Trans News/ Issues

[J. Mason]

I found this and thought maybe you guys would wanna read it, I couldn't find a good place to put it but here is a good read.

http://www.xtra.ca/public/Vancouver/...asy-10868.aspx

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by J. Mason

I found this and thought maybe you guys would wanna read it, I couldn't find a good place to put it but here is a good read.

http://www.xtra.ca/public/Vancouver/...asy-10868.aspx

Really great article. Thanks for posting.

[J. Mason]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Really great article. Thanks for posting.

Your welcome, it kinda showed something from a femmes side of things, which I have never had to experience but its a good read in general.

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by J. Mason

I found this and thought maybe you guys would wanna read it, I couldn't find a good place to put it but here is a good read.

http://www.xtra.ca/public/Vancouver/...asy-10868.aspx

While I do agree that partners should be heard when they voice their concerns over a partner transitioning, there are ways to say it without reducing the word transphobia to something that trans people throw at people at random and framing trans people who call out transphobia when they see it as the "bad guys" in the situation.

I definitely do see transphobia in comments like these:

I looked for support but found very little because partners don’t generally talk about the difficulties we face in transition. Nobody wants to be the one to say, “This fucking hurts,” lest we be judged by the politically fuelled who would label us transphobic.

The Rah-Rah Tranny people on the sidelines say we’re not supposed to grieve the loss of our soulmate to a new gender. We should a) keep it quiet and support the transgender person or b) leave the relationship or c) both.

This, to me, has nothing to do with dealing with your partner's transition and voicing your feelings. I'm really tired of getting this sort of attitude from some LGB folks where other people are entitled to say all sorts of things about trans people, and when trans people respond or even mention the word transphobia, then they're "overreacting/making a big deal out of nothing," "not being sensitive," "being selfish" or trying to "guilt" people into agreeing with them on something.

It actually reminds me a lot of straight people's reactions when queer folks call them out on homophobia. Or people who make sexist comments when they're called out on their sexism. Yet somehow when it comes to trans people, some queer folks can't see how their behaviour mirrors that of those who, in turn, oppress them.

What does "Rah-Rah Tranny people" (seriously, if you're trans and identify as a "tranny", that's cool, but a cis person using the word "tranny" to refer to trans people in general is offensive, in the same way as a white person using the "N" word or a straight person calling gay men "fags") even mean? Apparently they are "politically fueled"? Again, what does that mean? Cause to me a "politically fueled" trans person is someone who fights for their own rights in a society where they don't have equal rights with the rest of the LGB spectrum. In the country the author is from, for example...

Like I said above, I have no problems with partners going through their process of coming to understand or accept their partner. But I feel the author made some comments that were transphobic (zomg, I must be a "rah rah tranny person"). I understand the frustration if the community she is a part of tells her that it's not acceptable to voice her feelings and grief over her partner's transition. I don't think that's good of them to do at all, and it's not something I would support. On the other hand, I don't think she should be expressing her frustrations while make transphobic remarks. It's like justifying homophobia because you had a bad altercation with a queer person, or sexism because you had an altercation with someone of a certain sex. Neither is acceptable in my eyes, and I don't think trans people should have to put up with anymore than anyone else should have to put up with discriminatory comments.

[J. Mason]

I am sorry I didn't see it that way, I saw it as someone who was in pain and hurting, thats the part I could relate to.

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by J. Mason

I am sorry I didn't see it that way, I saw it as someone who was in pain and hurting, thats the part I could relate to.

Nothing wrong with being in pain and hurting and everyone deserves a supportive environment. A lot of trans forums have sections for SOs and parents to discuss their reactions and feelings to their partner's/children's transitions. A lot of trans support groups up here also offer counseling for SOs and parents. We should all be supportive of that and if I see any SO/parent struggling with this I wouldn't think twice about helping them find a supportive environment.

My point was that using slurs and talking about transphobia like it's something trans people say to guilt trip cis people is channeling that pain into phobic language and accusations is not the way to deal with it. For example, is the parent of a recently "out" queer person entitled to call queer activists "rah rah fags" who "label" them as homophobic for their pain and difficulty in accepting their child's "new sexuality" (which is not necessarily new to the child)?

[EnderD_503]

Detroit Police investigators are searching for a transgender teen who has been missing for two weeks.

Henry Hilliard, Jr., 19, also known as Shelley or Treasure, was last seen at 1:20 a.m. Oct. 23 in the 900 block Longfellow wearing a silver dress, according to request for help issued by the Detroit Police Monday.

A cab driver that Hilliard often used for rides dropped Hilliard off at a home where three men were waiting for her, his mother, Lyniece Nelson, said today.

But Hilliard immediately called the driver back, voicing concern about the situation, Nelson said.

The driver "started to hear her say, 'What are you doing,' then scream out loud 'No,' then her phone dropped, a few muffling noises, then the phone went dead," Nelson said. "By the time he got back around the corner, there was no one in sight."

Hilliard, who models and does hair, hasn't contacted family members or posted on Facebook, both which typically happen every day, Nelson said.

Hilliard has a piercing on the left eyebrow and several tattoos including a design of cherries on the upper right arm, according to police.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detroit Police at 313-596-2200 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-SPEAKUP.

Source: http://www.freep.com/article/2011110...xt|FRONTPAGE|s

[atomiczombie]

Originally Posted by EnderD_503

Source: http://www.freep.com/article/2011110...xt|FRONTPAGE|s

OMG that's scary, I hope they find her safe and sound.

[Nadeest]

I hope to god that they find her, safe and sound, but I fear for her. If you noticed, the paper actually used the correct pronouns for her twice out of three times, which is at least an improvement, though an uneven one.