who's our ally in the coming election?

[Guest eliza.d]

hi everyone, i know it may sound nieve to ask, but who is our ally, as tg's, in the coming election?

ive generally stayed out of political and religious discussions historically, but i have definitive beliefs on both subjects and now must learn the ways of promoting and advocating our rights as humans, and as tg's on the political front.

ive voted democrat mostly in previous elections coming from a poor working class fam, but i feel that our rights as tgs are more important now than ever to me. ive spoken out to the world of who i am, and now i need to understand what candidate, incumbent best supports our fight for equality and protecti n. it seems as though what politicians say the believe and support change based on who opposes or supports them.

please inform me. i need to wrap my brain around this issue.

thanks and sorry for the political inexperience.

sincerely,

Eliza D

[Guest chngnwnd]

My feeling is that another Obama administration would be in out best interests. All of the GOP candidates are vocally anti-LGBT. Also, trans activists have been invited fo substantive discussions by members of the Obama administration which demonstrates good faith in addressing the needs of the trans community..

Bobbi

[Guest thomasina uk]

My feeling is that another Obama administration would be in out best interests. All of the GOP candidates are vocally anti-LGBT. Also, trans activists have been invited fo substantive discussions by members of the Obama administration which demonstrates good faith in addressing the needs of the trans community..

Bobbi

I really don't think the LGBT community has that much of a friendly voice in American politics. Obama's advisor from what i hear is a pro-life pastor, I take it for granted he is by extension anti-LGBT. The two usually go hand in hand without exception.

The last progressive voice that America had an opportunity to elect was Ralph Nader, unfortunately I don't think he's contending again.

T

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Political discussion on Laura's Playground can be tricky, but I know everyone knows to keep things nice. Also, I am certain everyone has a bias and what is said, is strictly a personal opinion, so here is mine.

No real support for the T part of the LGBT Rights movement, this time around, maybe the repeal of th DADT in the military, which has been done. I may be that we learn who NOT to trust. Some are very obvious to me, and they even have already bashed the Gay Community openly, I suspect looking for that bigoted Christian Right-wing vote. I seems that these are all Republicans. Maybe Romney is the least dangerous.

Our elected President? In my opinion he is our only choice. Politicians by their nature, are untrustworthy and at the same time play their real agenda cards close to the vest. If Obama is re-elected we will probably see how he really feels about supporting LGBT, especially the T part. He will be freer to do his own thing, not worrying about reelection like he had to these first four years. But he might throw us under the bus if the LGB people don't support us as promised.

USA politics of course

Lizzie

[Guest eliza.d]

good to know. i agree about the current admin perhaps being our biggist ally, or the lesser of evils at least.

i think that each of us brings a valid point to our collective table. eventhough we are all tgs, we are americans as well. this makes everything all the more interesting. i jave never been one to promote predjudice, and hate. even before i admitted to myself, and everyone else, who i am. and being from the deep south, it adds another level to the dynamic. i think religious extremists need to be kept out of the whitehouse, but romneu should not be persecited for hos religion. that would equal us being persecuted for being trans. eventhough we are, we must treat others as we wish to be treated, not how we are currwntly treated. that would just further diminish our quest for equality and understanding.

politicians always have many many mouths to please and being president is no simple easy task. i just think that whoever is our elected rep, whether pres or congressman/woman should rep our population as a whole with respect to our individual minorities....a task easier said than done.

we hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.

i think the best is yet to come. and yes, i admit i am overly optimistic. but attitude is everything.

stay strong, my family, my brothers and sisters, my fellow americans, and fellow humans....we are all in it together.

Eliza D

[Guest Donna Jean]

i think religious extremists need to be kept out of the whitehouse, but romneu should not be persecited for hos religion. that would equal us being persecuted for being trans.

Eliza D

I don't think that anyone here is persecuting Romney ....But, Romney, nor any republican has our interest at heart...

Romney is Mormon and they (as a whole) reject Trans/Gay people...

I have a hard time understanding any Trans person that is pro-republican because republicans (as a whole) challenge our very right to exist!

I don't like the Democrats either (any politician for that matter) but we have to pick our least bad choice...sux, though...

Dee Jay

[Guest eliza.d]

ditto that, i know mormons reject and condemn us, but his religion alone should not keep from a chance as president. hes certainly not my choice though.

Eliza D

[Guest Karen K]

My fellow? transpeople, please don't misinterpret what I am about to say.

I am in favor of any and all who help our community. But I wish to add, that I want nothing special. all I want is my Constitutional rights; Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. I want to be judged by the content of my character, my actions and my abilities and not by some misguided idea that I'm not entitled to these due to some prejudice.

I do not believe that voting for a candidate based only on one element of his/her platform is good for this country. Voting for Obama, just because he repealed DADT would be a detriment to the entire country. So far there hasn't been a single candidate that has a good platform for the whole country and for transpeople. It would be nice if we weren't endanger of being fired, beat up abused and treated like second class citizens. We may have to wait awhile yet.

Laura Jane

[Guest John Chiv]

Karen,

Well said. I agree with you.

