We and They

“So you are the ‘they’ in that’s what they say!”, a classic Gary Larson “Far Side” moment depicting a furtive looking man crouched against a very dated phone. Good stuff, but really, who the hell are ‘they’ supposed to be anyway? In today’s world of combative politics, ‘they’ are all over the damn place and working in diabolically efficient unison to ensure that whatever is worst for everyone becomes incontrovertible reality from now until the Big Crunch, the Rapture, or whatever uncontrollable event happens to wipe us out. If they have their way, it’s going to be a real piss of a time until then, except we assume of course, for them.

Anyone reading this is assuredly not part of a they. We all know they are far too busy watching Fox News, plotting to blow up the Occupy Headquarters in the back of that Staten Island Denny’s, oiling up automatic weapons to guard against the liberal military, and installing holy water sprinkler systems in all the public schools. They want concentration camps for all illegal immigrants, forced public conversion of all the Jews, illegalization of all homosexuality to eradicate the unnatural desires, restoration of Jim Crow and smallpox blankets, and the enforced manufacture of all shitty plastic pieces of crap here in the good old US of A. Preferably all before the second coming of Christ, expected literally any second now.

Not one to stand around and wait for them to get me, I decided to see what’s what. If I can understand them, I can defeat them. Also, if I can dodge a wrench, I can dodge a ball. Oh, the agony of cherished sacred beliefs found untrue! I nosed around their camp and heard tale of an even more terrible them lurking about. They are dedicated to the destruction of America, an imposition of Stalin era atheism, Castronic socialism, mandated sodomy in schools, redistribution of all firearms from private citizens to convicted criminals, sensational televised abortions for every woman, Taliban erections, and a Spanish option on bank ATMs. Dear god! How did we not hear about this? This new ‘they’ are just as bad as ‘them’ we oppose!

I’m sure by now you are all rolling your eyes and saying, “Yeah, yeah, we’ve all heard the old ‘we met the enemy and they are us’ bit lifted from antediluvian comic strip ‘Pogo’. Can we now assume it’s kumbya time?”. Um, nope. Yes, I do like to emphasize the commonality of all humans, but there is no denying that some severe polarization going on and people have strong opinions regarding many of these issues. What I’m saying is that it’s gotten ridiculous and it’s long past time to dial it back a bit because what is being advertised is not a good representation of the average.

I am by no means non-partisan, but can admit my side does it as well. I myself get riled up at the idea of an evangelical American Taliban regime dedicated to scourging the earth of LGBTQ scum. In reality, everyone who falls in the highly religious or evangelical spectrum I have come out to has been very nice about it and supportive. It doesn’t mean that I’m going to vote that way, especially when it seems the most batshit crazy folks seem to be running. The kind who do go and label the Girl Scouts, arguably one of the sweeter and more wholesome national organizations, radical left wing terrorists, based simply on a quick internet search optimized to their preferences. Don’t even get me started on “men of god” who advocate punching innocent children in the face or creating electrified compounds here in America. OK, maybe the time finally has come around to start flinging about Hitler comparisons again.

We are never all just going to get along. In fact, we are going to go head to head over issue after issue until the end of time, and every time we do, we are going to assume the other side is secretly in cahoots with the evil fiery eye of Sauron from Lord of the Rings. It’s going to happen, but by bringing guns to knife fights the real point of contention gets lost quickly. Personally, I don’t want to wait longer for equal rights because the other side brought a level 28 vorpal sword of ultimate nullification to my game of checkers. That last bit was a nod to my gamer geek friends, who let’s face it, are so terrible they make the Mexican drug lords look like the Care Bears. No exaggeration.

Sorry for the ramble. It’s Memorial Day here in America and I get a little miffed when after serving honorably in the military, and being a swell stand up citizen for 40 years, there is a significant portion of the population who still doesn’t think I deserve the same Constitutional rights as the wacky lunk who’s going to be shouting at me through a megaphone next weekend.

Would It Really Be So Wrong?

There are some who like to say that the ends never justify the means. I wouldn’t say never, but sometimes it’s true. If you are someone who is likely to go on a shooting spree to open up some seating for a sold out Air Supply concert, you may want to live hard and fast by this rule. For the rest of us, we usually try to do a little mental cost/ benefit analysis in our heads in the attempt to develop some contorted reasoning to do what we are inclined to in the first place. This is known as ‘ethical logic’ and is occasionally either and seldom both. Clearly I have something specific in mind.

Would it be wrong to utilize the power of our trans-ness to a positive political end, but in a sneaky underhanded manner? Now don’t get all indignant and snippy just yet; we are just talking here. “Gosh Michelle, whatever do you mean?” What I’m talking about is figuring out which candidates, local or national, have our best interests at heart, and then campaigning for the other guy. I don’t mean bumper sticker and lawn sign campaigning, I’m talking about loud, public, outlandish dress type campaigning. At public speaking events, debates, and even stationed near the polling places on election day, whooping it up to the heavens on how this guy, we really don’t like, is going to set us free on America.

