In the Ex-Gay Watch blog, Autumn Sandeen writes a post describing the use of slurs against transgendered people, relating it to the slur used by Ann Coulter against John Edwards recently. The Ex-Gay leaders came down on Coulter for using that slur as demeaning and insulting to gay people. Autumn broaches the question of what about the slurs in the supposedly affirming Christian ex-gay movement about transsexuals?
Being called by the wrong pronouns, the wrong honourifics, the old name, all these really hurt the post-transition transgendered person. How can it be affirming when words like "tranny" are used to describe us? (I'm not at all clear about the reclaiming of that word, but it is rather demeaning.)
When someone calls me "sir" by mistake, it initially stings. I correct them, and when they look at me more carefully, they do say "OH! excuse me!" So there is a politeness around here that apparently is missing in other places.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Stanton requests a public hearing
Steve(Susan) Stanton, the beleaguered Largo, Florida, city manager who has been dismissed simply for revealing his desire to change his gender, has decided to appeal the dismissal and is calling for a public hearing into the matter. This is good. He has a lot of support, there are plenty of people who think the city commission acted rashly and with a horrid display of bigotry and discrimination. This represents the next step in the process. Let's hope the voices of inclusion, reason, and calm win out over the voices of hatred, fear, and misunderstanding.
Link to GaySouthFlorida blog
Link to GaySouthFlorida blog
UCSF to close TRANS programs
UCSF has had a program in place since 2001 to aid transgender people with basic health care, social and networking needs, employment services, and information about transgender care. This was funded by federal grants from places like the CDC and the National Institute for Drug Abuse. Now the grants are ending and the TRANS programs have nowhere to go. Luckily, some people are taking action to see about getting the city of SF to step up and keep funding the programs. This is an important set of programs for San Francisco, which probably houses the largest population of transgender people in need of such services. I hope they make it happen.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Largo lets Stanton go in blatant round of bigotry and discrimination
Well, the Largo city commission has voted. 5-2 in favor of getting rid of Steve(Susan) Stanton, the city manager who a week ago announced his [Stanton has asked that he be referred to by his male name and male pronouns until he transitions] intention to transition to become a woman. The Mayor stood by him, and did one other commission member, but the rest bolted and ran like fearful little rats, showing that they don't even put their votes where they say they should, as they passed a resolution earlier prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. I don't know where this puts them, but I think Stanton has to bring a suit against them, and he has said he isn't going to do that.
The St. Petersburg Times has been doing good reportage on this issue, very factual, very balanced, without any sensationalism:
There are places you can go to voice your opinion as well. The National Sexuality Resouce Center at San Francisco State is holding a petition that they will send to the Largo commission. There's also a website devoted to helping save Stanton's position: http://www.savestanton.com/.
I think this is by far the most blatant and horrible cases of discrimination ever carried out in public. There is no possible doubt he is being fired because he is a transsexual.
Unfortunately, there are so many other cases of firing of transsexuals that happens on a regular basis that never make it to the national news or at least the national blogosphere like this one has. It is a constant threat to transsexuals everywhere, even in places where they are supposedly protected. There are any number of reasons one can fire someone; it isn't that hard to trump up charges against someone if one finds them objectionable.
When I first approached the coming out process at work, the division manager's reaction was typical. He was dead-set against it and would not allow it. I didn't know what he was going to have me do, and luckily, I never had to find out. Several of his subordinates took him in hand and explained matters to him, and he also spent time researching on his own, and came to the conclusion that it was not a bad thing as he feared, and so I had no trouble with my transition on the job.
Yet, later I was to feel the discrimination, as I lost jobs that I would have gotten before, lost influence that I had before, and was cut off from client interactions that would have let me perform my job. Eventually, my ranking dropped, and as a result, I was laid off when the mandatory layoffs came about. They had a reason: my pay was high, but my performance was low: it said so on the paper. What it didn't say was the lost opportunities to perform my job. Admittedly, at this time, I was dealing with some tremendous emotional problems as well, which I think should have been taken into account, but were not.
Now, I am unemployed again, and I'm afraid that people may "read" something in me that is not quite right. Even if they don't recognize me as transgendered, they may see something they don't quite understand, and that is a big ding in the hiring process. I have to act through that fear to overcome it, and compensate for it; I have to be that much better because of it. And then, there is the problem of what happens when they do find out about my past when they run the background check? Not all companies have gender identity non-discrimination clauses. Even though the state I'm in (California) has a law on the books proclaiming gender identity and expression as protected, it doesn't necessarily translate into action at the practical level. And proving discrimination is so hard because you have to show direct cause or a trend.
