Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Transphobia? Are We Trying To Make the Word Meaningless?
Posted March 30, 2009

http://radnichole.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/transphobia-are-we-trying-to-make-the-word-meaningless/ (http://radnichole.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/transphobia-are-we-trying-to-make-the-word-meaningless/)

Nowhere does that become more evident than in our willingness to use words that manage to congregate in our political discourse anything and everything in the controlling terminology of the single-word. In this case I am talking about the word "transphobia."

For those of you who may be unaware of the terminology, it's a spin-off promoted to try to invite people to see that making blanket statements about people with transsexing histories or people who fall under the so-called transgender umbrella are neither true on their face nor do those amalgamations of bad qualities (all trans-men and all trans-women are inveterate liars, for instance) speak truth. Their primary use is to further marginalize and dismiss an already marginalized and dismissed micro-minority.

It is just another word. We can't dismiss the meaning and the actions of transphobic persons. I do have the option of dismissing the existance of transphobic people. I'll try to forgive them for their lack of understanding.

Not so much "just another word" I think. It can be quite meaningful when used properly. The problem is in not using it as a catch-all that takes the place of "I hate your guts" or "I think you're wrong."

Nichole

It often seems odd to me that so many people preach 'education' as some sort of cure all, when a lot of times, knowing more may well only make you like it less.  Many of our critics have read the same things we have and reached a far different conclusion.  Information, facts and the rest are subject to interpretation, and different people of sound mind can read and study, and come to a far different conclusion.  Happens with all sorts of stuff, all the time.  So why should Trans things be any different?

From time to time I've been standing on the stage, listening to the band, watching the audience and thinking to myself "are these people in the same universe that I am?"  Because, while they are going ga-ga gonzo for this band, I'm there thinking 'how can one band suck so much?'  It's very obvious that though we are in exactly the same location, what we are hearing is two very different things.  In the end, I wind up thinking that's its only a matter of exposure really.  Of course these kids think the band is great.  They are in jr. high/high school, it's their favorite band in the entire world, and one of their first concerts.  Me on the other hand, its just band #2-3,000 plus in a series, so of course, I'm hearing it in a very different way.

Having all that experience, background and knowledge does not make me more open, but most likely, a lot less open.  It's a much higher bar for anyone to get over.  I've stood a few feet away and listened to B.B. King, S.R. Vaughn, Jerry Garcia, Carlos Santana, Warren Haynes, and Jeff Beck - and so you think you can play guitar?

Just because you don't like something, or disagree with it, does not mean your 'phobic' about it.  And dismissing every sort of negative thought with that label may well dismiss a lot of valid thought that you don't want to read just because they might burst your bubble. 

And, even in these boards we see a lot of people who rail against the TG establishment, claim they have no community, and the rest.  Its easy to transfer a lot of self loathing (and there is no shortage of self loathing) to the entire group.  Lacking the ability to fashion a coherent argument, or just being too lazy to do it, may well end up in some sort of attack.  We know that some of the most powerful and hateful attacks against gay men have come from people who in fact, were secretly gay.  Ted Haggard and Roy Cohen come to mind.  I don't see why the TG deal is any different.

And I don't think you have the option of just dismissing them out of hand.  They are in this world too, and sticking your head in the sand does not make them go away.

Tekla, I may just print and frame your comment.

It takes a specific and casts it into the general.

Thank you;

Karen