http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/the-stream/the-stream-officialblog/2013/9/10/is-the-t-in-lgbtbeingoverlooked.html
Source: Al Jazeera America Authors: The Stream Team
"Is the T in LGBT being overlooked? From healthcare to employment, nearly 700,000 transgender people face acute discrimination and harassment. They are four times as likely as the general population to live in poverty and twice as likely to be unemployed. But who is their advocate? We discuss challenges facing the transgender community and how trans activists are carving out their own lane. . . . So, where does the transgender community feel openly welcome? While some point to the LGBTQ movements as inclusive and fighting for transgender rights, others do not agree."
This episode was shown 7:30 PM (Eastern Time) on September 10, 2013.
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Please remember that several topics on this subject in other areas of the board have been locked because things got out of hand. Any discussion on this should remain civil and in accordance to TOS.
Yes they are, so much in fact that a few of us think that T should be scrapped from LGBT, because they don't give a damn.
Yes I know alot of people who don't even know who or what transgenders are, No one really talks about transgenders
Quote from: Dreams2014 on September 14, 2013, 03:31:18 PM
Yes they are, so much in fact that a few of us think that T should be scrapped from LGBT, because they don't give a damn.
That is true
This is always a touchy subject. This site is founded on inclusion, not exclusion. Let's keep the site mission, the TOS, and this statement in mind:
"Please remember that several topics on this subject in other areas of the board have been locked because things got out of hand. Any discussion on this should remain civil and in accordance to TOS"
Thank you, hugs, Devlyn
I am an advocate for eventually separating the T. Right now it is a marriage of convenience for people who have faced discrimination based on their identity. The thing is that LGB portion is based EXCLUSIVELY on SEXUAL identity. The T contingent is always trying to raise awareness that their issues are NOT sexual. Well, a big step in breaking those automatic associations in people's minds is for T and LGB to separate. I know that isn't going to happen too soon and the LGB portion has done a tremendous amount to help and provide resources to T people. And there is some overlap in our populations - and Stonewall is our shared history that we can all lay claim to as part of our heritage. There is strength in unity and some battles are better fought together. But I don't think it makes sense for us all to forever try to walk forward as a some sort of two headed monster. I think that it is an important goal to move towards gettiing a little bit more breathing room between the push for LGB rights and awareness and those of the T contingent. I believe in the end it will further empower the trans community. In the past we weren't able to stand up on our own. Maybe we still aren't. But I think that is definitely going to be changing soon.
Hi retransition, I also believe the LGB community has made a positive impact on the Ts as well, and we have a long history together. I haven't decided if we should split up yet or not, but there has been some issues of getting our voices heard. I don't think anyone has intentionally ignored us, statistically we (including QIs, etc.) are smaller in numbers then LGBs, so we do run the risk of getting lost in the majority. I think there are ways that we can make our voices heard in the current situation though.
Another O&E of interest is:
Speaking the Silent 'T'
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephanie-mott/speaking-the-silent-t_b_3891361.html?utm_hp_ref=transgender
Author: Stephanie Mott Source: Huffington Post
This article is a discussion about how writers, the media, etc. use LGBT without distinguishing between the subcategories.
"My Google search turned up an article from the Yale Law Journal that uses "LGBT" 25 times. It does not include the words "transgender" or "gender identity," but it does include "sexual orientation" seven times, and "homosexual" or "homosexuality" 36 times."
Yes this topic can be charged. Snap, crackle, pop.
I think retransition makes some great points about both our shared history and shared success. Stonewall was us, strength in unity is tried and true and a huge percentage of trans people consider themselves lesbians, gay, queer or bisexual in orientation. It is amazing to me that transgender is now a household word. I sure wish it was in 1950-60 when I was a kid. We have come a long way and we did not do it alone.
Last night I was at the Q Center in Portland, Oregon and the sense of welcome, belonging, inclusion and safety is unparalleled for me in any other venue. The Q Center has opportunities for LGBTQ people to be themselves with groups that speak to any member of this rainbow. Thousands of people worked to realize the Q center. I have been an activist in the "gay rights" movement since 1975 but that did not stop people from dissing me because I was Bi. Yes people who have experienced discrimination and prejudice can still dish it out. We do have work to do to educate ourselves and our community. Yes I have experienced LGBs who think we drag (pun intended) them down and I have also worked with them to change the law and gain further protections for us. Does marriage equality impact you? Do restroom issues apply to everyone?
