Tomorrow marks the date of the first ever Congressional hearings, open to the public and the media, which pertain directly to the ongoing pervasiveness of overwhelming social and workplace discriminations, that all too many of us have had to face and continue to do so here in the U.S.
Please see this link : http://www.nctequality.org/hearing.html
I will be attending this hearing, joined by a close friend and incredible woman that is the treasurer for the Basic Rights Montgomery campaign. Dr. Dana Beyer and many others will also be there to lend our support to the witnesses that will be giving their testimony.
Among those are Diane Schroer, Retired Colonel, Special Forces, US Army - who was discriminated against in applying for a position with the Library of Congress due to her transition.
It can be seen live on the internet tomorrow. Just follow the links at the NCTE site.
P.S.
(as i was driving home this evening, the song by AC/DC, "For Those About to Rock" was playing on the radio, and i love that song. I Just happened to be thinking about these people, specifically Col. Diane Schroer, at that moment, and what they are about to do tomorrow..
I cranked it up as loud as it would go, and felt my heart expand until it felt like exploding, and i felt these thoughts and knew i had to share them here with all of you.
The lyrics say " For those about to rock, We salute you !"
i must agree. For those about to Rock tomorrow - To go and Rock the house (literally and figuratively), and continue to help rock the world of disgustingly disempowering ignorance and hatred for all of us, i say " We salute You !!! " with every single heartfelt ounce of support and grace that i/we can possibly muster, all politics aside.
Lovingly always,
LoveForever,
Maryanne
Election year antics. Means nothing if a law is not being passed.
I wrote straight what was in my heart and my mind in a single moment. Unconditionally and honestly self expressed. If you wish to imply something as insulting as "antics" to this expression, and miss the entire point of why this was posted in the first place, then that is your apparent desire for some very angry and personally insensitive reasons i cannot entirely comprehend. Your rudeness defiles and completely undermines the very spirit of what good is being attempted to accomplish here.
It dosent mean "nothing" to me or anyone else that will take the time to be there. It dosent mean "nothing" to people at the NCTE and other groups that have been trying to get these hearings for years - not just this year.
I don't have the resources to spare to even make the 30 mile trip, but i will do it anyway. That means stress, and that means something to ME.
Maybe someone like you or i will watch these hearings tomorrow, someplace in the country and decide to come out a little further, or write another letter to a legislator that would not have been written that day - all because they were inspired by what they saw - that isnt nothing. Maybe a Representative or Congressional aide will hear and see something tomorrow that they had never expected or seen before - maybe they will think about that, or remember it the next time it DOES go up for a vote - that's not "nothing". You act like someone full of hatred and ignorance, and make apparently unsupportable judgements, false assertions, and distortions from an obviously personally jaded view, you make false assumptioms of others' lives and actions behind doors you have never seen behind without having had personal witness.
This is disturbingly, in some ways, like those that seem to hate and judge me and you unfairly, every day of my/our
life(s) in open society.
Dialogue must occur before laws are passed. It's not going to just magically happen all of it's own accord as well you know quite personally. When i have personally sat with conservative opponents, including clergy, that only know TG people as some kind of predatory, deviant, overtly contrived, and /or flambouyant "drag queens" of some kind. The same things which have been used and devised against ALL members of the TLGB(you figure that one out) segments of the human population for eons.
Problem is - because that's all they have ever seen, been shown, or been told by those that wish to continue to demonize any or ALL people like you and i - - and to engage them in noteworthy, intelligent, comfortable, natural and totally uncontrived dialogue ??- - and in 5 or 10 minutes, utterly and effectively begin to blow apart every single misperceived negative stereotypical view that they might have carried, possibly for decades - of people like ourselves, progress has been made whether you like it or accept it or not.
It's the reasonable doubt thing - if nothing else, effectively create any reasonable doubt at all, as to the potential credibility or correctness of whatever it is that they have been taught, or have taught themselves.
I do this, and i do it as often as i possibly can, and to the utter end of my resources, and mental and emotional abilities, and with any single person or persons that engage with me at all in any sort of a "different" or "uncomfortable" manner.
