Letters to the Editor
Todd Merrell
Published Letters: 7
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Such a poor knowledge of history
[Read the article: How did the T get in LGBT?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I've been reading about this "problem" for over a week now. Oddly, I first read about it at Americablog, a blog I read (past tense) daily. The first thing I would like to say is that a major problem with this conversation we've been having is that one of the main voices in the debate (Mr. Aravosis) started and has continued to write with such an air of condescension that it is hard to understand and take seriously what he is trying to say. This "I'm in Washington and know what it takes to get stuff done" schtick is just insulting. And all the "But I want them to have rights too" stuff more so. Especially with lines like "let alone ask what I as a gay man have in common with a man who wants to cut off his penis, surgically construct a vagina, and become a woman."
"A lot of gays have been scratching their heads for 10 years trying to figure out what they have in common with transsexuals, or at the very least why transgendered people qualify as our siblings rather than our cousins. It's a fair question, but one we know we dare not ask. It is simply not p.c. in the gay community to question how and why the T got added on to the LGB..." 10 years? Really. only that long? So what does that say? Hmmm.....well I'd say it says a bunch af gay guys who came out in the late nineties after so much of the heavy lifting was done in the 70's and 80's have absolutely no idea about how they came by their freedom to come out.
The whole second paragraph from Wikipedia is just silly.When the T was added to the acronym has absolutely nothing to do with when trangenders and gays and lesbians became a community. Nothing. Defining yourself from Wikipedia is a bit sad.
Also, I would like to hear a bit more from our all knowing Washingtonians, what IS the likelyhood of this passing the Senate? We've only talked about the House. This would add abit to their arguements if they would take the non T bill all the way down the pike. If it passes in the House, does it pass in the the Senate? And if there does Bush sign it? Is this battle in the House REALLY going to get all the way to the President? Haven't heard or read any of that. If this battle is all just a show for the House, it's a real shame that so many people have drawn a line in the sand for our Trans Brothers and Sisters. A real screw up I'd say.
And just another thing, I'm sick of people using "PC". What the hell is that? Our communty is not PC. WE are not part of the mainstream. Never have been. If you have a problem asking questions or are afraid of a lively heated debate, that's your problem and most likely means YOU are the one that is PC or aspires to be. Pushing buttons and boundaries is what this community is and always has been about.
Lastly, I would just like to say that I think this is a great debate. I have a sense that the LGBT community, at least in my eyes, has fractured since the late 90's. Maybe I'm just getting old. But I'm heartened to actually see this debate, to understand that there really does exist a subset that doesn't understand why we should all be a community and we need to inform them of the importance of this community. It's a debate that has been sidelined because, well, we've become complacent. We're on TV. But we ARE all a community. Gays Lesbians Transgenders. (Ok, here is where I'll say I never understood Bi's being a part. That's my thing but I'm all inclusive so Welcome)
Keep the debate going. Be honest. And remember our history!
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Really?????
[Read the article: How did the T get in LGBT?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]" I've said repeatedly that for every single gay person I've talked to who agrees with me on this, no one - NO ONE - has said that they don't empathize with transgendered people, and no one has said that they don't support transgender civil rights legislation."
Really? Coulda fooled me. Look at the title of the article here: "How did the T get in LGBT?" What does that say? I've read all of your posts on this. You don't understand why we are a community. It permeates every post you've written. If we've misread you, maybe you need to take a step back, reread your posts and understand what you have been writing. For me, it's been patronizing and void of any understanding of the historical struggle we have all been through. That's just me. But I haven't been this mad at a part of our community....EVER!!!! To see a subset marginalized, told to play "catch-up" is just abhorant.
You said in a post "where have they been? Where is their organization on the Hill?" or something to that effect. Well they've been a part of OUR organization. Jeez! What do you want? I don't see any separate Bi organizations out there but you're willing to include them. And so, I think, it all comes down to the icky factor. You think trans are icky, bi's not so much.
I've said all along that we need honesty in this debate. I think people in our community need to fess up to the fact that they think transgenders are icky. But I'll tell you this, they're not icky, they're a part of my family.