justatransgirl
10-19-2007, 09:21 PM
Here's the text and link to an editorial I wrote for the Gay and Lesbian Times newspaper in San Diego - what what it's worth. They did a reader poll last week regarding the number of gays who did or did not support an inclusive ENDA.
Hugs,
TS Jamie :-)
http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=10751
Dear Editor:
I am a transgendered woman. I was heartened by your editorial last week where your magazine took a stance in support of the transgendered segment of our community in supporting an all inclusive ENDA bill.
Then tonight I discovered from your “reader poll” that 66% of local gay and lesbian respondents support a NON-trans inclusive ENDA bill.
The fact that 66% of our brothers and sisters DO NOT support the idea of transgendered people enjoying the same protections and civil rights deemed so important to the GLB(T) movement is just sad.
As a transsexual in a same sex relationship with another transwoman I am doubly troubled. My partner and I identify as lesbians, call us gay if it pleases you. Are we not a part of the G&L community?
Then why are our brothers and sisters refusing to support us? There would be no GLBT civil rights if the TS/TV’s hadn’t gotten fed up with official abuse and rioted at Stonewall. After so many years, why would 66% of you be OK with letting our legislators sell us out at the last minute?
More than anyone, transgendered people need Federal job protections. Transgendered women are the mostly likely segment of our society to lose or be denied employment based on sexual or gender identity. Even more so than gay and lesbian youth, young trans people often end up losing family and community support and end up on the street.
The result is (depending upon which poll you use) between 30% and 50% of transgendered women work in the sex trade. Roughly 30% are HIV positive. There is a saying “30/50” - by age 30, 50% of young trans people will commit suicide or die of HIV or other causes.
ENDA is a step toward ending such horrific statistics – and I submit that it is the duty of the Gay and Lesbian community to become educated on the realities facing transsexuals, and that it is in the best interest of the GLB community to stand beside us in our mutual quest for full civil rights, some 230 years after we were all “created equal” by the Declaration of Independence.
Please my GLB brothers and sisters, don’t abandon us now.
Jamie S
Hugs,
TS Jamie :-)
http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=10751
Dear Editor:
I am a transgendered woman. I was heartened by your editorial last week where your magazine took a stance in support of the transgendered segment of our community in supporting an all inclusive ENDA bill.
Then tonight I discovered from your “reader poll” that 66% of local gay and lesbian respondents support a NON-trans inclusive ENDA bill.
The fact that 66% of our brothers and sisters DO NOT support the idea of transgendered people enjoying the same protections and civil rights deemed so important to the GLB(T) movement is just sad.
As a transsexual in a same sex relationship with another transwoman I am doubly troubled. My partner and I identify as lesbians, call us gay if it pleases you. Are we not a part of the G&L community?
Then why are our brothers and sisters refusing to support us? There would be no GLBT civil rights if the TS/TV’s hadn’t gotten fed up with official abuse and rioted at Stonewall. After so many years, why would 66% of you be OK with letting our legislators sell us out at the last minute?
More than anyone, transgendered people need Federal job protections. Transgendered women are the mostly likely segment of our society to lose or be denied employment based on sexual or gender identity. Even more so than gay and lesbian youth, young trans people often end up losing family and community support and end up on the street.
The result is (depending upon which poll you use) between 30% and 50% of transgendered women work in the sex trade. Roughly 30% are HIV positive. There is a saying “30/50” - by age 30, 50% of young trans people will commit suicide or die of HIV or other causes.
ENDA is a step toward ending such horrific statistics – and I submit that it is the duty of the Gay and Lesbian community to become educated on the realities facing transsexuals, and that it is in the best interest of the GLB community to stand beside us in our mutual quest for full civil rights, some 230 years after we were all “created equal” by the Declaration of Independence.
Please my GLB brothers and sisters, don’t abandon us now.
Jamie S