Tomorrow some people like ourselves are going to attempt to do the same things EXACTLY where laws DO get passed -for the first time ever in this kind of a forum. Why can't you just shut the rudeness, and give some respect to the people there that ARE doing what needs to be done. This is about them. This is about US. ME and YOU. To hell with the person sitting at 1600, hell with laws and the congress or whether or not it was sloppy or good or what can never happen because all 200whatever congresspeople you have never personally met nor talked to are theives and whores and liars(that is not my personal feeling nor my experience - those are a paraphrase of your terms). It is about DOING this. BEING there. regardless of the outcome. JUST DO IT. That's the point. Eventually the work will be done or closer to it. You are sitting 3,000 miles from here. Attend the meeting tomorrow, talk to these people yourself, and then judge. Every person on the earth can lie, and most do.
Eventually you will reach and talk to some real human beings that really do care and are still there for some if not most of the right reasons. Call them all useless liars and every single one a hypocrite ? How can you ever possibly - or anyone possibly - make such blind judgements and actually expect to make it STICK. HUH ? that's a lie from the word go. You nor i have witnessed the thoughts or feelings of those behind every eyeball, in all of these offices and/or the thousands of people that support their activities every day. If you have lobbied or helped to get laws passed, you should know this. Why be intentionally inflammatory when i wasnt even talking about what or who or how you responded to it at the core of the statement. I was talking the whole time about BEING THERE. YOU and ME and ALL of US. GET IT DONE. PERIOD. END OF STORY. "RESISTANCE IS FUTILE". FORWARD ONLY, etc add infinitum.
If you have such issues with people actually trying to reinforce the beginning steps of what needs to be done here, dont make it everyone else's problem with what resembles bitterness and rude unladylike nastiness.
I try so hard - and dont always succeed - to do the same things - every day - every place i go and with almost every person i meet, and no matter what background. - i GIVE love, share my intelligence, innately and utterly unconditional warmth, consideration, genuinely uncontrived and often quite old-fashioned ladylike sensibilities.
A real self confidence that can only come from being comfortable in my/OUR own skin in ways that many of those i talk to, will never be or have never been. It has visibly impacted where i live, where i shop, and the few places i have had the chance to work since i began my transition. That's not "nothing". Since i dont apparently have the luxury of "passing" fully at all times thus far(until people get to know me and then there is no doubt - "wow - "she really IS a girl, about as much as it gets ") - i therefore choose to deal VERY directly with the conseqeunces of that reality, regardless of the outcome.
Even if they are pointing and laughing and snickering - i WILL walk right up to the hateful ignorance, and begin the most unexpected and brutally straightforward intelligent conversation with them that they had never expected in their entire life. And have often made a difference. Sometimes not. That's a potential doorway to progress, either way - no matter how small or insignificant by your apparently unreachable standards.
Many of these legislators from all over the country have STILL never actually met someone like you or i that utterly defies all the damaging stereotypical views that form the basis for the continued ignorance and discrimination. If you won't go and talk to them face to face, and i don't, and none of these people tomorrow are willing to - then who will ?? Non-trans people ?? I guess you'd prefer non-trans people to represent our uniquely overwhelming personal experiences for a while longer ?
If people dont make the effort to talk to other people - to establish working dialogues with legislators and lawmakers that just dont have a clue what we are really like - and do everything possible to break the false misperceptions, no matter an election year or not, then what will ever be accomplished ?
You sound in some ways almost like the bigots that hate us, and try to invalidate every aspect of our very real lives and very painful struggles...
I myself asked to be included in the list of witnesses testifying tomorrow - you know why ? Because i am effective in communicating these issues to people that are full of nothing but the stereotypical views that hammer my heart and mind with hurt and rage and unfairness every day of my life..
i DO break down stereotypical views, and at every chance I make or get, and know that i can make a difference. I wanted to make a difference tomorrow - by being intelligent, articulate, on point, and relentlessly determined and fearlessly self assured. That's not "nothing". I persist and i keep going at ALL costs, in spite of the fact that i havent laid my head on a pillow hardly ONE SINGLE NIGHT in the last several years without still being in some kind of anguish, and with my guts knotted about how i am going to take the extreme pressure off of my wife - to make my rent - - or pay for gas the next day, or the next week, much less almost any part of my transitional progress whatsoever for more than 2 years now - - and all because no one will hire "the Freak" i have become ? That's not "nothing" . Not to mention amongst all the other issues we all face in our families, and in our lives every day...
Those things like strength of sheer determination show, and CAN and DO make a difference sometimes. I have been discriminated against almost my entire life for one reason or another. Enough is enough. I dont need it from you too. No one does. You dont live in my shoes and you don't know the hearts and minds of those testifying tomorrow - many possibly just like you and i in many ways - how can you judge ? You are not the judge.
Let someone respond that can give an intelligent and supportive and compassionate response.
