[Blog/Commentary] [Canada] Observations

[Stephanie Stevens]

Montreal Gazette, Canada


TRANS TALK

Observations

April 28, 2012. 11:14 pm • Section: Trans Talk

Posted by: Jillian Page


I mentioned in an earlier post today that we are getting more
responses to the “Terminology: Transgender vs. Transsexual” discussion
than we are to the “Transgender Rights” questions.

The “terminology” responses are coming from people who have
transitioned, which is both surprising and nice to see because, as I
have mentioned before, many people who have transitioned no longer
read blogs like this one. But, clearly, virtually all but one of the
people who have responded are not happy with organizations —
particularly LGBT organizations — that impose “transgender” labels
upon people who have transitioned. They want to be seen as women and
men, no prefixes. I think the Jenna Talackova affair has angered many
people who have transitioned, because they repeatedly saw Jenna being
characterized as a “transgender” person, and they felt it was unfair.
In truth, so did I. As regular readers know, and as a CBC Radio
audience of 2 million or more heard one morning when the network
interviewed me, I tried to impress upon everyone that Jenna is simply
a woman now — and to heck with transgender labels.

What I find particularly interesting about the current subjects here
(see first paragraph) is that we are not hearing from transgender
people. Why are they not commenting on the Transgender Rights
Legislation question that was posed to them? Considering that two
bills are before Parliament, and some politicians are undoubtedly
peeking in here once in a while (given that we are the only mainstream
newspaper around with a blog where transgender people can speak up),
one would think transgender people would be champing at the bit to
speak up on why they need a trans rights bill and how it would
directly affect their lives.

Instead, we are hearing from people who have transitioned (or are
transitioning) within the binary system and, if they live in Canada,
at least, are protected by the same anti-discrimination laws
protecting all other women and men. A transgender rights bill will
have no effect on our lives.

In truth, I am wondering if most of my readers are people on the
transition path, or who have already transitioned. Yes, I know there
are also some members of the general public peeking in, as well as
other journalists and friends and family and such. But I am beginning
to think that not many transgender people — that is, people who choose
to live between the official binary gender designations — are reading
this blog, hence the lack of feedback on questions and polls for them.

Just some observations. Time for some rest . . .

Later.

Jillian


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