My friend Michael is one of the organizers of, and the webmaster for, the Central Arizona Gender Alliance. Recently, he asked me to write a profile of myself to be posted as the feature story on the CAGA website for January 2009. Rather than start from scratch, I adapted my “Who I Am and Why I Do What I Do” post. Since I wrote that post, however, my involvement in the issues affecting our community has increased. That led to the following comments that I added to the story that will appear on the CAGA site, which I wanted to share here.
While I have this chance, I also want to say some things about activism. The trans community in this country is small, and the number of those willing to speak out on the issues that affect us is even smaller. That means that each one of us is vital if we ever want the public’s attitude toward us, and the discrimination, hate and bigotry that we face, to change. It also means that one person can have a significant impact on the direction that our community takes in addressing the issues that we face.
It sounds clichéd, but I have learned through experience the truth of the statement that if I don’t do it, if I don’t step forward and say “this is wrong and must change,” if I don’t propose solutions and work to make them a reality, then who will? The answer is no one. It happens every day. We see or hear about something that we know is wrong – another trans woman shot in Memphis, another trans woman homeless because she can’t get a job – and we stand by in silence and do nothing. Those things will never change if you don’t work to change them, even if all you can do is to say “this is wrong.” Keep in mind too that, although it is important that we in the trans community know about these injustices, it is our families and friends, our lesbian, gay and bisexual sisters and brothers, and the general public that need to hear our voices. So many people truly have no idea about the mistreatment that we suffer, how widespread it is and how few protections exist to ensure that most basic of human rights: the right to live lives of peace and dignity. Those are the people we need to speak to, because it is their sense of justice and morality that we need to invoke if we ever want things to change.
Is it scary to step forward and say, “I am trans, this is wrong and it must stop”? Of course, it is. But there are also rich rewards in showing the world that we are proud of who we are, that we refuse to cower in the darkness of ignorance and hate any longer, and in knowing that we are helping to change the world, not just for ourselves, but for people everywhere. Join me! Today do just one thing to make the world a better place to live, whether that’s giving a hug to a friend you know is having a hard time, writing a letter to the editor or simply telling your story. But, most of all, Be Who You Are!!
This is wonderful, and you are absolutely right!
Thanks, Diane! It’s nice of you to visit!
Abby,
I’m not trans, but I’ve known you via the internet for a couple of years now, and I’ve witnessed part of your successful transition and coming out.
I admire your courage, and I’m happy that you’ve done what was necessary to be whole.
I’m proud to have you as a friend.
I am a Pre Op Transsexual woman. For the most part I agree what you have to say, that it is up to us to fight for certain rights and protections. You mention our brothers and sisters in the LGBT, I don’t look at them that way. I am sure you have heard the meaning of the LGBT. It truly is just LGB and forget about the T. Everything is geared around their cause. They are more concerned about marriage for themselves than employment and hate towards the T community. Until the T community rallies together for the most part we will still be left in the shadows. I can’t see where I have ever gotten any help or support during my transition from the LGBT. I was jobless for a year after being fired from a job to live who I was mean’t to be. It was difficult getting employment until my hardwork and perserverance landed me a job with the US Government. So I think the best solution is to set up a Transsexual organization in this state that will take care of the issues and obstacles that we face instead of being shoved to the back of the line by the LGBT.
Allison, I agree that an Arizona-based trans rights organizations is what we need to begin to change things here on our own home turf. Efforts to create such an organization began at the LGBT Town Hall on December 6 during a brainstorming session on trans issues that about 25 people attended. The primary result of that session was a plan to hold a statewide town hall dedicated strictly to trans issues, probably in March. The purpose of that conference would be to develop consensus on the issues that the trans community should be working on, and to discuss an organizational framework to begin that work. If you want to get involved, I recommend that you get involved with the Arizona Transgender Alliance by joining the AZTA Yahoo group.
It’s true that the LGB community right now is primarily focused on achieving marriage equality, but many of us are trying to educate the LGB community on our issues and why they are important, not only to us, but to them as well. As part of that effort, Michael and I have started posting on trans issues on the Join the Impact website. (Join the Impact is the online community created out of the anger that followed the approval of Prop 8 in California and similar constitutional amendments here and in Florida, and the ban on adoption by nonmarried couples that was primarily directed at same sex couples. That national protests on November 15 and several events since then were organized through JTI.) I urge you to visit the trans issues page that Michael created. We also had a significant discussion on the impact of violence on trans women, especially women of color, there, that drew positive comments and expressions of gratitude for our efforts to educate them on trans issues from several LGB commentors.
Lastly, with respect to telling our stories as a means of educating the LGB community and others, Jenny Boylan and others have created the No Dumb Questions website with instructions on how best to tell our stories and a place where we can post them so that they can be shared with the public. I encourage everyone to visit there and consider telling your story.
Right on Abby. Couldn’t have said it better sistah.
Out and proud, Abby. It takes a lot of courage!
It is hard to believe now, but gay/lesbian activism began tentatively and haltingly in 1969 and 70’s. There was ignorance, misunderstanding and fear on one side and fear, fear, fear on the other side. As more people became publicly out, it became less fearful and more desirable to out ourselves.
In the late ’70’s and 1980’s AIDS outed many people who would never have outed themselves. Rock Hudson comes to mind, but I’m remembering local people–non-celebrities–who were teachers, lawyers, doctors, government officials and business people. They were sure they would lose jobs, professional status, clients and customers if they came out. Then they sickened and died and their stories came out with their illness.
I wouldn’t wish a plague on any group for any reason, but we learned an important truth the hard way: The more of us out, the better. The more of us out, the faster we make progress in overcoming ignorance and misunderstanding.
If I may recognize an earlier poster whom I’m pleased to have met here, I’d be honored in joining Acoustic Bob to say I’m proud to know you.