I cursed you. I was rude. I was angry. For that i am sorry. You are still a sister and have done good work that you have shared with me, and that has made a difference in the world. I will not deny that.
Most respectfully,
No matter what else has passed,
Lovingly always,
Maryanne
I'm going to try to be civil here, though it will be hard. If contempt of Congress was a an offense, I'm a capital offender.
I watched these cheap whores pimp out every notion of Constitution government we ever had like some ten cent hooker on a twenty dollar cornor. The only thing lower in this nation at this point is the Constituion which Congress pimped out like a penny whore on a hundered dollar cornor. "Retroactive immunity" really, what part of Article ONE, that's ARTICLE ONE FOR GOD'S SAKE, were they - laywers all - not getting?
The only thing that has lower approval ratings than that moron at 1600 Penn. Ave is Congress, and for good reason. We put them in office to do a job, and they defaulted on it.
And you would put your faith and trust in those people who lied, cheated, and corrupted the very system they took an oath to defend? Sorry, I have long lost faith in thier ability to honor and respect the people who put them in office, rather, they do whatever, and however, they can to merely get reelected.
They respect no law, so what is any law they pass worth? And, if they refuse to respect the law, why in the name of hell should I show them respect. If this guy had guts, instead of a reelection plan, he would have put up a law, not just held a hearing. He did nothing. Not crap. No guts, no glory.
You sound almost like the bigots that hate us, and try to invalidate every aspect of our very real lives and very painful struggles
Ya know, not even. The laws I've worked on got passed. And were upheld by the courts in the State of California. But I do know how to write laws, get them passed, and make them stick. Not a minor point. In SF the law was written to provide for the rational concerns of EVERYONE involved, so when the court got to them, and the voters, there was nothing to protect or overturn. You trusted a bunch of idiots to write the law, and guess what??? you got a law composed by (and for) idiots, one without regards to the other parties, and now you have to defend it. Sloppy work makes for sloppy law.
And the 'antics' is not you, its all them. They have done nothing to protect, defend the people who put them in office.
We were all there. Old and young. Tall and short, thin or not. "pretty enough" or not.
It was truly a good day for all of us that were there. Someone from the NCTE i personally know with real warmth, actually gave up a seat so that i could get into the main hearing gallery because all 45 seats had been taken already. Other people did that too, so that more of US could get into the room.
One of the most elegant and truly graceful hearing rooms that i have ever been in, in my life. My dad's a really good lifelong historian of DC - one of the best ever actually. i know what went into the beautiful masterwork that inspired those buildings as well or better than most people that grew up around here, and what they should mean to both you and i alike, every single one of us, as Americans first of all - if that sort of thing really matters to you at all...
You know what ? - the consensus that i found amongst an entire room full of other transpeople, the same ones as all of the rest of us. Every single one of us that knows what real extreme human anguish and utter humiliation to the core of all human sensibilities actually feels like. Some more than others in one way or another but all of us for sure in one way or another. Everyone i talked to, liked what we saw and heard - - a lot.
A room full of some of the most brilliantly sensitive people - just like you - and just like me - you know what your emotional radar is like, right ? to digress a bit - - Being trans, we have to have some of the best mental and emotional radar imagineable right ? And some of us, more like any one of us, for instance, have had to have that, all of our lives to the extreme, just to get through it - right ?
So, that standing to reason, i felt as though something really good came out of what happened yesterday. If you didn't take the time to watch it - i am truly sorry and wished you had. question it's impact if you wish - i nust then question your judgement as to your perception of it's impact if you were not directly witness to it. Who am i ? I am speaking for myself as a human being and fellow citizen just like all of you, with thoughts and feelings, just like anyone else.
We all watched a very earnestly executed royal filleting, and thorough grilling (actually grilled to a stammering crisp) of the opposition counsels by the committee chairperson. It was fun. It was nicely and quite gracefully done with a good deal of pointedness and finesse, just to make the point all the more clear.
It was extremely supportive to every single corner of my own heart, and i am neither a stupid nor insensitve person.
Neither is anyone else there that i met or knew already.
I am ashamed, and totally disgusted of the country that i truly love with all of my heart. One that would have ever allowed to happen what has happened to the most highly distinguished military veterans that have served with utter distinction and committment, NASA aeorspace engineers that love their (former)jobs, mechanics, police, business consultants, and every other field of craft or interest you can possibly think of in 30 seconds, my own included.
