Anti-gay activist group admits trans school "harassment" is fake

The Transadvocate | Cristan Williams

The PJI is a right-wing activist organization and huge supporter of the ex-gay movement as well as the debunked practice of conversion therapy. Recently, the PJI stirred up the right-wing word by claiming that a kid in Colorado was helped by the public school system to harass cisgender girls in the restrooms. Right wing media outlets jumped at the story without conducting any fact checking, prompting members of the right wing community to call for the death of the trans kid....

In a statement delivered to the TransAdvocate by attorney Cathy Brennan, the PJI claims that a trans person in the restroom is "inherently intimidating and harassing." Brennan, vocal critic of  trans equality measures, became somewhat infamous after she outed a trans teen to his parents and school, and recently attempted to intervene in the medical care of a transgender person.

After days of sidestepping any explicit statements about the exact nature of the supposed "harassment," PJI now asserts that the mere presence of a trans person constitutes harassment and intimidation to cisgender people.

(Emphasis as in the original)

Full text and sound recording of the interview with the School District Superintendent at the link above.

My comments:

This is not a continuation of the bathroom discussion.  It is a discussion about the tactics and actions of trans-haters, now including the despicable Cathy Brennan.

It is clear that the "Pacific Justice (sic) Institute" was embarked on a smear campaign.  They intentionally resorted to innuendo and deceit.  Now they are in league with notorious haters.  A match made in ... hell.

I believe it is incumbent upon all of us to be active in contesting and fighting hatred on any level.  In saying that, I find Cristan's comments objectionable as well.  Some media outlets jumped at the story.  Many of them have retracted or disavowed the story, even from their opinion blogs.

This isn't a left/right issue so much as it is a fact/fiction issue.  So where is the cavalry?

Not surprised it was faked.

I am sick of adults acting like babies, people need to learn to grow up and set a good example for their own children. Lies are almost always caught, and you end up looking like a bigger fool because of it. You can express your opinions in a civilized manner, but that seems a little too much to ask sometimes.

I am convinced it was all for stirring the anti-trans pot and raising more money from the willfully ignorant.

This story was so fishy I could smell it a mile away.

One of the excuses the haters always seem to use when it comes to transfolk using a public restroom is that some boys or men will take advantage of new, more liberal policies by using a transgender identity subterfuge to get away with a crime against women. 

I wouldn't be surprised if the RWNJs try to plant a shill who actually harasses girls or women next time.

Quote from: Jill F on October 17, 2013, 11:18:18 PM
One of the excuses the haters always seem to use when it comes to transfolk using a public restroom is that some boys or men will take advantage of new, more liberal policies by using a transgender identity subterfuge to get away with a crime against women.

Reminds me of whenever a mass shooting happens (stay with me on this) that there is cries to ban certain things while completely ignoring that the crime in question is already illegal. The bathroom paranoia is more on that line of trying to appeal to those who want somebody to project them from the evils of the world; which is just about everything if you start with the assumption that the targets of the anti-trans* propaganda are of the "low intelligence" voter population (prone to manipulation of all sort).

It was exactly as I predicted. Her existence was the harassment.

Seriously, what is wrong with those people? Will all the outraged news outlets screaming for trans* blood now retract their vitriol and apologise? Don't make me laugh!

In a new low, an anti-trans blog operated by the despicable Cathy "Bug" Brennan, actually printed the name of the teen transgirl and referred to her as "a male student ... who claims to be transgender."

OK, I'm going to get on my soapbox one more time. (Unh. Ugh. Ok, here I am. Gee, it's kind of high up here).

I think we, as trans people, bring this sort of thing on ourselves. We've done a terrible job of educating the world about transgender bathroom issues. (And it IS our job. If we don't, NOBODY will).

People need to know that transgender women use ladies' rooms millions of times a day across the world without incident. That when we live as women, we have no option. It's simply the only place for us to go. That non-passing trans women are "just as female" as those who pass well, and that the fact of their not passing well cannot be a bar to their being allowed to perform bodily functions safely.

The vast majority of the world does not know this (though they might if they thought about it for a few moments) because our community has done a poor job explaining it all.

OK, back down off my soapbox.

Quote from: suzifrommd on October 19, 2013, 09:56:01 AM
I think we, as trans people, bring this sort of thing on ourselves. We've done a terrible job of educating the world about transgender bathroom issues. (And it IS our job. If we don't, NOBODY will).