So in addition to being depressed because I'm unemployed, I'm scared that I won't find a new job because of the transgender issue.
The St. Petersburg Times has been doing good reportage on this issue, very factual, very balanced, without any sensationalism:
There are places you can go to voice your opinion as well. The National Sexuality Resouce Center at San Francisco State is holding a petition that they will send to the Largo commission. There's also a website devoted to helping save Stanton's position: http://www.savestanton.com/.
I think this is by far the most blatant and horrible cases of discrimination ever carried out in public. There is no possible doubt he is being fired because he is a transsexual.
Unfortunately, there are so many other cases of firing of transsexuals that happens on a regular basis that never make it to the national news or at least the national blogosphere like this one has. It is a constant threat to transsexuals everywhere, even in places where they are supposedly protected. There are any number of reasons one can fire someone; it isn't that hard to trump up charges against someone if one finds them objectionable.
When I first approached the coming out process at work, the division manager's reaction was typical. He was dead-set against it and would not allow it. I didn't know what he was going to have me do, and luckily, I never had to find out. Several of his subordinates took him in hand and explained matters to him, and he also spent time researching on his own, and came to the conclusion that it was not a bad thing as he feared, and so I had no trouble with my transition on the job.
Yet, later I was to feel the discrimination, as I lost jobs that I would have gotten before, lost influence that I had before, and was cut off from client interactions that would have let me perform my job. Eventually, my ranking dropped, and as a result, I was laid off when the mandatory layoffs came about. They had a reason: my pay was high, but my performance was low: it said so on the paper. What it didn't say was the lost opportunities to perform my job. Admittedly, at this time, I was dealing with some tremendous emotional problems as well, which I think should have been taken into account, but were not.
Now, I am unemployed again, and I'm afraid that people may "read" something in me that is not quite right. Even if they don't recognize me as transgendered, they may see something they don't quite understand, and that is a big ding in the hiring process. I have to act through that fear to overcome it, and compensate for it; I have to be that much better because of it. And then, there is the problem of what happens when they do find out about my past when they run the background check? Not all companies have gender identity non-discrimination clauses. Even though the state I'm in (California) has a law on the books proclaiming gender identity and expression as protected, it doesn't necessarily translate into action at the practical level. And proving discrimination is so hard because you have to show direct cause or a trend.
So in addition to being depressed because I'm unemployed, I'm scared that I won't find a new job because of the transgender issue.
Friday, February 23, 2007
a very public outing
Tampa Bay Newspapers : Largo Leader
"Stanton tell employees he’s transgendered in an e-mail
By SUZETTE PORTER
LARGO – City Manager Steve Stanton sent out an e-mail to employees dated Wednesday, Feb. 21, announcing that he is transgendered and intends to become a woman." [Link]
This is a very public outing and a very public transition. It will be interesting to see how the residents and the government of Largo handle this situation.
"Stanton tell employees he’s transgendered in an e-mail
By SUZETTE PORTER
LARGO – City Manager Steve Stanton sent out an e-mail to employees dated Wednesday, Feb. 21, announcing that he is transgendered and intends to become a woman." [Link]
This is a very public outing and a very public transition. It will be interesting to see how the residents and the government of Largo handle this situation.
The Free Methodist Church in Canada...our stories: Introducing people to the God of compassion
Some Christians understand their God's commandments:
The Free Methodist Church in Canada...our stories: Introducing people to the God of compassion
I found this particularly evocative:
No idea if he got the gender pronouns right, but it's his compassion that counts, I think.
A very different experience than I had from my church, which is also a Methodist church. I came out to a couple of the pastors there. When I told the head pastor, he said to me three times that I would have to go elsewhere to transition. It turned out to be true, I was not welcomed back to that church after I transitioned. No one reached out, no one was there for me. All the friends I thought I had supporting me vanished. So much for Christian love, I thought.
I have since become an atheist, not because of that experience, but because of personal growth and understanding. That path led me through different Christian churches, then through Buddhism, and finally, after reading enough science, I just gave up on the supernatural altogether.
But it's good to know that there are people who live by their convictions and still do reach out a helping hand and don't condemn blindly because their leaders tell them to, or their fear blinds them to the fact that we are real, live human beings, just like them. Respect us. Treat us with the dignity you would anyone else. Even love us as your neighbors. We really are not a threat to you and yours.
