News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: LostInTime on September 05, 2007, 08:19:31 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Why the Bailey controversy won't die soon
Post by: LostInTime on September 05, 2007, 08:19:31 AM
Post by: LostInTime on September 05, 2007, 08:19:31 AM
Advocate (http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid48612.asp)
By Joanne Herman
But I and most other MTF transsexuals do feel strongly that we don't fit Bailey's two categories. And we are furious to be called liars by a nontransgender "expert." While most trans people were deeply closeted in years past, that's no longer the case, so the backlash by trans activists in 2003, when his book came out, was intense.
That backlash was recently rekindled on word that another nontransgender "expert" is about to publish an article in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, asserting that the personal attacks on Bailey by trans activists presented "problems not only for science but free expression itself."
By Joanne Herman
But I and most other MTF transsexuals do feel strongly that we don't fit Bailey's two categories. And we are furious to be called liars by a nontransgender "expert." While most trans people were deeply closeted in years past, that's no longer the case, so the backlash by trans activists in 2003, when his book came out, was intense.
That backlash was recently rekindled on word that another nontransgender "expert" is about to publish an article in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, asserting that the personal attacks on Bailey by trans activists presented "problems not only for science but free expression itself."
Title: Re: Why the Bailey controversy won't die soon
Post by: Lisbeth on September 05, 2007, 09:01:50 AM
Post by: Lisbeth on September 05, 2007, 09:01:50 AM
I remember when protests over articles that asserted that blacks were genetically inferior to whites presented "problems not only for science but free expression itself."
Title: Re: Why the Bailey controversy won't die soon
Post by: Thundra on September 05, 2007, 11:15:30 PM
Post by: Thundra on September 05, 2007, 11:15:30 PM
I read Herman's articles, and the only thing I take issue with is that she does not call out for an end to categories.
She is upset that many transitioned women do not fit into Bailey's 2 categories of either gay men transitioning to fool str8 men, or str8 men transitioning to get off on themselves. But the problem that I see with most trans-activists is that they want to bend the rules, not break them.
The problem is not that there aren't enough categories for trans-women to fit into; the problem is that they have to fit into any category at all.
She is upset that many transitioned women do not fit into Bailey's 2 categories of either gay men transitioning to fool str8 men, or str8 men transitioning to get off on themselves. But the problem that I see with most trans-activists is that they want to bend the rules, not break them.
The problem is not that there aren't enough categories for trans-women to fit into; the problem is that they have to fit into any category at all.