I would encourage you to call into my live podcast and talk about your experiences along these lines. We've discussed the subject generally before but we're mostly cis folk a.k.a. peanut gallery. We only recently got our first guest co-host who is trans.

why don't they just stop bothering about how we trans people get along, and go use all that strategical planning and determination and spirit in saving the world from global warming instead?

Quote from: Miss Bungle on October 19, 2013, 11:55:13 AM
It is THEIR fault.

It always has been and it always will be. If these people choose to be schmucks that is their fault.

You're right Miss Bungle, but I can't help thinking that if gay people felt that way, they still would have marriage equality nowhere and wouldn't not be serving openly in the military at all.

People's ignorance is their fault.

But it is harming us. Therefore if it is going to change, it will be we that change it.

I know it is naive, but I believe that ignorance can be reduced by education. I spend my day as a school teacher and would like to believe my students do leave my presence knowing a little more than they did when they came.

Quote from: suzifrommd on October 19, 2013, 09:56:01 AM
OK, I'm going to get on my soapbox one more time. (Unh. Ugh. Ok, here I am. Gee, it's kind of high up here).

I think we, as trans people, bring this sort of thing on ourselves. We've done a terrible job of educating the world about transgender bathroom issues. (And it IS our job. If we don't, NOBODY will).

People need to know that transgender women use ladies' rooms millions of times a day across the world without incident. That when we live as women, we have no option. It's simply the only place for us to go. That non-passing trans women are "just as female" as those who pass well, and that the fact of their not passing well cannot be a bar to their being allowed to perform bodily functions safely.

The vast majority of the world does not know this (though they might if they thought about it for a few moments) because our community has done a poor job explaining it all.

OK, back down off my soapbox.

Well, Suzi, I have been active on several websites that persist making just that case.  I can only hope the non-commenting readers of the comments "get it," because I am dealing with Neanderthals otherwise.

Quote from: suzifrommd on October 19, 2013, 12:45:11 PM
I can't help thinking that if gay people felt that way, they still would have marriage equality nowhere and wouldn't not be serving openly in the military at all.

People's ignorance is their fault.

But it is harming us. Therefore if it is going to change, it will be we that change it.

I know it is naive, but I believe that ignorance can be reduced by education. I spend my day as a school teacher and would like to believe my students do leave my presence knowing a little more than they did when they came.

I agree 100% and also the lesbian and gay community,didnt get those things without fighting ignorance.I honestly feel that the Trans* community has ALOT of pain coming.Its true im a realist and the truth is,i do not see any of this getting better in any form whatsoever.With everything going on,the unsolved murders,beatings,comments from our own leaders,lack of health care and these bathroom laws being shot down,It really makes me realize that things are only going to get harder.And just like past contempt and hatred,we are going to be forced to come out and fight for those rights,because we all know that the things society doesnt like,they have targeted to the fullest.Native americans,african americans,womans rights,the gay community and since ignorance is 10% stronger now then it was then *we just have laws in place to protect most minorities* There isnt any in place to protect the Trans* community *in most places anyway and if they are broken,they are never enforced* Like for example this very story.This in term is seen as *cyber bullying,harassment,and ruining of ones character* Hate speech is controlled only toward a certain group/minority but is allowed toward most Trans* people and if these things were toward anyone else,actions would have been taken already.Its sad and why i mostly stay away from these things.I cant deny the future outcome though but i know that if it does come to a fight for Trans* rights,then i will give my all and my life if needed.

As a "stealth" trans person, I have had a number of opportunities to educate ignorant cis people about trans issues, and I have usually taken those opportunities. The thing is, a lot of ignorant people won't listen to someone from the group they hate, but they WILL listen, at least for a little while, to someone they think doesn't belong to the target group. Since people don't read me as trans, they let me weigh in. If they're actual bigots, they won't listen. If they're simply ignorant, they often will. And, as a professor, I actually have the authority and the gravitas to shush a student every once in a while and say, "No, let me finish. You had your say; now let me have mine." I am not shy about it.

With cis people I have talked to, the bathroom issue has come up only twice that I remember, but I have made my views known on both occasions. If those folks had pegged me as trans, they probably would not have given me any consideration. But because they see me as cis, they listen. I have also talked with cis people about other trans issues without their knowing I was trans.

Actually, it kind of burns me up that some super-activist trans people tell me that because I am not openly trans, I am not doing anything for the cause. I volunteer here, I have contributed here, I have contributed to the TLC, I have educated colleagues, I have educated a couple of doctors, I have supported specific trans people I know (sometimes monetarily), I offer my trans students a safe and respectful space--it is even in my syllabus. I also talk to cis people as one of them, and they listen BECAUSE they think I'm one of them.