This was made crystal clear by a few good men and women just like you and me, in the most intelligent, distinctively correct, and UNDENIABLY IRREFUTABLE terms that this problem IS a PROBLEM that MUST and WILL and CAN be addressed, no longer be ignored or denied, and that this single day spent talking with these legislators would not fall upon deaf ears.
This was clearly and resoundingly acknowledged in almost every single behavior and inflection of the chair's attitude and almost every member of the house that spoke about or questioned the testimonies.
It was clearly acknowledged that this single effort and moment in time spent there was in fact EFFECTIVE.
I am glad WE were there.
Sincerely,
Maryanne
Posted on: June 28, 2008, 01:13:09 AM
Almost Forgot. Really good stuff here on the Vigilance blog. Good detail of the proceedings taken by Christine Grewell (a dear friend), and Jim Kennedy of TeachtheFacts.org
Heres' the link:
http://www.teachthefacts.org/2008/06/house-committee-hears-about-transgender.html
Thanks,
Maryanne
Quote from: tekla on June 25, 2008, 09:56:17 PM
I'm going to try to be civil here, though it will be hard. If contempt of Congress was a an offense, I'm a capital offender.
I watched these cheap whores pimp out every notion of Constitution government we ever had like some ten cent hooker on a twenty dollar cornor. The only thing lower in this nation at this point is the Constituion which Congress pimped out like a penny whore on a hundered dollar cornor. "Retroactive immunity" really, what part of Article ONE, that's ARTICLE ONE FOR GOD'S SAKE, were they - laywers all - not getting?
The only thing that has lower approval ratings than that moron at 1600 Penn. Ave is Congress, and for good reason. We put them in office to do a job, and they defaulted on it.
And you would put your faith and trust in those people who lied, cheated, and corrupted the very system they took an oath to defend? Sorry, I have long lost faith in thier ability to honor and respect the people who put them in office, rather, they do whatever, and however, they can to merely get reelected.
They respect no law, so what is any law they pass worth? And, if they refuse to respect the law, why in the name of hell should I show them respect. If this guy had guts, instead of a reelection plan, he would have put up a law, not just held a hearing. He did nothing. Not crap. No guts, no glory.
And the 'antics' is not you, its all them. They have done nothing to protect, defend the people who put them in office.
QFT.
I'm just a bit (somewhere around 175%) suspect of anything they do a) in the off season, and b) in an election.
QuoteYou know what ? - the consensus that i found amongst an entire room full of other transpeople, the same ones as all of the rest of us. Every single one of us that knows what real extreme human anguish and utter humiliation to the core of all human sensibilities actually feels like. Some more than others in one way or another but all of us for sure in one way or another. Everyone i talked to, liked what we saw and heard - - a lot.
A room full of some of the most brilliantly sensitive people - just like you - and just like me - you know what your emotional radar is like, right ? to digress a bit - - Being trans, we have to have some of the best mental and emotional radar imagineable right ? And some of us, more like any one of us, for instance, have had to have that, all of our lives to the extreme, just to get through it - right ?
I'm gonna bring this up, Maryanne. I don't want to belittle anyone's commitment or emotional reaction to what was a first step. I'll prolly be a bit more excited when the second one occurs and is before the entire House or Senate. Now that might just be something I'd see on the evening news if I watched tv. Or read on Yahoo or Google news.
I understand that you were neither responsible for the panel make-up nor were you responsible for the audience members who did show for the hearings. So I am not saying you personally have any responsibility or part in what did occur. But I found your words brought up something that tends to worry me about the movement in general. I think I find we are not always very well representative of large blocks of trans people.
I think the things I'm puzzled about in your post were these two phrases: "the same ones as all of the rest of us" and "the most brilliantly sensitive people - just like you - and just like me -." Excatly who are we talking about there? I read a lot of Monica Roberts over at Trans Griot and Monica seems to think, like I did, that there were no African-American TS/TGs of any sort there. Certainly not to testify. Do you know if Androgynes, Genderqueers or other people who don't binary identify were in the audience. I know they weren't at the table.
I also wonder if there were any sex-trade trans people there? Or people who are trans who have a lower educational and socio-economic level than many others have?
You see, I've struggled a very long time with this, but I am often struck by what a middle-class, white phenomenon the "transgendered movement" and it's leaders show to the world. In your opinion are there ways we can go about changing that when next WE meet with congressmen and/or senators?
Please don;t defend the panel as it was. That is not what I am hoping for, nor am I hoping to emnbarrass you at all. I do know that you live in the DC area and was thinking you may have insights on how such things work that I don't have.
