intact, along with all the subsequent comments.  Unfortunately, by the time the bile settled and my tempered cooled for a reasonable response, Bilerico pulled it.

However, there is an ugly truth we need to address here, that of transphobia within the gay and lesbian community.  There is also a politcial dimension we need to be aware of, and track, in that ENDA is coming up again for debate.  Transgender people have repeatedly been thrown under the political bus when it comes to ENDA, and I suspect Gold and others who are like-minded are trying to soften up gays and lesbians this time for another "compromise."  I don't know about the rest of you, but that damned political bus is heavy.  I suggest we erect road blocks to keep ourselves from getting run over again, starting with challenging the false presumptions of not just the radical religious right and their corporatist allies, but the bigotry and transphobia that is growing within the gay and lesbian populations as well.

[cynthialee]

Well hows about the formation of a separate social justice orginisations and then we sue the GLBTI to remove T from thier letters as they are willing to appropriate us for thier cause but we are the first casualty of the political wars?
If such orginisations could form and show in good faith that the issues of trans are the only issues of focus and if we can show larger numbers of Trans in said group than actual numbers of trans in the GLBTI that would add some ammo in a legal war.
Either that or we can use our colective insight into the human condition and target large population area groups of GLBTI for take over key leadership positions via brinksmanship and dirty pool.


Personally I am sick of the T being the bargain chip.

[tekla]

Well, when they asked in the Big Gay Poll if it was OK to drop TG protections from EDNA the response was an overwhelming +90% that said NO.  But hey, don't let facts get in the way of your two minute hate.

And since no one owns the T, you have no standing to sue.  And I can assure you there are a lot more Tpersons working with the various groups, then sitting out in cyberland bitching about it.  And, in the real world, work always wins out.

So, go ahead, and separate the T out and what do you have?  A bunch of people many of which don't think they are T, or are not anymore.  Another bunch that will go to extreme lengths to let anyone else know this about them, and another group who will not even walk down the street next to you for fear your presence might give them away.  Yeah.  Good luck on that.