Hold on, I can already hear some of you getting disgusted, but let’s talk this through for just a few more minutes. Imagine for a moment. Rick Santorum in his little sweater vest, pontificating about all the things said by JFK, MLK, but not the KKK that made him lose his baloney and Miracle Whip sandwich. Then there would be us, dolled up as Hollywood chainsaw hookers with a schoolgirl twist, shouting out, “Yay Rickie! He’s going to give us all government sponsored teaching positions in all the public schools! Yay!” Now you have Carl and Carla Conservative in the crowd thinking, “Wait a minute… I’m against diversity and inclusion! Clearly, I can’t vote for this meatball.” And the icing? Oh, Rick would be so super pissed.

You have to admit, that sounds pretty fun, right? Oh, just to see the look on his face! Alas, every which way I tried to contort this, and apply logical fallacy after logical fallacy, I just couldn’t crunch the numbers into a win. Would it be morally wrong? Ehhhh… that’s a question for philosophy majors living in their mom’s basement. It’s more of a ‘cut my nose to spite my face’ kind of thing. First off, the one who did win is going to remember that we campaigned for the other guy. Even if he was in on it, it wouldn’t be so easy to explain to the people who actually campaigned for him that he’s throwing us a bone. Second, if Rick the dick actually did win in spite of this, well, you can rest assured he knows exactly what we were trying to do, and be none too happy about it either.

The real reason this madcap caper is a non-starter is that even if we got a little play out of it, all the dignity and respect we managed to build with glacial slowness over the years would be gone. All the people who already thought of us that way would be justified in their mental image of a trans person. All the people who we won over and convinced we were regular human beings with the same needs and wants as them would now be in doubt. When the gay community adopted high camp years ago as a form of social protest, I don’t think they foresaw that even today a surprising percentage of people still think that is how “they” really are. We are still trying to live down Dr Frank, and probably don’t need more of a hassle. Still, one can daydream.

The GSA is AOK!

I decided to take it easy today and pick a topic I think we can all agree on. The Girl Scouts of America totally rock. Well, the majority. What prompted this post is my sense of outrageous disbelief about what I have been seeing in the news lately. If someone were to predict even two years ago that America’s little darlings were going to be the target of the almighty wrath of right wing fury we would have laughed and laughed at their clever little joke. As it is, I’m still having a hard time believing these stories are not originating with the Onion.

In case there is anyone who doesn’t know what I’m talking about, the Girl Scouts, a venerable all-American institution devoted to inspiring empowerment, charity, good works, accomplishment, excellent manners, and waist busting cookie sales, are now under attack. The initial crime was the inclusion of a young trans girl who wished to participate in this noble tradition. Oh, how the blood began the boil! “If Jesus were here right now, why he’d turn into that Narnia lion and disembowel not only that little pansy, but all the whoring Jezebels who accepted Satan’s own bugle boy into their midst!” I don’t think that is the direct quote from anyone in particular, but it’s also not very far removed either. For anyone new to this blog, I’m not against people of faith, just the whole concept of employing their god to smite people they happen to disagree with.

Immediately a schism formed after another little girl, also a scout and presumably with great parental encouragement, denounced the GSA in general for their devilish compassionate inclusion and urged us all not to buy cookies. In short, the anti-Scout has arisen among us, dedicated to fear, intolerance, and whatever the opposite of charity is. And a cookie boycott? It would be like Ronald McDonald urging us all to go vegan. I’m pretty sure they would make him give the costume back, so not too sure what is happening here. Even if it doesn’t hurt sales, it’s pretty antithetical to the mission. The GSA is big on heart, maybe not so big on business strategy. They are probably just too nice to give her the boot and make her join the Sunflower Girls with Peter Brady.

A snotty tween mouthing off on YouTube isn’t really such a big deal. After the shocking failure of her pissy rant, the real puppet masters came out, infuriated that the GSA continued on doing exactly what they were founded to do, and sell cookies. Clearly the GSA had been hijacked from a merit badge motivated organization to the powerful enforcement wing of Planned Parenthood dedicated to ensuring that each and every member achieved a viable pregnancy and quickly aborted it, preferably in the third trimester. I don’t even really know how to express my feeling about such absurdities without resorting to even more absurd cliché expressions. Yeah, it’s trans people who exhibit delusional instability.

