It's really strange how much transphobia there is out there in the Queer community. I was guilty of it myself in a previous life. But today I'm always saddened and surprised when it comes from within our own community, because I too often trust: "if anyone one is going to understand, it's going to be my chosen family, the Queer community." - But that's not always the case.
But first, a thank you to my GLBTQ brothers and sisters who DO 'get it' and are not trying to divide community with phobic language and actions. Thank you to folks at Boston Pride transforming their 'Gay Pride' to simply 'Pride', to be more inclusive to all people in the community. Kudos Boston!
But there is a growing number of GLB people who have said that 'T' doesn't belong. I'm not sure why this is, but I can only guess it's that these GLB folks either, don't remember or were never taught some important tidbits of GLBTQ History. So I thought I would write an overdue blog/reminder about how and why the T DOES BELONG!
It was TRANS PEOPLE who were on the FRONT LINES throwing THE FIRST PUNCHES at the NYC POLICE during the STONEWALL RIOTS, showing they WERE NOT going to take the VIOLENCE anymore.
For that, we Trans people and all gender variant folks own space in the GLBTQ community. We were there from the beginning of the movement, no matter what the misinformed may say; WE OWN IT TOO! No one can take that away! And our 'land' in the GLBTQ community is NOT UP FOR SALE OR DISCUSSION! The deed to this property is made from the blood of our Trans sisters and brothers shed on the sidewalks and streets of the West Village, on the front lines of the Stonewall Riots.
For my frustrated Trans sisters, brothers, and gender variant siblings who are feeling left out by GLB people trying to exclude them with their actions, their language and even their legislation (I'm talking to you Barney Frank), here is what I hope I would do in a moment where I recognized that I was being directly/intentionally marginalized (if I wasn't too pissed off to do this):
I would try really hard NOT TO ENGAGE with anyone in a conversation that is trying to UNJUSTLY CLAIM WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE. If someone is genuinely curious and trying to wrap their head around my gender in a conversation, sure lets chat. BUT, OWNERSHIP OF MY QUEER PROPERTY IS NOT UP FOR DISCUSSION OR FOR SALE, and IT IS NOT THEIRS TO GIVE OR TAKE FROM ME! IT IS ALREADY MINE AND I EARN IT EVERY DAY WITH THE RISKS I TAKE FOR SIMPLY BEING WHO I AM.
There will be no argument about it...
There will be no war if I am at peace on my land, and I am.
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Now on a slightly lighter note.. I think I'm going to start a new movement to change the community's GLBT acronym so that the T is at the front, where it should be: TBLG! It could be catchy, webby like term pronounced T-BLOG. Now that's hot! Sorry MySpace, but I think I'm going to have to start this movement with a Facebook page.
And now I just thought of a great song to end this blog entry, from the Woody Guthrie; let's do a round.. I'll start and you come in at the end of the first verse and so on..
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me
Come on.. everyone.
XOXO,
Love you, mean it.
Ian