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| Stop in fighting! |
If half the energy being wasted on in fighting were used toward activism, education, advocacy, and support, the entire Trans, Bisexual, Lesbian and Gay community would be far better served.
We either stand together or fail in our separated ways.
Stonewall and disparity revisited.
by E.m. Equality on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 8:06pm
A while back, I posted a note that was picked up by Trans Talk. Please take a moment and read Stonewall and disparity so you can have some perspective on where I was then and where I am now.
Ok, got it all read? Good! I belong to a Trans group and someone posted some really angry comments regarding the Gay community vs. the Trans community. The gist of it was (paraphrasing): "Fuck same-sex marriage rights, and fuck gay rights until a Trans inclusive ENDA gets passed. Basically, we should worry about us (the Trans community) and not expend energy on the Gay community. Well, I cannot sit there and think this way anymore.
The way I see it is divisiveness is tearing the community apart. I have felt discrimination, as well as solidarity from the community. However, any small step is still a step. Does this mean that we should stop fighting? No! What would have happened if Dr. King had stopped fighting for equality of all races just because the N.O.I. used violent tactics? Having an exclusionary stance makes us no better than those who would discriminate against us. When one is involved in the fight for equality, THAT should be the priority..not just a few aspects, or some instances of equality...it is equality FOR ALL, and not for all after "we get ours." This is the thinking that is holding ALL of us back. This is what the right and the bigots at NOM want us to think...if we think this way, THEY win, and WE ALL LOSE.
I remember when I was dealing with the Ball Memorial Hospital incident. Where did the majority of my support come from? The Gay community! I have experienced discrimination and mocking, derisive behavior from the LGB, but does this reflect on the community as a whole? Certainly not!
I am sorry but it is just after engaging in that discussion that I was reminded of how I used to think, and of just how far we have to come as a community. As long as there is injustice and inequality OF ANY KIND, ANYWHERE, I will speak my voice and continue to fight for the rights of all. Fuck the politics of exclusion. Fuck the "only after our rights our met attitude." Struggle, fight, make the change you desire.
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2 comments:
Now if people in positions of power were to adopt this perspective, it might actually begin to have some positive effects. However, when leaders like Barney Frank start pandering to the conservative right by bringing up groundless matters, preying upon the fears of the "moral majority" and Christian rightists, this seems to make the entire matter seem moot - especially for the lesser demographics within the TG umbrella. If this is to work at all, it needs to be implemented at all levels - and most importantly from the top of the power pyramid down. Right now, I am in the position of believing the gist of what the article professes, yet at the same time, I have decades of experience that prevent me from feeling anything other than a feeling of discouragement in this area. After all actions and experience mean a lot more than words - especially when action ignores history and truth.
Say what you want to about my position. I really do not give a flying F*** at this point. My experiences have left me in a situation where I frankly do not give a damn about what anyone says about me. They can hate me and discredit me all they want to. But know this: Their hatred of me can never equal the hatred that I have for my own life, that has for decades been aided and abetted by those in the LBGt movement, that have thrown me, and others like me, under the bus way too often. At best this is hypocrisy. At worse, it is oppression of a lesser minority for political gain. Don't blame the injured for not sharing the beliefs of those who have harmed them. It is bad enough that we all share the same discrimination, but when one group stands on the shoulders of another, to keep their heads above water, how do you think the person with the shoes of the person on top on their shoulders feels?
I hope, as younger, more informed individuals ascend to positions of power, that the situation will change. However, even in this I have to look at the possibilities with a jaundiced eye. It is well known that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." However, too many forget the first corollary of this axiom. "Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible." With the way that things are in the world today, I really do not think that things are going to change all that much for the better for very long. We are heading into a series of crazy years here and things are just now beginning to get bad.
Sigh...To quote Joni Mitchell; "They won't give peace a chance. This was just a dream that some of us had."
Joanne, Thank you for sharing your opinions and your feelings. They are always valued.
The only way things will ever change is through positive dialog.
Again, Thanks for speaking your voice, my friend!
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