look me in the eyes when you stab me in the back

[sophiaserpentia]

In September, Joe Solmonese stood before a crowd of transfolk and promised, in no uncertain terms, that the Human Rights Campaign would unequivocally oppose any version of ENDA (the Employment Non-Discrimination Act) that did not include us.

Since then, Rep. Barney Frank pulled his support for the trans-inclusive ENDA and introduced his own, trans-exclusive, one. And the HRC wavered a bit, faking us out and stringing us along until finally, today, signing on to a letter reversing Solmonese's promise, not only endorsing the new trans-exclusive ENDA, but opposing the proposed amendment offered by Rep. Tammy Baldwin reinstating transgender rights to the bill.

This whole affair has been terribly painful for the trans activist community. We are only demanding our part of something into which we have poured our blood, sweat, and tears - not to mention our donation money and congressional lobbying efforts. For that, we have been attacked by gay, lesbian, and bisexual activists, who have called us selfish and divisive, and accused us of attempting to "trans-jack" the legislation.

We don't have any allies anymore. Who can we trust? Everyone hates the trannies. We're expendable. We're disposable. Our rights don't mean anything, we're something that can be traded away so the gays and lesbians can make a deal with the right wing.

From the letter, signed today:

We continue to believe that H.R. 2015 is a far better approach. While it is beyond dispute that H.R. 3685 would improve protections for employees who might otherwise face unjust discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, it is also beyond dispute that transgender employees are particularly in need of those protections. They face far more pervasive and severe bias in the workplace and society as a whole.

Oh, that's just swell. What kind of cockamamie happy horseshit are you trying to sell us here? Oh, your hearts bleed for us. We're real fuckin' impressed. I think it was Malcolm Reynolds who put it best: "At least have the guts to look me in the eye when you stab me in the back."

You're not just throwing us under the bus, you're gazing upon our broken, bleeding bodies and clicking your tongues in dismay, handing us a rose while we bleed on the pavement.

And don't give us this "civil rights are gained incrementally" steaming cat diarrhea. That's an empty justification and you know it. It's been incremental and slow because of the strong opposition of bigots, not because civil rights activists thought it was a good idea to make advances only when they're politically safe and expedient.

Oh, sure, we can count on you to come back with us to Congress after you've gotten what you want and lobby with us. We already know damn well that you're not going to come back for us, only a fuckin' idiot would believe that. After the hates crime act and ENDA your next priority is same-sex marriage, not transgender rights. We know this from watching what happened in New York, after transpeople were removed from SONDA five years ago as a compromise to get it passed. We were the next priority! Only we weren't.

Well, fuck you, you back-stabbing, snot-sucking piles of moldy underwear, Fuck you fuck you fuck you fuck you FUuUuUuUuUuUuUuUuCK YOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

Next time we decide to start a riot, your trans-hating butts are not invited.

I feel better now.

Comments

[darkphoenixrisn.livejournal.com]

Nothing new about the HRC screwing us over. They've always been transphobic and biphobic. If some bisexual activists are siding with the HRC on this, they should be ashamed of themselves.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

It's not just that they screwed us over, it's that they've done it in such a way as to encourage all of the transphobia in the GLB community, which would otherwise have maybe been held in, to come seeping out. We're an albatross around their necks, don't you know. Just like the leathermen and all the other flamboyant queers. So many gay and lesbian people hate us because we're inconvenient to them. Never mind that many of us *are* them and many of them *are* us. They just don't get that.

[ineffabelle]

they will when they get turned down for a job and the boss will use "gender expression" as an excuse...
but it will be too late then.

Of course, the "corporate gays" won't have that problem I guess...

[jimkeller.livejournal.com]

That is so infuriating...

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Infighting like this is what always does the left in. We have it like no one else on the political spectrum. But at this point the lies are egregious enough to kill reconciliation. I've never seen so much distrust between gays & lesbians, and transpeople, as exists now because of this.

And it's the reactionary Christians behind it, and they're the ones profiting from all this. I've been told i'm "silly" for suggesting the Christian right sent out a bunch of dog whistle-type signals to sow this discord, to make the gay/lesbian/bi activists get frustrated with the involvement of transpeople, but how else is one to interpret something like this?

[mlfoley.livejournal.com]

Jesus Christ. Not being trans, but that's just awful. What in the world is so wrong with civil and human rights for *everyone*? Christ. So sorry. :(

[nationelectric.livejournal.com]

I agree. This is fucked up.

[witchchild]

I've never been impressed with anything done by HRC. :/

[aostara.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. I sure as hell won't be donating to HRC anymore!

[alobar.livejournal.com]

After reading your post, I received a self-conratulatory letter from the HRC bragging about their ecent victory. I got pissed off and fired off a short reply which included a link to this post. I do hope you do not mind. Usually I ask before doing something like this, but I was really pissed off.

http://alobar.livejournal.com/2582656.html

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

It won't kill them to know how angry we are at being sold out.

[resonant.livejournal.com]

WTF????

Way way back in the '90s, when I was a young and naive activist wannabe, a similar situation came up. Our tiny LGBT group wanted to be officially recognized at our school, the same as the other clubs and groups. The Dean said we could use a classroom for meeting space, as long as we didn't include any of those perverted trannies.

Our group had no transfolk in it - in fact, none of us had ever met anyone trans - but we didn't even question it being possible to agree. We'd compromise on room availability, or limitations on putting up posters and such, but the whole reason for our group's existence was to provide a safe and welcoming environment, free from discrimination. Once you betray your core values, what do you have left? Next time it might be those indecisive bisexuals we'd exclude, or those lesbians, or the gays, or whoever it was easiest to leave out at any given moment.

So, we met off campus in a friendly coffee shop, and had lots of great times. We ended up accomplishing more than we would have if we had given up our group's soul for some short-term gain. Never did have any transpeople join, though.

If a bunch of inexperienced students instinctively knew not to cave on key principles, what's going on with these supposedly more experienced and knowledgeable leaders?

[resonant.livejournal.com]

(oh, got here from Adamantine's LJ, just in case you were wondering)

[thisearthlyride.livejournal.com]

Found you through adamantine and just wanted to say your post is fantastic. Thanks!

[ecdysiasm.livejournal.com]

That's an empty justification and you know it. It's been incremental and slow because of the strong opposition of bigots, not because civil rights activists thought it was a good idea to make advances only when they're politically safe and expedient.

Thank you! That's a spectacular way of putting it, and exactly what I needed to hear while seething with bitterness. Doubleplus awesomepoints for you!

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

I wonder if Joe Solmonese and Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi would dare, today, to look Susan Stanton (and all the out-of-work transfolks) in the eye and explain why her right to employment is less important than theirs.

[ecdysiasm.livejournal.com]

I've little doubt they would very politely explain to her the "big picture" that she'd likely be missing by selfishly worrying about her own silly little rights.

Directed here through Lupa's journal

[paka.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Thank you for the explanation. I don't really trust emails from the HRC to be telling the truth, and all I'd previously heard about this was a friend's frustration which didn't have much information, so I appreciate actual data.

[kitten-goddess.livejournal.com]

"For that, we have been attacked by gay, lesbian, and bisexual activists, who have called us selfish and divisive, and accused us of attempting to "trans-jack" the legislation."

Dear HRC:

Piss off. I'm glad I never donated to you.

You should be called the Hypocrites' Rightwing Cocksuckers.

Sincerely,

A bio-female bi girl who is trans-positive