But trans activists tell me I do nothing. Well, sometimes I can do what they can't.

This really came out as a rant, didn't it? Well, it's not any less true for all that.

Arch, you don't have to be "out" to speak the truth.  You are positive influence on your students, and that is where the gains need to be made.  Keep doing what you are doing.

I don't know about anyone else, but I can't help but sexual harass people in the bathroom.  I see a toilet seat and all I can say is "damn is that sexy".  How could I ever control myself?  And when I am in the male bathroom..... oh, don't get me started on how hot those urinals are.   A girl like me simply can't resist the allure of those seductive contraptions.  After being so hot and bothered, I simply need to release and sexual assault is the one way we know how.  Oh, and of course I loove to use my genitals.  Us trans girls are very fond of pentrating everything in site, especially those that are not consenting.  We just need to have high heels on when we do it because it turns us on. 

Please quote me on this.  I'd love this confession to be put up on wnd as proof that we are deviants.  I'm certainly not being sarcastic or attempting to troll anyone. 

I see the education issue as having multiple facets. The public are obligated to educate themselves, and some do. But most who don't are either too bigoted or not invested in becoming educated. Therefore, we have to wait for the bigotry to die out. In the meantime, others must speak up. Openly trans people, "stealth" trans people, allies, advocacy groups, lawmakers, and law enforcers can all play a part. Nobody in particular MUST speak up except, perhaps, the advocacy groups and lawmakers, since that is part of their job.

The mere fact that we exist is harassment to some people. That we exist in public bathrooms is sexual harassment, in their opinion. And yet, all we are doing is BEING. Theirs is the true harassment, and they should be held responsible for it.

Quote from: learningtolive on October 19, 2013, 05:34:11 PM
I don't know about anyone else, but I can't help but sexual harass people in the bathroom.  I see a toilet seat and all I can say is "damn is that sexy".  How could I ever control myself?  And when I am in the male bathroom..... oh, don't get me started on how hot those urinals are.   A girl like me simply can't resist the allure of those seductive contraptions.  After being so hot and bothered, I simply need to release and sexual assault is the one way we know how.  Oh, and of course I loove to use my genitals.  Us trans girls are very fond of pentrating everything in site, especially those that are not consenting.  We just need to have high heels on when we do it because it turns us on. 

Please quote me on this.  I'd love this confession to be put up on wnd as proof that we are deviants.  I'm certainly not being sarcastic or attempting to troll anyone.

The problem is, of course, we are dealing with those who have a mindset not open to change.

For instance, "God made men and women.  This boy (sic) has a penis, so he (sic) should use the men's bathroom."

Me: "I understand, but medical science has shown that there are some people who do not have just XX or XY chromosomes, and others who have conditions in which they developed in utero unlike the genotype would suggest.  Furthemore, gender is a mental and emotional identity, different from anatomical sex.  The transgendered represent only 0.3% of the population, but they exist."

Retort: "But God only made men and women."

People like these will never be reached.  But there are some who are open to reason and fact.  Those are the ones we need to educate.

In some form of concept,this is true.If you look at it like this,One side is ignorant on the fact that being Trans* is a sexual orientation *which it isnt but gender* The more people understand that it IS gender related,those who were anti-gay,are now seeing the LGB community as a *less* of a threat because in their eyes *orientation* never effected ones *safety* E.G *dressing up as the opposite sex and gaining entry into said bathrooms* But with said ignorance,they do not understand the full complexity to being Trans*.Many *believe* that JUST being Trans*,is in its self-dishonest and purely the need to gain something untrue.Society isnt a mental or emotional place but only physical *only the outside matters and one reason they push sex,certain clothes/types of people to promote many things* For example,Society tells us that the larger the breasts,the more sexier you are.Knowing this,on the other side-The more that the Trans* community is targeted,the more the LGB community is more accepted *as separate of course and not as a whole.if you are a Trans'man and gay,it wont matter* I feel this is one reason that most LGB people are pulling away from the T,because of this.So in a sense,pushing the target to someone else,in the end will leave the Trans* community with no backers or supports other then local *for the people* and *pro rights for all* supports and personal friends and so on.I agree that education is very much needed but it will be a very long process because of the ideas that society has ingraved into most of human kind.Its not a worthless venture but it will take alot of patience,long suffering and smarts to accomplish.I believe you can teach today while holding your guard,being prepared for ANY outcome but always hoping for the best.