Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Activism and Politics => Politics => Topic started by: LizMarie on November 11, 2013, 01:38:20 PM

Title: That is when the Transplant Coordinator Nurse told me that they are Republicans
Post by: LizMarie on November 11, 2013, 01:38:20 PM
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/11/1254743/--That-is-when-the-Transplant-Coordinator-Nurse-told-me-that-they-are-Republicans

Quote"However, this is when I told them that I identify as Mika and prefer female pronouns. Everything seemed to be okay, except for a little confusion. Until they asked me what I do in my free time and I told them that I volunteer with non-profits to work towards equality for the LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) community and I volunteer on political campaigns and plan to help out on the Obama campaign. That is when the Transplant Coordinator Nurse told me that they are Republicans. Everything changed."

Because she's trans? And worked on the Obama campaign? Suddenly she and the donor need psychiatric evaluations?

Anyone who thinks we don't need laws like ENDA and even further legislation to prevent this sort of nonsense has their head in the clouds. No, laws don't stamp out bigotry, but a legal framework which can punish bigotry stops most of it from being acted upon and when it is acted upon, can result in fines and other penalties against those acting out such bigotry.

Meanwhile transgender people are denied housing, employment, medical care, and even service for basic things like food. And some people argue we don't need these laws?
Title: Re: That is when the Transplant Coordinator Nurse told me that they are Republicans
Post by: Sarah Louise on November 11, 2013, 01:45:42 PM
I'm Republican, what does that have to do with anything.  Enough generalities.
Title: Re: That is when the Transplant Coordinator Nurse told me that they are Republicans
Post by: amZo on November 11, 2013, 02:34:12 PM
Who talks that way? "We're republicans and [enter your favorite stereotypical bigotry here] ..."?

My BS meter is in high gear.

You can't believe everything you hear (or read... on the Daily Koz no less). I think a little more skepticism is wise.
Title: Re: That is when the Transplant Coordinator Nurse told me that they are Republicans
Post by: DriftingCrow on November 11, 2013, 03:40:04 PM
I do believe we need non-discrimination laws in place, but that article doesn't do a good job of really illustrating it. I agree with Nikko, if it was real news, we'd likely see it on other news sources. I don't think people had trouble using sie's preferred pronouns because they were Republican, its probably just because most people have never heard of the word "sie" before.  Also "extended psychoanalysis" is kind if an arbitrary term to use, does that mean one week or ten years? I could be wrong, but I thought it was customary to have some mental health evaluation prior to non-emergency transplant surgery to ensure the live donor truly wants to do this and to ensure the donee gets proper support.

The article is too vague. I don't think people here on Susan's who disagree on ENDA don't believe that trans discrimination doesn't exist, they disagree on other grounds.
Title: Re: That is when the Transplant Coordinator Nurse told me that they are Republicans
Post by: mac1 on November 11, 2013, 04:14:42 PM
What does being a republican have to do with you getting srs?
Title: Re: That is when the Transplant Coordinator Nurse told me that they are Republicans
Post by: amZo on November 11, 2013, 06:01:02 PM
Quote from: mac1 on November 11, 2013, 04:14:42 PM
What does being a republican have to do with you getting srs?

I think the person from the Daily Koz article claims that the medical personnel discriminated against her after they proclaimed their political party affiliations was republican. I.e., "we're republicans and we don't take kindly to your kind 'round here...".
Title: Re: That is when the Transplant Coordinator Nurse told me that they are Republicans
Post by: Ltl89 on November 11, 2013, 06:06:51 PM
Quote from: LizMarie on November 11, 2013, 01:38:20 PM
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/11/1254743/--That-is-when-the-Transplant-Coordinator-Nurse-told-me-that-they-are-Republicans

Because she's trans? And worked on the Obama campaign? Suddenly she and the donor need psychiatric evaluations?

Anyone who thinks we don't need laws like ENDA and even further legislation to prevent this sort of nonsense has their head in the clouds. No, laws don't stamp out bigotry, but a legal framework which can punish bigotry stops most of it from being acted upon and when it is acted upon, can result in fines and other penalties against those acting out such bigotry.

Meanwhile transgender people are denied housing, employment, medical care, and even service for basic things like food. And some people argue we don't need these laws?

I support ENDA and believe everyone should be protected from discrimination.  It's possible that something like this could have happened, but I find it a bit unbelievable.  Having said that, discrimination can come from all camps and all walks of life.  That's why these kind of laws are important. 

Still, we should also acknowledge that there are accepting people out there.  I was hired by a medical practice with conservative physicians despite my left wing background and the fact that the hiring manager was aware of my transition.  While I'm not fully out to everyone, my experience has only been that of acceptance.  And then there have been times in a left wing environment where I was the but of gay jokes and border line harrasment.  Sometimes life isn't so simple and generalizations can obscure reality. Nonetheless, it's irrelevant as to where the discrimination comes from and I don't think the OP meant to say that it's only a problem with Republicans.  All that matters is the act itself.  Who initiates it isn't the problem as it can come from anywhere which is also true of acceptance as well.