Thanks,
Nichole
middle-class, white phenomenon the "transgendered movement" and it's leaders show to the world.
True for the entire LGBT movement as a whole, and across the board. With the "L" being a little bit better, and the "G" being the very worst.
Maybe i was being too general - maybe not. If the shoe fits, wear it. if not, then dont.
As always, i wrote straight from the heart, and frankly dont think it necessary or even appropriate to qualify, or justify, or even explain anything about what i gave witness to as my own very personal experience of that day. But, since you asked and, in so doing, very intentionally placed me on the spot in this manner, i will.
There were people of differing socio-economic backgrounds and of differing color there as well. At least in the chamber. I cannot speak for any of them other than to say i saw every age group, degree of "passability" and appearance,, and current economic status. At least 3 out of five people i personally spoke with that day are or were still unemployed for long enough to almost destroy them - MYSELF included.
It was a very butch - almost genderqueer woman (my impression - could be wrong) from the NGLTF - one i happen to love and respect for her fearless straightforwardness, that made sure i got into the room that day ahead of someone else that was NOT trans.
One of the key witnesses - an aerospace engineer, has not been able to find work in her field of proficience for more than 4 years, has suffered divorce and very extreme workplace discrimination. Is getting ready to sell her home, and dosent frankly know what willl come next in her own words, now that almost all of her resources are completely gone. How many dont even have homes to sell much less live in ?
Is it really necessary to quantify or qualify any one individual humans' suffering, based on any of the factors that you have mentioned ??
Many, if not most of us have suffered in one way or another in our lives, and as i clearly stated, "Some more than others in one way or another but all of us for sure in one way or another ". Maybe even that's too general. Here's an example.
On Saturday, i got up and walked out, barely holding back tears of rage and disgust, of a local TG/LGBT conference in one of my closely neighboring states. I went there to lend my support and knowledge and experience in dealing with those that would do everything possible to deprive all of us of the most basic human dignities. These are my neighbors and fellow citizens too, state lines or no state lines..
The reason i left at one point: the entire panel of Trans people that were supposed to be representative of the "community" as a whole, were all people that have largely NEVER had to face ANY of the struggles that i personally have faced, seen others face, and much less all those, a million times less fortunate than myself.
They laughed and joked during their introductions and talked about their past relationships and current sexual preferences, joked about their main issue in going to the ladies' room for the first time was whether or not they need to pull up or let down their skirts. They warmly beamed about the wonderful experiences they have all had on their wonderful jobs, and with supportive family, and on and on until - i felt like this -- "REPRESENT ME " ??!!!
i felt like my head and my heart were going to just explode in a million bitterly anguished pieces and i could barely stomach to hear any more - MY GUTS TOLD ME TO GET UP and WALK the HELL OUT of there - no matter what social capital i might lose in doing so - possibly get labeled as just another militant bitter reactionary with an axe to grind - BULLFingSH-TE.
This is about SURVIVAL - mine - yours maybe, and definitely all those that could not or would not be there because they dont even have a blasted roof over their heads, and all of theirs whether they want to acknowledge it, or be aware of it or not.
I do know that almost any other trans/androgyne/genderqueer i have ever PERSONALLY dealt with, or met, have certain fairly common characteristics - - frequently highly intelligent no matter what "educational" background, highly sensitive intuition, raw and deeply passionate emotion, and a very high degree of what i termed as "emotional radar". This, at least for me, often seemingly is directly linked to our most basic survival and defense mechanisms - and often from the youngest ages of rejection and abuse. This seems to run across the board in many ways. I was making a personal observation and do not need to qualify that either, although i just did.
If you are trans, then you know this is most likely true, without having the need to question me personally on that particular point. This is insulting to the utmost degree. I likely have no anonymity left ever again in this life. Don't want it, don't need it. Why the hell should i or any other living human being EVER settle for going back to continuing to live hiding in dark holes of complete demoralizing humiliation for the convenience of anyone else's comfort, or view of what's right or wrong for every other human being no matter what the justification ?? Hmmmm ??
I have openly invited the worst hatred that the maniacs out there have to offer - I have not been able to put my mind or heart to rest in almost 5 years. My transition is at an utter standstill in almost every way medically speaking for almost 2 years now. How does that feel to any one of us when it is that which drives us to this extreme in the first place ? Do YOU know how that feels ?
I have no retirement, no 401k, no savings, no assets, no credit, and no Phd, Doctorate, or Masters degree. Every day i face the cruelty of ignorance, the pain and hostility, and every day i keep going with love and warmth and graciousness and utter determination no matter what. NO MATTER WHAT.
