Is it logical and/or prudent for the Gay community to be aligned with Transsexuals?

[matt_mcl]

@Johanna

I want to be friends with lesbians and gays. I feel more comfortable around them and I feel common shared goals with their community, as different as we are. It hurts to be rejected by them, dammit. Kelly, for many years I had admired Barney Frank as the most articulate and passionate liberal in the U.S. Congress. I totally looked up to him. Now I feel betrayed and sick at heart. Shakespeare said it best: “This was the most unkindest cut of all.”

Well, you could just start admiring Bill Siksay…

[Johanna]

Mais oui, matt, ça me fait très heureuse à voir quelqu’un qui combat pour nos droits. Que je puisse être canadienne, hélas!

« J’espère que l’inclusion de ce motif illicite de discrimination dans la Loi fera comprendre clairement à tous qu’il ne faut pas exclure les gens en raison de leur identité sexuelle ou de son expression. Une telle discrimination est indéfendable et cette intolérance doit cesser », a dit M. Siksay

Translation: “I hope that the inclusion of this illicit motive of discrimination in the law will make everyone understand clearly that you must not exclude people by reason of their gender identity or expression. Such discrimination is indefensible and this intolerance must stop,” said Mr. Siksay.

[brickbacon]

@matt_mcl

Well, I think she explained it: since a basic part of homosexuality involves sexual and affectional desire, we have a fairly essential incentive to seek out other homosexuals.

True, but most minority groups are the same way. I don’t know if it has anything to do with sexuality.

@Johanna

WTF? You are confused. I was not advocating anything in that paragraph you quoted. I was just explaining my personal feelings why the concepts of “gay” and “straight” cannot apply to my situation.

How am I confused? You stated your opinion which I would imagine you’d want others to share. Maybe advocate is the wrong word, but I don’t think I misinterpreted you.

@Johanna

Are you transphobic yourself, brickbacon? I reread your comments to see if there was any other way to interpret them. I could not. What would you have us do? Get back in the closet?

I don’t think so. I don’t know where you get that idea from, but I have no problem with transgendered people. I don’t really agree with their agenda, but I don’t think people should do things to make life harder for them because they are different. The reason I started the thread was initially to understand why the groups came together, and if it’s been a beneficial union. I don’t think it has, but I’ve learned a lot about why many members of the GLBT community feel a kinship. If you would like me to clarify anything I’ve said, I will, but I really don’t feel as though I’m transphobic.

[KellyM]

@brickbacon

I don’t really agree with their agenda, but I don’t think people should do things to make life harder for them because they are different.

Uh, isn’t a large part of the so-called transsexual agenda that people not make life harder for them because they’re different?

How can you say you don’t agree with the transsexual agenda when you evidently don’t even know what it is?

[brickbacon]

@KellyM

Uh, isn’t a large part of the so-called transsexual agenda that people not make life harder for them because they’re different?

How can you say you don’t agree with the transsexual agenda when you evidently don’t even know what it is?

Many people in this thread have outlined what it is. Let me amend my statement to, “I don’t agree with much of the transsexual agenda”. I think they should be treated equally, and should be afforded the same rights as everyone else. The main part I have a problem with is the optional gender and/or gender spectrum thing.

[Johanna]

@brickbacon

How am I confused? You stated your opinion which I would imagine you’d want others to share. Maybe advocate is the wrong word, but I don’t think I misinterpreted you.

Yes, advocate was the wrong word, that’s all I was saying. It was a non sequitur in the context of my quoted paragraph. OK, thanks for clearing that up.

What you oppose about what you call our “agenda” still isn’t clear, though. The style of language used is reminiscent of a phrase used by homophobes, the infamous “homosexual agenda” which is used to rally against gay rights. If you don’t want to sound transphobic, you might want to steer clear of language that echoes homophobe speech. If you didn’t mean it that way, then it’s cool.