"Trannies are taking over everything!"

[joneyhits]

I heard this from a person who recently came out as transgender. A lesbain friend of her's was complaining that the "Trannies are taking over everything!" Hmmmm? I never realized gender variants had an agenda to take over the world. This is sort of like the Gay and Lesbian community not knowing their agenda until Ronnie Floyd wrote "The Gay Agenda."

I had to think why this person would say this. Well, a transsexual is the president of the NWA GLBT Community Center and an Intersex person is prevelent in NWA Pride and Diversity Pride organizations. I guess that is the basis for the take over rumors.

OK, in most parts of the country, you very seldom see a gender variant involved, let alone a leader in a GLBT organization. So, yes, we are a rare bunch here in Arkansas. I am all for Unity and building bridges though, not separation in to separate groups and subgroups, upon subgroups. Next you'll see Leather Bears Fairies against the world.

My question is why? Why do people in a community who want tolerance have so little of it. It is not that there are a lot of "trannies" out there getting involved, but the one's that do, get involved. Why is that a problem?

I read an article recently where a gay man who moved to California then back to Fayetteville. He was complianing that no one was doing anything for the community. Does he show up for Community Center, NWA Pride, or Diversity Weekends? Nope. He doesn't support any of the efforts in this community. I say, "If they are complaining and not doing anything about it, then they have no right to complain." Ironically, I tell this to the transgender community alot.

What are some thoughts on this? I am curious.

Joney

[CathyB59]

Hi Joney,
If someone in here has heard or feel the same sentiments, etc, Please clue me in!
Joney I’d like to learn more about the statement myself, since many people I care about are diverse.
IMO, life is lived one to one. You are one and I am one. Individuals. Not a category, not a type of person, not ‘those people’… Just people. Though I can’t imagine the struggles and hardships associated with being gay, my sense is it’s harder than being transgendered. Personally after my sentence in purgatory I’ll be someone who resolved a developmental anomaly. My friends and relationships are aside, as will be my orientation.
I’m not trying to join, let alone take over anybody’s party. Don’t want to stand in anyone’s spotlight. Not my gig. Like many gender variant folks I have a plate full just learning to live in society as a member of my team.

So come on out there - anyone care to help edu-macate this hillbilly girl?

[DrLewall]

This is just "normal" human behavior..and it is not just in the Gay/Lesbian world either..there are many different groups who have their own "special" causes/lifestyles and many feel that "someone else" will do the fight for them as they themselves do most of the complaining, and thats all they do..it's sad but then as some one said, "Don't pet the sweaty stuff"..or sumthin like that

[joneyhits]

Doc and Cathy:

I could care less what they think of me. It is the work they are doing to pull things apart. No body that I know of on here. It is a group in Fayetteville that is causing this hype. I am just amazed. I am trying to understand why.

I know it is natural to chastise others, especially if you fear it within yourself. I think this is what this is. It was just a shock to find out the root cause of a lot of this crap that has been going around lately.

I personally just see people as people.

Joney

[Dreamwalking]

I see this people will always complain and need something to complain about. Probably can brush it off to they ran out of things this week.

[Ginger_Fi]

---In my observations I have noticed that the "T"'s are the black sheep of the GLBT family. Kind of like that uncle that no one wants to talk about but still comes to Thanksgiving dinner. Why is it that way? To really simplify that answer I believe that we are the least understood group.
---In misunderstanding comes distrust, in distrust we get fear, in fear we have the desire to dis-associate.
---Why the misunderstanding? Quite simple really, crossing gender lines is really the last frontier in discovering our sexuality. It is now the most taboo practice in the US today now that being gay is much more mainstream. In time this will be water under the bridge, but not in my lifetime I believe...

[joneyhits]

Have you heard of internalized homophobia? Meaning a closeted gay man or lesbian hating gays and lesbians, becasue they are one themself. I am finding out, some in the GLBT community are internalized transphobic. Hating gender variants becasue they fear it in themselves. The irony of it all.

[CathyB59]

Joney - I'd heard the term but didn;t know what it meant.
Christ almighty this s**t gets complicated doesn;t it.
I never thought about that - Can you imagine a person living their trials and tribulations being gay. all the bulls**t . Then having their hard won identity challenged by yet another series of hurdles? Baby I don;t think I could handle it.

Since this is our board I feel okay asking Why would anyone fear us?
( Despite the large # of bikers, martial artists,law enforcement, EMS, armed services, special forces, marines, and programmers with rage issues )
Is it cause we don;t look exactly like folks expect us to?

[joneyhits]

What's amazing is we are family. People think all gender variants are gay and people determine if someone is gay or lesbian if they are masculine or feminine. Hence the irony.