I have been unable to find work as a brilliantly talented, and passionate artistic Chef, when i should have no problem doing so. I have been bitterly rejected by most of my family, almost all of my wife's family, and many former friends.
Sure is a real cakewalk, huh ? When i was a kid, a defenseless target, with no friends EVER, just because i was "different", my parents were as poor as dirt, and broke up when i was 10, in a mass of total dysfunction.
I AM doing everything possible to break down those barriers NOW. I will continue to do so.
Speak up as you are doing. Do so with as much intelligence and graciousness as possible at all times no matter the feelings. That's my advice. Easier said than done. Be the very best we can be no matter where we came from, or have, or have not. Be willing, compassionte, loving, warmly giving, and truly forgiving human beings where all others will not, or cannot ever.
Do not ever stop, and for god's sakes, STAND the hell UP. ALL the way up. I struggle with my own biases - that's my problem and i am daily dealing with it. I have been rude and angry to some that have treated me badly - and guess who is the first one to always come back to the table to make amends and go forward if possible.
I have been gifted with the access that i am being gifted with, because i will not be stopped or silenced, and i relentlessly continue to do so in a highly diplomatic, persistent, and very articulate and intelligent manner.
I am being impossibly patient when i feel like i do not have the time to do so. Period.
I will not stop creating dialogue at every opportunity that i can either create it my own self,, or that which is opened up to me by others that have greater means than myself at this moment.
Eventually i engage with, and find those, that are able to recognize and reward the value of balanced representation, and fearlessly open and straightforward dialogue. I have done this with conservative clergy that i now have open dialogue with, where none existed before amongst our community. I have done this in open public to those that will openly be rude and humiliating. I have done this with family and turned the some of the most important tides in my own life, with patient persistence and willingness to suffer the slings. I will continue to do this at all costs.
I went back into that conference after barely holding back the tears and rage becuase i decided that everyone in that room would be much better served by the sharing of my experiences, and my true and honest feelings, than my anger and resentment. So i did.
I spoke my feelings, told an entire room full of people what i thought about all of this, and apologized for my rudeness in getting up and walking out, because that is the ladylike and proper thing to do.
I then let them all have it, and pointedly did so -- and in as diplomatic, gracious, deeply open and feeling, and intelligent manner as humanly possible. The entire room, panel included, gave me a thunderous round of applause when i was done. That was not expected.
i am glad i returned to that room, and glad i sucked it up, and glad i had the strength to take those risks -because it made a difference. People told me that afterwards and thanked me for my frankness. I surely made some enemies, but i surely made some more allies as well.
I made it clear that balanced representation is of crucial and critical importance, and that this cannot be ignored.
I am glad i met Col. Diane Shroer. A woman that fearlessly served her country and put her life on the line for every single one of us. A woman that has the same human look in her eyes that every single one of us i have ever met has. Someone that knows the value of real extreme anguish. Someone that never expected to be completely rejected by the country that she served with her own life, and would have to love, to do so in the manner in which she did it for as long as she did. I am glad she was there to represent all of us, regardless of socioeconomic background.
I will say it again for one last time. I know what i saw for myself. I know what i am feeling for myself. I know what i am feeling for her, and for everyone else i met.
I am glad WE were there.
Dissect it into a million pieces if you want - if anyone wants. It will NOT remove the clarity of what i saw and felt this day. They talked about being humiliated and broken and beaten down for nothing else than being different. IN SPITE OF SOCIOECONOMIC ADVANTAGE - THAT IS the point.
Discrimination and fear and ignorance have leveled the playing field of socioeconomic advantage, and now it's time to begin to actually even the odds. If someone is articulate and compassionate enough to express that EFFECTIVELY and graciously, So be it, no matter what their color or background or educational level. If someone is capable, then allow them to BE capable.
THIS WAS HEARD AND ACKNOWLEDGED.
Label it T, G, L, B, Q, GWQRSGreenBLACKORANGHEDTYREDWHITEANDBLUEFHIY - or whatever you may wish.
We are all HUMAN BEINGS at the end of the day. That was the point. The moral obligation is to not discriminate against fellow human beings, no matter what the reason or economic standing.
The point is the same and you or Monica or Anonymous no name no face - that were NONE of you actually there, and you have completely missed the point altogether.
I do not know what else i can say.
I dont have to say anything else.
