Thursday, December 09, 2010
Gay Community, Y'all Haven't Exactly Been 'Fierce Advocates' For Us
Posted by Monica Roberts at 12:00 AM
http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2010/12/gay-communty-yall-havent-exactly-been.html (http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2010/12/gay-communty-yall-havent-exactly-been.html)
One of the things I've noted in the gayosphere, especially amongst white GLBT peeps is how quick they are to not only slam President Obama for not in their estimation passing their desired legislative agenda items fast enough to their liking but sarcastically mock his campaign pledge he'd be a 'fierce advocate' for the community.
You know, I'd be careful about throwing shade at the Prez because your 40 year record for being 'fierce advocates' for the trans community is piss poor compared the President Obama's after just two years in office.
I would tend to agree with much of this piece. Has the gay community done a better job, by and large, than the straight community with respect to upholding trans rights? Yes. Have they gone far enough? No.
As an example, we see and hear day and night about the importance of eliminating DADT and allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. military. What has gone completely unnoticed by the media, has been the fact that open trans men and women may not enlist, nor continue to serve in the military once found out. The military code of justice sees us as having a mental disorder, and unfit to serve. Of course, the wonderful DSM backs up their argument.
Not one major TV, radio or newspaper article has tied the repeal of DADT with the injustice that trans servicemen and women will be left out in the cold. Is the President or Barney Frank or any other senator making a case for us? Not in your dreams. We are still too nuclear for them to come out publicly in favor of our rights.
We'll ride the coattails on gays rights successes. But we should never forget that we are our own community, and need to be our own fierce advocates for trans rights. If we don't enlist straight and gay allies, no one will push for our rights. Let's not forget that!