Something Good - Jenny Boylan's Article In The Ny Times

[Carolyn Marie]

Jennifer Finney Boylan is such a wonderful writer. This is a great piece, and given its placement in one of the world's most read newspapers, its a great thing for the Community.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/opinion/we-want-cake-too.html?emc=eta1

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Mia J]

Thanks Carolyn,

She really makes a good point. Why we gain by riding the coattails of the LBGT movement by getting to receive benefits aimed at the Gay and Lesbian community we are still not considered in the mainstream as they are now. I also still find a lot of bigotry from LG side that we are even included.

Mia

[Guest Risu]

This was a great article and rings clearly with feelings of my own. While I appreciate LGs and Bs I think the Ts need to continue to work on forming their own movements, like changing legal documents without expensive cosmetic surgeries, etc.

Also, I was pleasantly surprised to see that most of the comments were positive ones. This was very encouraging and, while still not great news the positive recognition was uplifting.

Thanks for sharing yet another wonderful article Carolyn!

~Risu.

[Guest Vixen Amber]

This is no surprise at all. Just reading some responses on TG reports by some of GL community is disheartening but in reality should we expect them to care? For anyone in this world that isn't dealing with this on hand to genuinely give a crap? We are still the butt of jokes in comedy, the dead girls/guys on Law and order, the person who (according to the religious right) will rape you in the bathroom when we get those rights, the person who will molest your kids if we are allowed to teach.

When our characters are destroyed before we are even allowed to build it it's gonna be hard. In short, thanks alot religious.

[JJ]

Even among gays and lesbians they really don't understand us. We have some differences so great and so basic that I can understand why there is this lack of inclusiveness. We are fundamentally utterly different since sexual orientation is not the core of our variance. Nor is the rest of the community necessarily any better educated or less ignorant about what a trans person is. For that matter look at how we argue among ourselves about who is or is not transgender or transsexual. Not here thanks to the way this site is set up and moderated but elsewhere it is fairly commonplace.

And in some ways I think we are a threat in an odd way to the gay and lesbian community with our idea that it is your mind that determines your gender.

But it was a very good article and well written as anything of hers is. She has done a lot for the image and visibility of the community.

Thanks Carolyn

Johnny

[Guest IsabelleStPierre]

Greetings,

I saw that article earlier today and really wasn't surprised by any of it.

A couple of years ago I had attended a LGBT rally that was sponsored by one of the statewide groups in Missouri. During the rally a number of issues came up and I was appalled by the response from the group sponsoring the rally. Afterwards I approached someone from the group to talk to them about a few things and I took issue with. Anyway, after a long talk it turns out that they had never had anyone from the 'T' community serve on their board, so they really didn't have a good grasp of the transgender communities needs and problems. That conversation lead to my joining their board of directors and I served on their board for almost two years before resigning since I was moving out of state.

The point is that unless we get more involved with these LGBT groups, they really can't stand up and fight for our rights. Since I've left the board, not one other trans person has stepped up to fill the post, which in my opinion is extremely sad. How can we expect others to help us if we don't even help ourselves???

Peace, love, and contentment,

Isabelle

[Michelle 2010]

The point is that unless we get more involved with these LGBT groups, they really can't stand up and fight for our rights. Since I've left the board, not one other trans person has stepped up to fill the post, which in my opinion is extremely sad. How can we expect others to help us if we don't even help ourselves???

Peace, love, and contentment,

Isabelle

It would be nice to believe it is ignorance rather than prejudice. I have no idea which holds sway. I do salute your willingness to get involved and serve. I came rather late to the party in my life but I am seeing the need for old time political action in order to make gains. One person I came out to is a retired gay professional who grew up pre Stonewall. He and I agree that the trans movement is about early 1960's vis a vis where the gay community was. Between prejudice, poverty, drugs, fear, and preoccupation with transitioning, it is kinda hard to organize on our own, isn't it? Then take the successful group who wants nothing more than to blend in after transitioning... Kinda like back in the day when a minority group member would make it to the good neighborhood and forgot their roots...

So I can see why we need to coattail a successful movement and take the crumbs we get for now... But if the LB's are only lacking education to our cause there would be room for optimism . It would be alot easier to refocus the political action machinery than to re-invent the whole process During this period of economic insecurity we are unlikely to get the public's attention for changing attitudes. They have bigger concerns like jobs and housing. It might be a good time to do the legwork on reeducating the LGBT movement so action could be taken when the time is right...Utilizing the PAC's and machinery already in place. Refocus rather than reinvent...

Michelle

[Guest Julie T]

All? Please read this and comment, oh my.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/opinion/we-want-cake-too.html?_r=2&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

This is possibly one of the most well presented mainstream newspaper, opinion articles we will see in a long time.

Julie

[JJ]

Julie it is a great article and as with so much she does a great example for pthers of what and who we are.

But I didn't want you to be disappointed at a lack of replies - Carolyn had apost about this yesterday when you were offline with your router.

http://www.lauras-pl...l=&fromsearch=1

JJ

[Guest Julie T]

Oh my - sorry. I didn't see it.

Julie

[gennee]

I read the article and like it. It's so true.

Gennee

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

Sadly it is safer for me to say I am lesbian than for me to say I am transsexual. Easier for employers too since they recognize the category.

[Guest Donna Jean]

.

Yes.....a very good article........

Huggs

Dee Jay

[Guest Omagdi]

To be fair, lesbians, gays, and bisexuals experience the same plight of homelessness, violence, discrimination, and poverty as do people with transgenderism. Yet I do feel that people the transgenderism do not get enough representation in the L.G.B.T community. For example, being homosexual is not considered a mental disorder by the medical community. However, Gender Identity disorder is considered a mental disorder even though there have been studies that have shown it is strictly a physical disorder where the only viable treatment is transition.

I am becoming a lot more involved at my university's L.G.B.T center for this reason. I am making an educational brochure about transgenders in the L.G.B.T center for visitors to see. I also want people to sensitivity training for transgender just like lesbians and gays. I really do feel not enough transgender people step it up when it comes to representation. Transgender people must unite like the L.G.B do.

There are a few in the community who feel we do not belong, but I have experienced more saying "yes" than "no".