02/25/2008
HRC Defends Position on ENDA as Trans Groups Picket Outside
Gay City News reports that a 50-strong group of transgender supporters picketed HRC's New York dinner on Saturday, while inside President Joe Solmonese defended the group's trans-exclusive position on ENDA.
Said Solmonese: "I understand and I hear every day that some members of our community are feeling forgotten or left behind. It is easy to understand why. We have to overlook our differences and we have got to see instead of our individual wants and immediate desires... a vision for the America that we all want to live in...I have to ask myself: When did we all become so impatient? When did we say to ourselves, okay that civil rights thing, I'll give it a year, maybe two, then I'm done. Let me be very clear: No, we are not done. We are in the grueling, blinding middle of this fight and the middle of this fight is the hardest part...Some of us may want to stand back or check out, but there is no standing back. There is no checking out. Because sometimes -- and I know this is frustrating -- the fight for our rights feels like hell, but as Winston Churchill so aptly put it, 'When you are going through hell the most important thing is to keep going.'"
Gay City News also notes that missing from the dinner were many elected officials who had attended in the past, many of whom cited "scheduling conflicts" as their reason for not attending. How many of those absences had to do with the ENDA position is unclear.
Snubbed by NYC Pols, HRC Answers Its Critics [gay city news]
Posted 4:43 PM EST by Andy Towle in ENDA, New York, Transgender | Permalink
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Tell a drag queen to "her" face that she is not gay. Who decided there should be this forced distinction? When was it decided? In the 1980s or 90s? Who had the authority to set the criteria that only those who accept gender role norms can be gay? There are gay men who don't desribe themselves as "feminine", but they are about as "traditionally masculine" as a pink plume(I've seen the hairy bitches). There are drag queens who wouldn't have a sex change if they hit a fortune on the Powerball--so they are trans and gay at the same time. Those transfolk who describe themselves as "gay"-- ARE. No gay bastard on this Earth has the right to tell a feminine male or a masculine female that they are NOT gay. Where'd your "know-it-all" ass come from? Uranus? The nerve....
There is such a tone of bigotry and superiority in many of those who are so quick to make the distinction between "able to pass for straight" homosexuals vs "gender role rejecting" homo & trans folk.
"I really don't hang around those type of people--those drag queens" is the attitude many of y'all have. Who gives a fuck who you hang around with? You do not have the authority to tell non-gender role conforming people that they are not gay. Yeah, go to a typical gay pride parade or festival and start to spewin' that crap...I dare ya'.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Feb 26, 2008 11:28:57 AM
The previous post although disrespectful makes some good points. HRC for years has been criticized by gays and lesbians for putting forward only representatives that look like straights. HRC has always shied away from showing the full breadth of the Gay and Lesbian community. Seldom do you see Butch Lesbians and Nellie Gays. What you see representing HRC are strong masculine men and lipstick lesbians. At one time it was a statement from HRC that gays and lesbians are the same as straights except for our sexual orientation. This statement ignored all the other groups under the gay umbrella. Are we to ignore all the bears, butches , leather/levi, drag kings etc. becuase we want to project a we are the same as you (just look how normal we look and act.)
Are far as progression in rights. I agree looking at HRC beyond their promise of support for ENDA what is there for transfolk is pretty lame or has a closed page (ie we ain't doing nothing on this page no more). I mean I came out 15 years ago to my family and employer without HRC pamphlets on how to come out which is the preponderance of is on the HRC trans site, How to come out to your family and how to come out to your boss. WOW!!!! I'm realllllllly impressed by your support. Thanks!!!!!
Knowing that HRC has nothing on their site beyond coming out and ENDA what can I expect them to do if and when nontrans ENDA passes. I expect that HRC will move on to other gay and lesbian only issues of marriage, adoption, military service etc.
Some have rightly suggested that trans stand on their own and fight for their own issues. Fine then get the hell out of the way and quit sabotaging our efforts. Until recently HRC policy was to actively fight and transinclusive bill. So again get the hell out of the way. We try to pass a trans rights bill and HRC folks say it has nothing to do with bathrooms. HUH!!!! Without protections I could have been arrested any time I used a public bathroom or locker room male or female before I had my Birth Certificate changed. Try buying clothes if can't use the changing room male or female. As a matter of fact the District Attorney in my city threatened to do just that. Trans folk need protections for use of public bathrooms. Again HRC get the hell out of the way quit lying to trans and the public about trans issues.
I have no complaint with HRC advocating for only gays and lesbians. But if that is their polity then quit asking me for support. And quit working against my efforts to gain the same rights that they are fighting for for gays and lesbians.
Finally, with all the atagonizism for rights for trans why is it that every pride event includes disgusting drag shows?
Posted by: jacquelyn | Feb 26, 2008 7:11:50 PM
One further comment. I remember Milwaukee Pride having a dust up when the Pride committe told all trans that they would need to provide proof of gender ID to use any bathroom on Pride grounds. To quote a statement made above "Fuck You Very Much" for your support.
Posted by: jacquelyn | Feb 26, 2008 7:21:52 PM
Nick;
I agree, let's stop lumping us together. The Right wing's major propaganda is all about mythical gay male promiscuity, bugchasing, bath houses, and meth use. Tough sell given their propaganda machine. Not much chance of passing ENDA even without the transgendereds. Unless..we accept incrementalism and go for a Lesbian only ENDA this time. We promise to come back for you later.
Posted by: MauraHennessey | Mar 1, 2008 11:31:34 PM
MAURAHENNESSEY WINS!
Posted by: Alan | Jun 17, 2008 3:20:20 PM