Transphobia on DU

[Der Blaue Engel]

Needs to fucking stop. :grr:

[Lithos]

1. Have you alerted on it?

n/t

[Der Blaue Engel]

3. Many times n/t

[Kutjara]

2. Nothing new, I'm afraid.

For a lot of folks around here, the "progressive" tag is skin-deep.

[fenriswolf]

4. transphobia

fear of transgendered people? whats to be afraid of?

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. Exactly

But then, "phobias" are pretty rare in a rational mind.

[laconicsax]

5. k&r

[UncleSepp]

6. Oh great. What now?

It just doesn't end around here. It makes me sad- sick- mistrustful of people who are willing to throw out their liberal ideals for a cheap joke, nevermind even the people who think that a minority, any minority, has to be of a certain size before their rights are worth protecting.

[Der Blaue Engel]

12. The thread was locked so I won't call anyone out

but it involved someone questioning another DUer's gender in a rather rude and vicious manner, and led to a pile on of other transphobes who seemed to see it as an invitation to be let their true ugliness show.

[Chovexani]

14. Please post it to the Best of DU thread

That's what it's there for. Documenting this stuff helps.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. seconded.

[Jella]

9. Just watched the

documentary Red without Blue. It was about two gay men, one decides to live as a female and follows three years of their story. So powerful, moving and really helped me in understanding trans folks. I admit, as a gay man I'm quite ignorant, but trying to change that. I have met trans via the gay bars, but never got to know them enough to understand what they go through. Just assumed it was a kin to being gay.... but it seems it goes much deeper.

[tekisui]

10. knr.

[dbackjon]

11. People are afraid of what they do not understand

And refuse to open their minds to try to understand. And it is very sad that "progressives" can't do that.

[qb]

13. There are gays and straights who confuse gender identity with sexual orientation.

A lesbian friend of mine said she's attracted to women but that doesn't mean she wants to be a man. She couldn't fathom why anyone would want to change his or her gender. She grudgingly admitted some understanding after I described some of what I've read on the subject.

There have been some excellent explanations written here at DU. I don't understand why some refuse to believe what a person says about him or herself.

[Der Blaue Engel]

15. A friend of mine really upset me the other day

I had a women's-only party and one of the guests was transgendered. The next day my friend, who's a lesbian, asked in a tone of disgust, "Who was that weird guy at the party with the dreadlocks and make-up?"

When I told her there hadn't been any men at the party she started ranting about how she couldn't understand why any man would want to be a woman. I pointed out that it isn't about "men" wanting to be women. These women believe they've been women all along. I can't pretend to truly understand what that's like, but I can't imagine why anyone would go through what they have to go through if it weren't absolutely a part of who they were.

It was depressing to have to hear it from someone who's been in the community a long time and definitely knows better. :(

[NMMNG]

16. Hear, hear

Alas it's going to be a long arduous journey. :-(

[Duncan Grant]

17. I couldn't agree more.

Here's a little something I'm very proud of: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=925422&mesg_id=925422

:hi: :kick:

[qb]

18. Good job!

I guess we have to keep hammerin' until they get it.

[Der Blaue Engel]

19. Too bad DU didn't take your advice

But great post! :hi:

[NMMNG]

20. Excellent thread

I used it last night against a twit who was playing dumb. They didn't seem to learn anything but it was worth the try.