Susan's Place Transgender Resources

News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Shana A on January 26, 2012, 09:25:32 PM

Title: Trans People: Are We ‘Just Like You’?
Post by: Shana A on January 26, 2012, 09:25:32 PM
Trans People: Are We 'Just Like You'?

January 26, 2012 by Matt Kailey

http://tranifesto.com/2012/01/26/trans-people-are-we-just-like-you/ (http://tranifesto.com/2012/01/26/trans-people-are-we-just-like-you/)

The "just like you" argument is about as old as time, dirt, and me. It probably emerged with the first person to be marginalized by a group in power, and there was likely enough of a difference between this person and that group that the group was able to justify shutting him or her out.

So clearly this person was not "just like them" – at least not in whatever way mattered to the larger group.

Trans people (as well as people with non-straight sexual orientations) continue to use this argument in our demands for equal rights, and it certainly is a valid one – but it's not the only one, because not all trans people see themselves as "just like" the (non-trans) population in power.