Now for my response in general to this thread.

There is more to life than a single issue and no politician sticks their neck out. I don't think Democrat by default works. I am not impressed with any of the candidates. There were many promises made by Obama that he did not follow through on and whatever changes have occurred were not his sole doing and only after much protest by activists.

Lot of things are promised before elections. Actions count. I have written many times about what works as effective lobbying and that in my opinion, this confrontational, attacking style does not serve our community well. Laws do not change people's minds, people do.

The economy is my number one concern. If any of the candidate has a solid plan and can convince me that the candidate can work successfully and knows what it takes to get others to support, that person will get my vote.

John

[Guest Donna Jean]

My fellow? transpeople, please don't misinterpret what I am about to say.

Voting for Obama, just because he repealed DADT would be a detriment to the entire country.

Laura Jane

I agree.....But, that is a step in a direction that I want to see things go.....

Dee Jay

[Guest Donna Jean]

.

I just want to say.....

I've been voting in almost every election since 1969........

Sometimes I get it right...other times I miss it.....

Politics is a crap shoot .......

Dee Jay

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Mormons? I am not an expert, but the transpeople I know who are LDS tell me the LDS Church won't shun you for being transsexual, but will if you chose to transition.

Just a point of information when we discuss Romney, although he isn't saying much about his personal feelings.

Lizzie

[Guest eliza.d]

i agree. so many promises sol little follow through. but isnt that the modus operandi of the political machine?

like was said, theres no one candidate that emphatically supports our rights as transpeople. basically a lesser of evils. we certainly dont need a candidate thats going to let discrimination continue, or even support it. we are the smallest minority i think, and the most misunderstood. there was a program on dvr i watched recently on transgender children. it was that reporter that has own show now, cant remember his name. but the more mainstream our reality becomes, and if programs reach the mass populous, like these and transamerica, normal, etc....as long as we are accurately represented...it will further our cause.

the world needs to know who we are.

until then, we must make every endeavor individually, and as a group to break the mold of predjudice and promote understanding, and ultimately...equality...for all.

Eliza D

[Guest DanielleH]

Hmm, I really hope I dont get flamed for this, but not all Republicans are against trans & gay people. There are a few that are actually all for supporting our rights and have actually voted as such. At least one of the Co-Sponsers of the bill that repealed DADT was Republican, and Ron Paul voted for it. But then again I don't really consider Ron Paul to be Republican, since he is more liberatarian and was formerly a member of the Libertarian party. This could explain why he voted the way he did. Honestly I think as far as looking for a party that will support lgbt rights is not going to help, since the only purpose of the party is to get their person in office. I'll vote for the one who I feel will be the best for the job.

[Guest Robin Winter]

Honestly...I don't think we're going to change the world starting from the top down...the real difference will be made in the opposite direction. Over the past decades, we've really not come very far in a legal sense, but the level of acceptance from the general population, though still lacking, is absolutely astounding compared to what it was. I see no reason why this growth should stop...and when the governing bodies realize they're the only ones not on board....well, won't they feel silly?

That being said...I don't really follow U.S. Politics, but I always kinda had a good feeling about that Obama fellow. I've been wrong before...

[Guest John Chiv]

Danielle,

Thank you for your response and we are allowed to have diverse views here. I think it is time that the LGBT community become inclusive of those of us that tend to be more conservative and moderate and of those that are Christian.

Tolerance and inclusivity works both ways.

John

[Guest eliza.d]

i agree john, despite being trans, we bring more of ourselves to the table than just that aspect. i am definately more liberal but in some ways i am also conservative. i think ojr individuality contributes significantly to our colloctive whole. we all come from diverse backgrounds and diverse cultures, and diverse ideas. the variety that we each bring here is a quality, not a detriment. im christian, mtf tg, against abortion, and pro equality. i believe that all people that love each other, wheyer gay, lesbian, hetero, or....polygamist deserve respect and prote tion under our constitution. the government should not be able to definatively say who we should be allowed to marry. i respect all people based on what comes out of their mouth, not who or what they are. and i believe all life is precious, no matter the circumstances of conception or birth. being christian, and delineating the authority to the lord in this matter, who he ...or she...choses to bring into this world and whatever the specifics of that conception orbirth, it is his will...not ours. each person deserves the right to live the fullest life that is possible for them...no matter the medical, psychological, or selfish considerations may be.

all life is precious.

i simply seek to ele t a candidate that represents our population as a whole, and for the individual minority. perhaps i am an ixealist, but we all deserve to be represented and protected. but there again, what candidates say during the election process amd what they actually do may be spectrally opposite. so in a way, politics is like russian roulette. forest gump mayy have said it best, life is like a box of chocalates, you never know what your gonna get.

despite being christian, morgan frremans character may have also spoken valuable truth in robin hood in respone to, why did god paint you....allah loves wonderous variety.

it is evident in nature, as it is in our diversity here as well as in the himan race. we are all diverse, but worthy of freedom and respect.

Love, truth, and honor,

Eliza D