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!
