The following is a comment to a blog post on wordpress that I was denied from making. It is just one of many that have been denied. I am beginning to be quite frustrated with them. They just disappear what I write usually, but this time I was able to copy it before that happened. Maybe they think I'm too controversial, I just don't know. But I feel strongly about what I wrote, so I'll make it a personal post:
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere", yes, I would even go further than just the notion of 'threat'. I say, There is no justice for anyone, when there exists injustice for anyone...for all privilege is sullied, and not justified.
You mention how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an advocate for equality far broader than just racially. True. He would be advocating for LGBTQIA and women's rights, because he would know that anti LGBTQIA bigotry and sexism bigotry is far worse than even racism. Was there any doubt that a Black man would be elected before a woman or an LGBTQIA person? Absolutely not, there wasn't.
I have been a gay rights advocate since helping my mom work for Jimmy Carter in 1975. I was 12. I knew I was a girl at 4, but I hid it for then next 45 years. But I always, especially in my adult life did all the Gay and Lesbian Rights activities, events, marches, and advocacy. I have been a high ranking Democratic official, fighting tooth and nail against fellow Dems in our Platform Convention on planks, that I won, and in the Rules Committee, that I won. I am very proud to have been doing this, happily, all this time. But, alas, I am growing increasingly distasteful and offended by my own specific community, transgender, being left out of everything. Marches, events, activities, Groups, Blogs, advocates, simple conversations...we are left out of everything. And people can't tell me the broader community is "implied", because *no* it is not. As a Platform Convention Vice Chair, I well know, that if we are not mentioned, we are not included. Period!
I am sorry I chose your post to vent on, virtually everyone is guilty of this. I'm assured by others that the more conservative members are more open to only these exclusive words. Seriously? I have to lobby for my rights dictated by how the bigots feel about me? Ignorant people are the ones whose minds need to be changed, and if they are not seeing our specific community included, if they are never informed about us, they will never change their minds about us. Gays and Lesbians do not have equal rights, but they are considered a human being in more places than people such as transgender folks are. Trans people are not even in the Human Rights Charter, except for Ontario, in all of North America. We are not even 3/5ths of a human. We are les than was a "slave" or a "savage".
So, yes, this MLK Day and week, it is nice to reflect on the greater need for inclusion for full equality. But hey, all I ask is that we, a community than has more inclusiveness, love, empathy, compassion, and tender loving kindness, than any community on Earth, *be fully inclusive of our own community*! Include transgender in every gay and lesbian thing we title, label and advocate for, in everything we do. Remember me. I am a human being. My name is Leah.
Leah, you amaze me with your hope and compassion. I have considered myself an LBGT ally for many years, but I have to admit that I didn't pay much attention to the trans part of that until about a year ago. I do some professional editing and was contacted by a trans woman (male to female) about a book she had written about her experience. [Excuse me if I don't use all the terms correctly. I'm trying to learn.] Editing her manuscript really opened my eyes to the very issue you discuss in this blog post. Here in Helena, MT, the city government just passed a non-descrimination ordinance protecting gay and lesbian people in housing, employment, and public accommodation. However, after a lot of open (and heated) discussion, they decided not to include trans people in the ordinance. This was a real let-down, to be sure. I don't live within the city limits, so was unable to officially comment, but I have become involved in the Montana Human Rights Network, an advocacy group that recognizes all the colors in the rainbow. Thanks for posting a link to your blog on FB. I look forward to following what you write.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kindness and advocacy for all of the letters in LGBT and don't forget QIAA (Genderqueer, Intersexed, Asexual, Androgynous, and Allies). Actually, I've been thinking about writing a book myself. It is indescribable how angry I feel that communities see fit to invalidate my identity, something that only I have the right to discern and express. If I could trade getting Transgender Civil Rights for being a celibate or asexual person the rest of my life, I would do it in a millisecond. That's a no-brainer.
DeleteThank you so much for your work in the MHRN. I myself feel a calling to begin searching for a paid position to work full time for LGBTQIAA Civil Rights, and Women's Rights. I have worked for free all my life, and my life is going down the tubes because of that. Stay Positive, Catherine, and thank you for commenting and following.
Love Always,
Leah