We have discussed how we feel about inclusion here, as Devlyn notes, and so much is vested in simple if really unhelpful labels. I am bisexual and transsexual but I do not like those terms as the emphasis is too often on the "sexual" vs intimate relationships, romance and love.
Many of us clearly see the need to change our cultures and communities to help remedy the tragic statistics that LearnedHand included in his initial post. What are we going to do about that? Affecting change is easier with supportive allies. Let's be the allies we all need.
Quote from: Tessa James on September 14, 2013, 09:47:06 PM
We have discussed how we feel about inclusion here, as Devlyn notes, and so much is vested in simple if really unhelpful labels. I am bisexual and transsexual but I do not like those terms as the emphasis is too often on the "sexual" vs intimate relationships, romance and love.
Many of us clearly see the need to change our cultures and communities to help remedy the tragic statistics that LearnedHand included in his initial post. What are we going to do about that? Affecting change is easier with supportive allies. Let's be the allies we all need.
Thanks for your nice response Tessa. It does seem like the label is more of the problem than much of anything else in this type of discussion. I do also believe that it is up to us to make changes if we see problems, I did start a thread over in FTM talk (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,148614.0.html) in response in a similar topic to see if anyone has ideas on how to improve statistics like those above. It's easy to place blame, point out problems, and so on, but it's something else to step up to the plate to make a change.
Quote from: retransition on September 14, 2013, 06:38:44 PM
I am an advocate for eventually separating the T. Right now it is a marriage of convenience for people who have faced discrimination based on their identity. The thing is that LGB portion is based EXCLUSIVELY on SEXUAL identity. The T contingent is always trying to raise awareness that their issues are NOT sexual. Well, a big step in breaking those automatic associations in people's minds is for T and LGB to separate. I know that isn't going to happen too soon and the LGB portion has done a tremendous amount to help and provide resources to T people. And there is some overlap in our populations - and Stonewall is our shared history that we can all lay claim to as part of our heritage. There is strength in unity and some battles are better fought together. But I don't think it makes sense for us all to forever try to walk forward as a some sort of two headed monster. I think that it is an important goal to move towards gettiing a little bit more breathing room between the push for LGB rights and awareness and those of the T contingent. I believe in the end it will further empower the trans community. In the past we weren't able to stand up on our own. Maybe we still aren't. But I think that is definitely going to be changing soon.
I agree good point
Quote from: LearnedHand on September 14, 2013, 06:49:23 PM
Hi retransition, I also believe the LGB community has made a positive impact on the Ts as well, and we have a long history together. I haven't decided if we should split up yet or not, but there has been some issues of getting our voices heard. I don't think anyone has intentionally ignored us, statistically we (including QIs, etc.) are smaller in numbers then LGBs, so we do run the risk of getting lost in the majority. I think there are ways that we can make our voices heard in the current situation though.
Another O&E of interest is:
Speaking the Silent 'T'
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephanie-mott/speaking-the-silent-t_b_3891361.html?utm_hp_ref=transgender
Author: Stephanie Mott Source: Huffington Post
This article is a discussion about how writers, the media, etc. use LGBT without distinguishing between the subcategories.
"My Google search turned up an article from the Yale Law Journal that uses "LGBT" 25 times. It does not include the words "transgender" or "gender identity," but it does include "sexual orientation" seven times, and "homosexual" or "homosexuality" 36 times."
Finally had time to read the huffpost link. Interesting about NOW not including language to protect gender identity in workplace charter. I am sure there was a conversation and I can understand why that did not include that language. Just like the ENDA legislation I think it is fair to pick your battles.
Quote from: Tessa James on September 14, 2013, 09:47:06 PM
We have come a long way and we did not do it alone.
Last night I was at the Q Center in Portland, Oregon and the sense of welcome, belonging, inclusion and safety is unparalleled for me in any other venue. The Q Center has opportunities for LGBTQ people to be themselves with groups that speak to any member of this rainbow. Thousands of people worked to realize the Q center. I have been an activist in the "gay rights" movement since 1975 but that did not stop people from dissing me because I was Bi. Yes people who have experienced discrimination and prejudice can still dish it out. We do have work to do to educate ourselves and our community. Yes I have experienced LGBs who think we drag (pun intended) them down and I have also worked with them to change the law and gain further protections for us. Does marriage equality impact you? Do restroom issues apply to everyone?
...
Affecting change is easier with supportive allies. Let's be the allies we all need.
Nice post. And whatever direction the camps go in I hope we are always great allies.