Why I Stand for Transgender Rights
September 15, 2009 by p2son
http://petersontoscano.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/why-i-stand-for-transgender-rights/ (http://petersontoscano.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/why-i-stand-for-transgender-rights/)
Chett Pritchett, a Facebook friend from Washington, DC recently wrote an essay in his notes outlining why he stands for Transgender Rights. After reading it and recognizing his analysis to be accurate, I asked his permission to repost. He gladly agreed.
Why I Stand for Transgender Rights
by Chett Pritchett
Some gay men I know act as if transgender rights are just something that they know they should work for because they are included in the alphabet soup of letter we encounter in our movement. Most gay men I know don't even "get" the transgender discussion, let alone want to support civil rights for persons of all gender identities. Sometimes it's because we are simply uneducated; sometimes it's because exploring gender identity challenges our own binary gender constructions, because after-all, we're men who love other men; and sometimes it's because we're deeply afraid that in seeking civil rights for others, we will somehow lose the precious political powers we have gained. Equality for all must mean that we overcome these deep fears and misconceptions.
The initial push to exclude T from ENDA ("We'll come back and get you later" ::)) was primarily because "It won't pass if we include transgender." That was a pretty powerful statement of non-support.
I've had many a conversation with gay men and almost all of them were clueless when it came to understanding transgender issues. You can bet they weren't when I was done. But once they understood, they really became supportive.
If something doesn't come up on one's radar screen, it's usually just a matter of education to get them to understand.
Julie
Its not like it was going to pass anyway, and not like BushII would have signed it.
I posted this in response. It's preaching to the choir, but needs to be said to everyone:
QuoteAs a woman who was born in a male body, I have had to overcome some serious internal and external issues and images to become myself, my true self.
ENDA has a direct effect on me and all like me, of course. And I applaud Mr Toscano's blog for publishing Mr Pritchett's letter. It says much of what needs to be said about equal opportunity. Dr. Kings statements ring so true even today.
Also, I wish to stress, that by including transgender rights in the ENDA bill (specifically gender blindness), it prevent *anyone* from being discriminated against because of their gender presentation.
For example, without gender identity protection, a woman with short hair could be construed as having a too masculine presentation and be fired or refused housing. Regardless of her sexual orientation.
A man with too much "flair" could be construed as being to feminine and be terminated. It wouldn't matter if he was gay or straight, though you can surely well bet that it would be the club by which all LGB & T could be hit with.
So you see, this protects ALL of us. And that was why I and so many of our lesbian and gay friends were so disappointed when transgender specifications were removed from the last attempt for ENDA.
I pray that is not the case this time and that Mr Obama will stand by his pledge to sign this legislation when it gets to his desk.
-Sandy