The Free Methodist Church in Canada...our stories: Introducing people to the God of compassion
I found this particularly evocative:
I met a teenage transsexual living with AIDS who was ostracized by his family, because of sexuality. When I inquired about his support system, who was there for him….he shuffled and stared disconcertedly. His confusion grew when I pressed him further about spiritual care, wondering if he had struggled with the tough questions or thought of seeking out some of his religious leaders for direction. He laughed sarcastically. “I could never talk with them…look at me. I’m a reject (outcast) for them. Trash!” “That’s what they call people like me. I already feel bad enough – why would I go to them to feel worse?” Overwhelmed by his obvious pain, I blurted out: “Trash? No. God does not create trash.” I then began to share with him what I believed about God. “God does not breathe life into trash, but rather into human beings made in His own image, which you are. Life has purpose and meaning. You were created to be loved and to reciprocate that love.” Tears filled the young man’s eyes as he listened to my words about a God who loved him and understood his pain and confusion. His sad expression changed as he suddenly realized what this meant…he was not alone…nor would he die alone and unloved, even though those who had loved him, had walked away.
No idea if he got the gender pronouns right, but it's his compassion that counts, I think.
A very different experience than I had from my church, which is also a Methodist church. I came out to a couple of the pastors there. When I told the head pastor, he said to me three times that I would have to go elsewhere to transition. It turned out to be true, I was not welcomed back to that church after I transitioned. No one reached out, no one was there for me. All the friends I thought I had supporting me vanished. So much for Christian love, I thought.
I have since become an atheist, not because of that experience, but because of personal growth and understanding. That path led me through different Christian churches, then through Buddhism, and finally, after reading enough science, I just gave up on the supernatural altogether.
But it's good to know that there are people who live by their convictions and still do reach out a helping hand and don't condemn blindly because their leaders tell them to, or their fear blinds them to the fact that we are real, live human beings, just like them. Respect us. Treat us with the dignity you would anyone else. Even love us as your neighbors. We really are not a threat to you and yours.
Welcome a New Voice
I'd like to welcome A Wild Elegance to the blog roll. Donna Dawn Konitzer is an MTF prisoner who is also an activist for prisoners with GID to be treated better within prisons in the US. Please read her blog, it is eye-opening. Also consider a pen-pal relationship with one of the prisoners she lists toward the end of her entry (in part III of IV).
Prisoners with GID are a minority within a minority within a minority. Yet, some figures put the rate of incarceration of people with GID (Gender Identity Disorder - the defining mental disorder of transsexuals) at 30%, some as high as 65%, although that seems exceedingly high. But imagine the horrors, if you will, of someone with GID who is mid-transition facing incarceration based upon the shape of their genitals, not their identity or their appearance otherwise. Someone, who to you or I would appear as a female walking down the street may not have had SRS yet, and if they should be so unfortunate as to commit a felony, would be assigned to a male prison population. Harsh, much harsher than they deserve, I think. They are there to put in time, not to be the punching bag and fuck-hole for the other prisoners. They are routinely harassed, called by their male name, male pronouns used, which is psychologically damaging. Just punishment? I think not. Say "they broke the law, they should have known better"? Most of the time, these crimes are of desperation, because people will not hire transsexuals, even in spite of there being laws to prevent discrimination.
I'm not asking anyone to forgive their crimes and mitigate their sentences. But perhaps we can make their prison experiences a little less hellish and maybe more rehabilitative.
Prisoners with GID are a minority within a minority within a minority. Yet, some figures put the rate of incarceration of people with GID (Gender Identity Disorder - the defining mental disorder of transsexuals) at 30%, some as high as 65%, although that seems exceedingly high. But imagine the horrors, if you will, of someone with GID who is mid-transition facing incarceration based upon the shape of their genitals, not their identity or their appearance otherwise. Someone, who to you or I would appear as a female walking down the street may not have had SRS yet, and if they should be so unfortunate as to commit a felony, would be assigned to a male prison population. Harsh, much harsher than they deserve, I think. They are there to put in time, not to be the punching bag and fuck-hole for the other prisoners. They are routinely harassed, called by their male name, male pronouns used, which is psychologically damaging. Just punishment? I think not. Say "they broke the law, they should have known better"? Most of the time, these crimes are of desperation, because people will not hire transsexuals, even in spite of there being laws to prevent discrimination.
I'm not asking anyone to forgive their crimes and mitigate their sentences. But perhaps we can make their prison experiences a little less hellish and maybe more rehabilitative.
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