Most Sincerely and Respectfully yours,
As always,
LoveForever,
I AM,
Maryanne
As always, i wrote straight from the heart
I never have, and do not now doubt that in the least. I do doubt that those you you have faith in do any thing 'from the heart', hell, I'm in doubt if they even have a heart.
Look. My Congress critter is a W ----, a B----, even a C---. Because among other things she has said "impeachment is off the table" and she represents, and I use that term very, very loosely San Francisco. Do you, in your wildest dreams think that in any way or fashion that represents us here? No. Neither do I. So goes my confidence in these people. Oh yeah, she is the Speaker of the House too. So much less confidence then in the entire institution then.
Tomorrow marks the date of the first ever Congressional hearings, open to the public and the media, which pertain directly to the ongoing pervasiveness of overwhelming social and workplace discriminations, that all too many of us have had to face and continue to do so here in the U.S.
Did I miss something? Is there a law on the table here? Oh my. What exactly is their job. I was thinking --- to pass laws. ? Tragic for us, they seem to think its just to get themselves reelected. I'm all for an all inclusive EDNA, but I'm also all in favor of a partial bill - being passed - with more to be added later because some is better than none, and I'm not immune to the idea that sometimes you start with a little, then go for a lot. So I have never given up hope for the HRC, I still give to them cold hard cash (with HUGE letters attached) as to how, and why, I keep on giving - and why I will give them money, but they can not use my name.... One half bad organization is worth more than some perfect non-existant organization - but that's my common sense side.
an aerospace engineer, has not been able to find work in her field of proficience for more than 4 years
I was not aware that any sort of areospace engineer has had and easy job finding work. Its not like it a going field.
At least 3 out of five people i personally spoke with that day are or were still unemployed for long enough to almost destroy them
Yet me (and yeah, I don't count) and the two FtM I work with were not there. Umm, because we were working? Yeah.
On Saturday, ... i felt like this -- "REPRESENT ME " ??!!!
OK, well, they don't represent you. They are not from your state, perhaps they don't face the same troubles you do. I'm sure the problems of TGs in LA or SF are not those of your state. Why should they represent you, and why is it that you though that they needed your help. Geez, I never even assume that, even when its true.
I do know that almost any other trans/androgyne/genderqueer i have ever PERSONALLY dealt with, or met, have certain fairly common characteristics
Oh my god, what follows is about to be BS ain't it? No group has universal attributes. I know a lot of those people too. A unit, a group, a movement, they are not. At the trans march in SF this last weekend, the largest trans march in the nation, one singer did a punk song about how much she hated being called a '->-bleeped-<-', the next person did a song about 'I want to be objectified' and both got props, from all the same people. One way is never the way.
Tekla - You wrote -
QuoteQuoteDid I miss something? Is there a law on the table here? Oh my. What exactly is their job. I was thinking --- to pass laws. ? Tragic for us, they seem to think its just to get themselves reelected. I'm all for an all inclusive EDNA, but I'm also all in favor of a partial bill - being passed - with more to be added later because some is better than none, and I'm not immune to the idea that sometimes you start with a little, then go for a lot. So I have never given up hope for the HRC, I still give to them cold hard cash (with HUGE letters attached) as to how, and why, I keep on giving - and why I will give them money, but they can not use my name.... One half bad organization is worth more than some perfect non-existant organization - but that's my common sense side.
I utterly agree and this is part of my point to begin with. I believe there are ALWAYS some people that are there for all, if not most of the right reasons, and that is better than nothing. Eventually this can grow and become greater and greater leverage for all of us.
Quotean aerospace engineer, has not been able to find work in her field of proficience for more than 4 years
I was not aware that any sort of areospace engineer has had and easy job finding work. Its not like it a going field.
Why judge and pick this one person's example? That is cruel and unecessary and utterly defiles the point of sharing it in the first place, for what ? context's sake ??! What a brutal and unecessary slap.
QuoteAt least 3 out of five people i personally spoke with that day are or were still unemployed for long enough to almost destroy them
Yet me (and yeah, I don't count) and the two FtM I work with were not there. Umm, because we were working? Yeah.
That's fine - never judged or mentioned that either from YOUR perspective. You live 3,000 some miles away and there is no such expectation that i stated, or made, other than if you are going to judge and dissect a proceeding that you could not attend, at least have taken the time to have watched it as it was broadcast
QuoteQuoteOn Saturday, ... i felt like this -- "REPRESENT ME " ??!!!
