Quote from: suzifrommd on March 20, 2013, 09:32:16 AM
Alas. Some of us who live in more open-minded areas need to read stories like this to remind us how much some people hate us.
Truthfullly, there is nothing better than having " less governmental intrusion" in our lives. Reagan said it, Bush I and Bush II said it, Congressperson Steve Pearce-NM 2nd dist. says it; they all seem to talk about " less government" in our lives. However, as a transsexual lesbian feminist, they give us drug tests for welfare and food stamps [ some states], highly-intrusive ultrasound vaginal probes for pregnant bio-women considering a legal abortion[ Texas]; and now transgender restroom laws? Wonderful, where have the Log Cabin Republicans gone? many of their party, the Repugnants, seem to be caving into the demands of the rightest of wing right wingers; those lovely " Mrs. Ward Cleavers" like Penny Nance at Concerned Women for America [
www.cwfa.org] who literally feared that the Colorado Transgender Anti-discrimination laws would allow " Men to dress in women's clothing so they can gain access to women's public restrooms, this to rape women and molest our daughters" [ I'm serious!]. Good thing that the National Organization for Women, aka: NOW, is fighting for transwomen's rights because transwomen are, well, WOMEN! [
www.now.org] Truly, I cannot see myself degrading myself to that level. Having spent two years homeless driving across the country in full or part-way and staying in many shelters; I REFUSED to lower myself and use that other bathroom. The Jesus Center in Chico, CA gave me problems; Pastor Rich Young denying me use of the women's room despite what my driver's license stated-'F" for female. Good Samaritan Shelter in Carbondale, IL actually asking me to " show surgery papers" because " [my] license was not good enough". Same for the Danbury shelter system in my own Connecticut where my license was from at the time; in Nov. 2011 Mike Fleming-director, demanding that I show " Real proof of gender change"; at which time I showed him the emergency orchiectomy from Denver Health [ after I took matters into my own hands because, being on SSDI/SSI, Medicare and the SSA refuses to both change birth "gender" and cover SRS and/or even female medical necessities such as mammograms!]. Connecticut passed their gender identity and expression act into law shortly after in spring 2012! Eugene, OR in Oct. 2009, their St. Vincent De Paul society shelter, upon calling and explaining my situation, told me " We go by your physical sex. You would be in the M** shelter". No thanks! Good thing I had that tent bought with credit cards still not paid for! I felt much more " dignified" camping for five weeks in a rainy coastal forest [ Suisun National For.] and using compost restroom and/or squatting like any dignified woman would before lowering myself back to my pre-coming out status! As a non-traditional student at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana who is living on campus in an adult student efficiency apt. with shared bathroom; our NMSU Housing considers transwomen to be....WOMEN. You will be paired with another woman for dorm roommate or, in student apartments, for a roommate or bathroom share-mate! Believe me, with the hostile looks from some of these men as I walk into the women's and they, then men's room-YIPES!! Not to seem prejudiced, but many of our Mexican-American, heterosexual alpha-male, students give me threatening looks as if they expected me to do the " Lorena Bobbitt" to their manhood which defines "who they are" in life [ Blame the Catholic Church's teachings of "Love thy neighbor" for this!]. NM has a California-like, or CO like, law, by the way; and even though I have not gotten my driver's license yet [ just plates], it is really easy; especially if you already possess a Female lic. from another state. If not, psychologist fills out shorter than short form stating " full time".