More On HRC and its Attitude Toward the TG Community

[Carolyn Marie]

http://www.examiner.com/article/hrc-fails-to-recognize-marriage-equality-as-a-transgender-issue

Carolyn Marie

[Guest KimberlyF]

I wrote to GLAAD a while ago and said given their recent statements affirming their commitment to the Trans community, what is their position on the events at the SC with HRC?

[gennee]

I read this article with great interest. I can emphasize a few points. First, transgender people fired the first salvo at the 1969 Stonewall Riots. I'm very pleased that it happened. It's what happened afterward that has been the paradigm since. Leadership positions were taken by white, middle class gay males. No women, who later formed their own organizations, no people of color who dealt with racism, poverty as well as gender issues, and no transgender people who it was erroneously believed would hurt the movement, were in these positions.

Gays and lesbians were more interested in 'looking presentable' to straight society rather than equality. Transgender people started Stonewall because they had nothing to lose. This is a fact that mention whenever the subject comes up.

HRC says that marriage equality and trans equality are two separate issues. Really? How do they explain that I've been married for nearly 33 years and am transgender. It's sure DOES affect me. How do they justify that the vast majority of transgender people murdered are people of color. By their actions HRC demonstrates their own biases and misinformation campaigns. In their eyes, transgender people aren't deemed worthy to fight for.

HRC takes credit for things they did not do. They haven't passed one piece of legislation and done absolutely nothing for transgender. So how in the world can they be spokespersons for me when in 2007 they threw us under the bus? Like many mainstream LGBT organizations, the thought process of the hierarchy and the reality of the populace are miles apart.

This is a long post by my standards but this topic resonates wit me very strongly because in my mind HRC and others misrepresent what they claim to be.

[Guest rikkicd64]

Way to go Gennee, I agree with you, I know at times even at my local pflag org. ,I get looked down upon and discounted as someone of no importance and I am a dues paying member. I do know it will get better when some of these people get to know us as real people.

Rikki......

[JenniferB]

I just got done reading that article and then saw this thread. The HRC is not looking out for our interests, and therefore I don't believe the transgender community should support them, especially financially.

Transsexuals run into marriage issues that the Gay and Lesbian people don't have to face. And they throw us under the bus out of their ignorance, fear, or lack of caring (empathy). We are pests to them. I believe the trans community would be better off without them.

Jenny

[Guest Melissa~]

Geenee HRC is kind of on my -- list right now, they have been one of the slowest organizations I deal with to update my name(still pending???), much less their recent incidents. I would have a faster concise response from a smaller more nimble organizations...like the Pentagon, EPA or Microsoft.

I'm not sure what's going on in their leadership right now, but it best be getting things back on track, as has been stated, marriage equality is a hugely trans issue too.

My very personal example, is I was married, then I was divorced. I am in transition where even my non-rogressive state of Missouri, is more than happy to accommodate all updates. Though I could not remarry the person I already was married to much less another female, this strikes me as odd, but certainly not insurmountable. Marriage equality, would solve several paperwork peculiarities, while avoiding the temptation to use administrative fiat to circumvent the rules. I have said before I don't write the rules, but I will use them.

[Guest chngnwnd]

I was at a meeting with volunteers and paid HRC staffers recently. In the past there may have been negative attitudes towards the trans community. I sensed more cluelessness than bad intentions. Ignorance can be cured. For myself, even though the incident was inexcusable and the response was lack luster at best, choose to engage. Maybe I am naïve, but someone has to make the first move if we are going to change things for the better.

Bobbi