[Blog/Commentary] [USA] Queer Issue: Transgender/Transsexual vs. the Gay: Let the Oppression Olympics Begin!

[Stephanie Stevens]

Queering the Closet, USA


May 5, 2012

Queer Issue: Transgender/Transsexual vs. the Gay: Let the Oppression
Olympics Begin!


I realise that I'm probably going to offend at least a few people with
what I'm about to say, but so be it.

Back when marriage equality was going before the NY State Legislature,
I can recall how fired up every major pro-gay (I'm not going to say
LGBT for reasons that should be obvious shortly) was. My twitter feed
was nearly a constant stream of pro-marriage sentiment. Pro-same sex
marriage (and anti-same sex marriage) stories abounded across the
media. Albany was flooded with supporters. I can recall reading
updates on The Bilerico Project from Rev. Emily C. Heath, who came
from out of state to show her support in Albany. Gov. Cuomo himself
had long since endorsed marriage equality. There was an energy in the
air so thick you could have operated an entire gay pride float solely
on the sheer rainbow colored exuberance.

Now, a little less than a year later, GENDA was able to pass (for the
fourth time) the NY State Assembly, and now needs to pass the Senate
in order to become law. For those who are unaware, GENDA provides key
protections for Transgender and Transsexual individuals by preventing
discrimination based upon gender identity, as well as strengthening
hate crime legislation for crimes committed against
Transgender/Transsexual. Unfortunately, GENDA faces what could
charitably be called an uphill battle in order to become law.
Actually, to be more accurate, it's most likely going to be dead on
arrival.

Now here's where things get really disturbing. All of the mainstream
organizations that put so much effort into marriage equality, now
appear to be taking a nice easy rest rather than working to ensure
that GENDA at least has a chance at passing. At a time when pro-LGBTQ
organizations should be using the momentum gained from the passage of
marriage equality in New York State, they instead appear to be
applying to the brakes. There is no energy, and barely a whisper of
support from any of the mainstream organizations. I have yet to notice
a singel pro-GENDA tweet on my twitter feed. I have not heard of any
endorsment from Gov. Cuomo and a quick google search turned up
nothing.

Furthermore, all of this is occuring with Justice and Equality Day
less than a week away, in which GENDA has at least been decided will
be the focus. Maybe I'm asking too much, but I do feel the energy is
missing. I have not heard of any endorsment from Gov. Cuomo and if
there is coalition building going on, it's going on quietly and behind
closed doors.

So let me say it: this is complete and utter bullshit.
Transgender/Transsexual individuals (even when compared to gays and
lesbians) are more likely to be fired from their jobs, be denied
housing, or have to deal regularly with the threat of extreme
violence. SONDA already exists to protect people from being fired or
denied housing based upon sexual orientation, but there exists no such
laws to protect against those issues based upon gender identity. That
is, it is illegal to deny housing or fire an employee for reasons
related to their sexual orientation but perfectly legal to do so based
upon gender identity.

Maybe there are reasons for this situation but I'm not interested in
hearing them. I'm tempteted to point fingers, but I only have 10.
There is no excuse for the lack of effort and the double standards
exhibited by the mainstream pro-LGB (and allegedly pro-LGBT)
organizations here. There is a long and extensive history of pro-LGB
organizations focusing on pro-LGB issues and completely ignoring the
needs of Transgender/Transsexual individuals. This history now seems
doomed to repeat itself ad nauseum.

If the mainstream organizations could come together and build the
necessary coalitions to pass marriage equality in New York, why is it
so much harder to pass something much more basic (and more important
to the indviduals who would benefit from it) such as GENDA?

Marriage Equality was strongly opposed by multiple organizations, such
as National Organization for Marriage, and became a lightening rod of
controversy. At this point in time, GENDA has mostly flown under the
radar, which at least has prevented it from coming under the same
level of scrutiny. Maybe this is part of the strategy being used by
the mainstream LGB organizations, keep GENDA's profile low in order to
prevent it from earning the same level of scorn.

I really doubt that is the strategy being used though. My sense is
that even if GENDA was more in the spotlight, it still would not be
facing down the same opposition that marriage equality faced. Try
finding clobber verses for the fundamentalists to use against it and
you're going to come up short. Furthermore, whereas even state
sanctioned marriage is viewed as a religious concept, employment is
not typically subject to the same moral scrutiny. In short, I actually
think passing GENDA would be easier than marraiage equality,
particularly with the momentum that we gained less than a year ago.

Therefore, the question becomes why is it legislation that when
compared to marriage equality, should (in theory) be easier to pass
and would have a greater impact for the population that has more need
of it, be getting the silent treatement?

I have no words other than to say that I am saddened by the mainstream
LGB(T?) organizations lack of public support for GENDA. At a time when
we could have another victory on our hands, we have only the barest
echo of a whisper.


http://queeringthecloset.blogspot.com/2012/05/queer-issue-transgendertranssexual-vs.html