The thing that I find most disturbing about this article combined with the letters responding to it is the underlying current of sexism.

Whenever a transgendered person is mentioned or referred to for real or rhetorical reasons, it is always a male-to-female person, or, and it sickens me that this phrase was used by an allegedly educated person, a man who wants to cut off his penis. When gay people write letters defending the separation of "gay" and "transgender" into two separate categories, it is men, and in at least one specific case the person doubts that the two should be thrown together, because that would be to instinuate that a gay man is or could be fundamentally like a woman or share more properties of that gender.

I find it slightly ridiculous but mostly sad. Even here in the case of so-called progressive people fighting for so-called progressive legislature, it is still just a male pissing contest. "That guy is a freak, he wants to cut off his own dick!" "Don't categorize me with those people because even if I'm gay and I like taking it from behind I am still a manly man!"

This may seem a peripheral issue to many people here but it seems pathetic to me that this form of chauvinism still dominates even in a world allegedly counter to the male-dominated norm.

just came to have a look-see then leave. but i have a suggestion for Dana Runs. it ALL starts with a BLOG. that's how Aravosis and Greenwald got their space. get an email address, invite all here to wait a week then drop by. then START WRITING FURIOUSLY!). you can be sure Holly will arrive with all of her friends. best of luck to you and Holly.

John Aravosis wrote:

"...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."

"What did I get wrong, Lish? I'm sorry if not using buzz words and code words that people don't understand, like gender identity, offends you, but I think I gave a pretty accurate definition of pre-op transsexual, did I not?"

No John, you made an ignorant and offensive insult, which said it all about your complete lack of understanding or compassion for trans people. And if you honestly consider "gender identity" to be a buzz word that people you know won't understand, then why don't you do us all a big favor:

1. Look up "gender identity" on Wikipedia (or any modern LGBT source).

2. Try to put thoughts about penises (cut off or not) out of your mind for a while.

3. Call up your beltway Democrat friends and clients and patiently explain what you've finally learned about trans people.

I would like to apologize, however, for assuming that your blatantly transphobic remarks were evidence of prejudice and disrespect. I see now that you were completely unaware of how narrow-minded your tabloid stereotyping of trans people makes you look.

It is truly sad that there are members of our community so willing to blatantly propagate untruths about our movement's history in order to obtain a short-term political gain. Mr. Aravosis should be ashamed of himself... either for his ignorance or his cynicism. Either way, I hope the rest of this community will take the time to LEARN about the history that Mr. Aravosis has so conveniently forgotten.

Mr. Aravosis demonstrates an appalling lack of historical and cultural memory when he suggests that transgender people attached themselves to the movement WELL AFTER the growing revolt was underway. It is, however, a known historical FACT that transgender people were a significant presence at the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1968. By some accounts, a transgender woman named Sylvia Rivera sparked the riot by throwing a bottle at the police. Here’s another fact: Harry Hay, founder of the Mattachine Society (and a card-carrying member of the Communist Party I might add), first began researching the role of the Berdache (Two-Spirits) in Native American culture in the 1940’s. And Ms. Rivera was a co-founder of the GLF during the months immediately following Stonewall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Rivera

http://www.srlp.org/

http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/rivera_s.html

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0209,wilchins,32645,1.html

http://www.zmag.org/Zmag/articles/april02bronski.htm

http://hubblebooks.com/index.php?s=swain&submit=Search

if you had, you would have realized that that question was answered already. the reason that man to woman transexuals are reacted to stronger than the reverse is that the physical characteristics of men (lower voice, brow ridges and larger hands) are harder to conceal. i've heard it starts in the womb. all humans are basically female till the Y chromosome kicks in and some are changed to men. female changes at puberty, breasts, larger hips, seem to be easier to conceal or reverse through surgery. so we NOTICE transmen more than transwomen (if i've gotten the nomenclature correct). i think enough dirt has been spread in this thread by this time for you not to have to repeat it, but if you don't think so, i'll oblige you with what you really want, You are Just SO Wonderful! Rosenkavelier.

No, you got the language wrong. Trans women have a much harder time passing than trans men, for the reasons you mentioned. Those raised male and who have female brains are trans women.

(that's LITTLE and TEMPORARY). if any of you are interested in reading her blog, or have useful information on setting one up, write me at
dsugarman@juno.com
don't worry about privacy, it's basically a spam-collector, i delete almost everything
AND IF Dana Runs writes me
i'll send her the list of your emails. time limit, two weeks.
if it comes off, good luck to you. if not, hell! nothing wasted!
P.S. see holly? what a little sugar will get you!

and it's a little thing, but i know it will mean something to you. if i ever meet a transwoman or transman, because of you, your courage and your calmness, i will give them a break - more than i would have otherwise. i can feel it in my insides. and thus you might have made life a TEENSY bit better for someone you will never meet. you have affected everyone on this blog. and some will actually change. i really don't belong here, it's YOUR conversation with your peers. i'll check what people wrote tomorrow.