Transgender anti-discrimination bill becomes tough sell for centrist Dems

[Shana A]

Transgender anti-discrimination bill becomes tough sell for centrist Dems
By Russell Berman - 05/07/10 05:56 PM ET

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/96745-transgender-anti-discrimination-bill-becomes-tough-sell-for-centrist-democrats

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership are pushing legislation, written by Rep. Barney Frank, that would made it illegal for employers to discriminate against transgendered people.

The bill scares centrist Democrats, who don't want to be forced to vote on a hot-button issue popular on the left as they approach November congressional elections in which heavy Democratic losses are expected.

[Jasmine.m]

What a joke! If we're expecting heavy losses, why aren't we ramming through all the legislation that we can while we have a super majority???

[cynthialee]

What a joke! If we're expecting heavy losses, why aren't we ramming through all the legislation that we can while we have a super majority???

Seroiously!

[BrandiOK]

Because politicians generally vote for or against whatever they think will ensure a re-election bid regardless if it's right or wrong.

Transgender rights are a hard sell to any party simply because the media has portrayed us as clownish deviants over and over.  So called "reality shows" such as Jerry Springer have been the source of much of America's known experience with TG people.  The majority of our exposure is found on these types of shows where audiences get to pick who's TS and who's not by shouting "MAN!" over and over.  Or by the, ever popular, news stories on how some pervert in a wig and dress was caught in the ladies room somewhere or masturbating in a park where children play.  The majority 'real' TG women and men tend to fade quietly and seamlessly into society and therefore don't influence public opinion on the subject.  In a way, the general success of TG people, be they CD's, TS or anything else, to live 'un-noticed' is largely to blame for our lack of support.  I suppose most non-TG people have an "I'll believe it when I see it attitude" which is completely contradictory to how we, as a community, often view our own success which is "you are believed when you aren't seen".

[juliekins]

First, isn't interesting how they always focus on MTF's only?

Second, is anyone aware of a man actually dressing enfemme in order to follow some girl or woman into the restroom or locker room?

Logic says that any guy who thinks it worth the risk to commit rape in the bathroom, would be willing to do it anywhere. We know that this is NOT on the mind of any balanced tg person, of course.

These rapists and molesters will do what they do regardless, and in spite on ENDA. Molesters are skilled in the art of winning over kids confidences. Some will try and entice kids into their cars. Rapists will follow women into a dark alley. Either way, they aren't running to the nearest JC Penney or Target store for a skirt and makeup.

When will people start to think logically, and not in image bites like some stupid negative political ad?

I would hazard to guess, and from my experience, that almost every transwoman I know are some of the most sensitive, well meaning people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

[Kaelin]

^ Considering how difficult "passing" is, a run-of-the-mill pervert/rapist isn't going to be able pass -- and if there something that stands out more than a man going into a woman's restroom, it's probably a not-quite-passing woman doing it.

^ In the case of luring anyone into a van or trap someone in an alley: If the person passes, it's not going to help (and the extra equipment is probably going to get in the way), and if they don't, they will draw very unwanted attention to themselves.

^ Regarding "MtFs only" and sound bites, I'm guessing that's going to take getting information out there, but I'm guessing the problem is that MtFs provide the more sordid stories/propaganda -- it's harder to create fear or any kind of sensational story with FtMs ("pregnant fathers" aside), and simply acknowledging ISs would pretty much force the target to accept that MtFs and FtMs legitimately exist.  Also, masculinity trumps femininity in our society, even on most dimensions for bio-women.

Regarding the topic, and this is something I've said before, but the Democrats are going to suffer in the elections whether or not they pass a strong ENDA.  Personally, I don't see passing it making things significantly worse for the party -- I don't see this issue costing them many more votes than they would gain.  And if they get this issue dealt with now, it'll be one obstacle they won't have to clear the next time they return to power.

Not to mention it looks popular.  I mean, the Democrats may actually *gain* votes: http://www.bilerico.com/2010/02/mess_yes.png

[Stella Blue]

Its sucks that laws aren't passed based on what is right but rather based on the politics of reelections!! Nothing gets done because people are afraid of losing their seat.

[justmeinoz]

I never realised how scarilly powerful 0.1% or whatever of the population must be to the people in power in the most powerful nation in history!  Surely with all the problems besetting the USA, these people have more urgent things to get worked up about?

[Shana A]

Surely with all the problems besetting the USA, these people have more urgent things to get worked up about?

One would think so. However, I believe what's underlying it is that they use fear of trans as a way to rally support to their party.

Z

[kyril]

Never. If a man wants to assault a woman in a bathroom, he does it anyway, regardless of clothing and it being a woman's only space.
There have been MTF rapists, but AFAIK, they all raped pre-transition.

There are also FTM rapists. And abusers, and voyeurs, and everything else you find in cis men.

But in order to use MTF-directed penis panic to oppress trans people, the bigots have to erase FTMs' existence.

It's not that I want to be seen as a potential danger to women. But I understand that it's something that comes with being male. And it's deeply unfair that an already marginalized group of women should have to shoulder that burden. And meanwhile, in places where the bigots get their way, cis women too have to share their bathrooms with men.

Make me use the men's bathrooms. Send me to the men's prisons. Clutch your keys between your fingers like little daggers when you see me walk up behind you at night. Throw me out of women's spaces. I can take it. Don't do it to my sisters.

[Stella Blue]

I never realised how scarilly powerful 0.1% or whatever of the population must be to the people in power in the most powerful nation in history!  Surely with all the problems besetting the USA, these people have more urgent things to get worked up about?

Unfortunately that .1% of the population owns, runs, and makes decisions for everything and usually the majority of the population is not in their agendas.

[Kaelin]

Unfortunately that 0.1% is much larger than 0.1%.  It's probably more than 10%.  But very few of these would vote for Democrats anyway.

[justmeinoz]

I think I have been misunderstood, the 0.1% of the population being the Trans community.  You must be so powerful and such a threat to the "Normopaths" running society that they  have to marshall the full resources of the USA against you!