Editorial: Michigan Should Extend Protections Beyond the LGB

[Carolyn Marie]

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/11/15/michigan-legislature-seek-equality/19090733/

Carolyn Marie

[Guest LizMarie]

We are the new other, the new bogeyman, the new perversion upon which radical right wing extremist politicians will raise millions of dollars with Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt about transgender people. So of course this Republican claims there is no "need" for trans protections. Doesn't surprise me in the least, just like Eric Cantor tried to argue from both sides of his mouth that existing law was "sufficient" to "protect" trans people at the federal level but that private businesses still had a "right" to fire someone for just being trans.

It's two faced nonsense trying to appease two different groups of voters at the same time while taking a position that is wishy washy enough to let them claim anything.

[Guest katie ann flowers]

This subject has always caused me alot of distress. As a child I was called queer etc. and beaten enough to cause me to live on the streets by the age of 11. I was once fired because my boss noticed my "pantylines". (I wonder why he was staring at my derrierre) In short life has not always been easy but there are others who did not survive the attacks on them. So I can say I was blessed. Absolutely no one should be treated the way we have been treated. But these extended protection laws dont do much except help politicians raise money and get reelected. Dems. benefit for being for them and repubs. benefit for being against them. The problem is that these laws are aimed at conservative hetero white males who commit far less violent crimes against us even if their attitudes and policies are more discriminatory in nature and practice. Minorities and women rarely get charged with hate crimes and until these laws are enforced equally against everyone who attacks us I dont believe they serve much purpose. The person who beat me as a child was a white woman. The boss who fired me was a gay white male. The man who raped me was black. No one who has attacked me has ever been charged. But I guess I can take comfort in the fact that at least the politicians finally want to protect me from conservative hetero white men.

[Guest]

I am sorry that happened to you. I understand branding, I was too. It seems like our gains are grains of sand through an hourglass, with privileged zealots and hate mongers continually trying to smash the glass with their hammers. I pray nothing like that ever happens to you again and we can heal. Hug.JodyAnn