OK, well, they don't represent you. They are not from your state, perhaps they don't face the same troubles you do. I'm sure the problems of TGs in LA or SF are not those of your state. Why should they represent you, and why is it that you though that they needed your help. Geez, I never even assume that, even when its true.
I was there because i wanted to be there. I was there because i had asked to be on that panel and was not included. I was there because one of the speakers IS a close friend of mine that sacrificed time and energy to help on various issues even though it may not be directly occurring in her specific region.
Why do you seem to have such issues with solidarity ? She lives at the other end of my own state. I would lend help with their issues when and if ever possible - the same way that groups in her area have willingly lent effective aid and assistance to groups in my region whenever possible. I was there, because Maryland, DC, and Virginia share commerce, politics, and socioeconomic and sociologic assets and many very close connections which can, and often DO undeniably influence the very closely connected regions mentioned. especially Including the Montgomery issue.
"Thought they needed my help ?! " - don't put words in my mouth. I never said such a thing.... ...Know that i CAN help because i know myself and what i can do ?? YES...
Willing to give it ? yes. You can say all that you want, and it continues to baffle me in regards to your "regional posessiveness". Human suffering and misery are pretty much the same no matter where you go - whether its DC, LA, SF, FLA, MO, or Sri Lanka. How can you be so unbelievably obtuse ? Human rights issues are HUMAN RIGHTS issues. Period. These are GLOBAL issues, not just an SF or DC issue, no matter what the hell insulated box you think you live in. The suffering and torment of a streetwalking working girl in Richmond, VA is likely very close to the same suffering of the same kind of girl in DC, or LA, and for many if not MOST of the same reasons. You cannot possibly be that stupid...
Why should state lines or ANY lines for that matter, make any sort of difference, when the core/baseline issues are generally the same if not extremely similar in both origination and end effects ?
Sure - the mass of specific legislative issues are never the same from state to state, and county to county - but the reality of human suffering and discrimination goes worldwide, and for many if not most, the same reasons no matter where you are -and the results are the same too... - ....suicide, rape, humiliation, ignorance, bigotry, rejection, misunderstanding, unemployment - economic and sociologic loss and tragedy.... - what ? - are all those just SF and LA issues or are these in fact EVERYONE"S issues ??!!!.
I think you are so full of crap on that one that it makes me sick. You wanna stick like crazy glue to your state or regional lines, and use it as some kind of a shield, that's fine. It does not, cannot, and WILL NOT, apply to me.
QuoteI do know that almost any other trans/androgyne/genderqueer i have ever PERSONALLY dealt with, or met, have certain fairly common characteristics
Oh my god, what follows is about to be BS ain't it? No group has universal attributes. I know a lot of those people too. A unit, a group, a movement, they are not. At the trans march in SF this last weekend, the largest trans march in the nation, one singer did a punk song about how much she hated being called a '->-bleeped-<-', the next person did a song about 'I want to be objectified' and both got props, from all the same people. One way is never the way.
I used specific language. READ IT AGAIN. EVERY SINGLE WORD. I spoke from my OWN personal experience, NOT YOURS. You tried to dissect and defend a point that you cannot possibly defend because i spoke for myself and not you or anyone else.
I was trying to draw threads of commonality and connectedness, where you and others seem to wish to break those threads at every opportunity - why ? i am not sure other than maybe your own personal jaded bitterness. I have NEVER ONCE said ONE way is the ONLY way. I never even implied such a thing. I talked about "ALMOST" every person i have ever dealt with. Then you come along and try to dissect it without even paying attention to the VERY specific language i have used to descibe MY OWN personal observations.
That's the lie of religion and theology, which lies at the very heart and the very basis for almost all discrimination, cultural misunderstanding, bias, and human misery and suffering that has ever occurred.
Please do not insult me like that. I have said what i said. Shared what i have shared. Continue to nitpick it if you like.
I will be moving forward to make every possible progress a reality, while you are still trying to tear it down in your own way. You are an intelligent person. I like you. We do share many of the same views and values. I will not denigrate or invalidate your personal experiences. Please do not try to do the same to mine. It is simply not necessary.Respectfully yours,
Lovingly always,
I am,
Maryanne
This topic is locked and will not be reopened tonight by me at any rate. Both posters have been requested to maintain a certain civility and respect for one another and to adjust some of the more emphatic portions of their posts.
The request was met with refusal by one poster. The other has not made a reply nor been on the board. Therefore I have locked the topic and will edit it as I deem necessary to tone down the mutual disrespect. Thanks for everyone's understanding.
Nichole