Naturally I have to give the GSA huge kudos for doing the right thing by supporting a kid who wants to be a scout and learn from the principled traditions of the GSA. I wish it happened much sooner. I was subjected to the Boy Scouts; an experience only made bearable by my father’s presence at the majority of the camp-outs. The few times I ventured on my own were not exactly comfortable. My pack was inhabited by a lot of violent little monsters who liked to issue grave threats midway through a “nature hike” when the whiskey and weed came out. And true to the stereotype, my Scoutmaster was brought up on pedophilia charges, although I have to caveat that by saying I was neither victim nor witness. Getting to the point, being ‘not a boy’ in Boy Scouts was not an enriching experience. I would have been much more comfortable with the GSA, and felt a hell of a lot safer as well.

At the last Spectrum meeting I attended, the subject about honoring the GSA as the theme for our next Pride float came up. I completely agree they should be thanked and honored, but giving the matter further thought, I’m not sure having a bunch of middle age trans women dressing in tween and teen girl uniforms will send the message we want received. Given that I imagine we can only find adult sized scout uniforms in the same sort of store that sells ball gags, and that everyone knows this, the whole honoring concept can easily be taken the wrong way. I think the better route might be to issue warm and heartfelt thanks, and support those Girl Scouts who stood to be counted for doing the right thing in the face of adversity. Nothing says thanks like picking up 7 boxes of Samoa’s.

GENDA Agenda

It’s time to get serious about something. I’ve spent a lot of time so far on this blog pointing out what is probably not worth our collective attention as transgendered folks. My thinking is this. If we pour our energy into addressing every slight, misperception, or even outright insult, the focus of our efforts is spread over a vast array of venues and the overall impact is significantly diluted. Today I’m going to address one of the areas I do feel we should be paying rapt attention. That’s right, rapt. I only pull that one out of my bag when I really mean it. Regarding GENDA, I really mean it.

The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) was on the NYS legislation block in 2010 along with the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA). Makes sense right? We are one big LGBTQ family and all; all for one and one for all. I’m not going to whine about the pervasive feelings of betrayal circulating the trans community after SONDA passed and GENDA didn’t. All things in their time, and yes, better some than none. I can’t argue that more people don’t stand to benefit from SONDA either. Plus, it did weaken the barrier. The fact remains that the trans community continues to lack legal protection from discrimination in NY, unless we want to get married. That avenue is also clear. It’s not every day I get to brag about my residence in a state with such a Republican sounding motto, but the accomplishments of recent years allowed me a few joyful woots.

Now why did SONDA pass and not GENDA? A lot of finger pointing abounds, but let’s be real. A certain significant percentage of the population exists, even in the really blue states, that think anyone not cisgender heterosexual is deviant by choice, mentally ill, or thrice damned in some way or another. Encouraging such moral delinquency by admitting the inherent equality of citizens will invariably cause an irritable deity to unzip and take a wicked piss on all America. Politicians, even those not of that opinion, know that these people like to call them a lot and complain. To someone whose entire career goal revolves getting reelected, this kind of kvetching can get in their head, even if it represents a small minority.

If a sizable portion of the voter block is against it, why should GENDA pass? Good, an easy question; it’s nice to promote rafts to castaways once in a while. (1) We exist and are citizens of this country and state. (2) As such we deserve equal protection under the law as any other majority or minority citizen. (3) Because the condition of our existence causes no demonstrable harm or inconvenience to individuals or society. (4) Or imposes said condition on anyone against their will or otherwise. (5) Attaining protected status promotes said equality and fair treatment. (6) While the lack thereof bears strong evidence to have a negative effect on employment, housing, financial management and other areas. (7) Clearly supporting the argument that lack of protective status has a significant and measurable burdensome effect on society overall.

To break it down, with GENDA we have increased opportunity to employ marketable skills that contribute to the tax base, as well as better guarantee to secure sustainable living arrangements. Without, an increased proportion of the population must subsist on public assistance and contribute to the current blight of homelessness. Isn’t enabling equal opportunity for individuals who wish to participate in capitalist democracy better than marginalizing them into an undesired socialist existence? No brainer, right? With, everyone benefits with some more than others, and without, everyone loses, again, some more than others. This of course is simple macroeconomics. The real and true reason should simply be that securing the rights and equality of all citizens should be inherent to the core philosophy of our system, making it the right thing do as Americans.

That said, what to do about self-preservationist politicians who are constantly getting an earful from groups who see any opportunity in our favor as a detriment to the common good for some contrived reason? If loud insistence is the language, I think the answer is to talk it. No matter what his personal convictions or what he tells you to your face, if someone like Mark Grisanti hears more from people who are against this, he’ll lean that way. If he hears from us more, he’ll lean our way. There are exceptions, but I’m pretty certain that is how it works. We’ve all heard the old chestnut, ‘the squeaky wheel gets replaced’, but if that can’t happen, it gets the grease.

I think there are now dozens of organizations across the state, including to the one I belong to, Spectrum WNY (see the link on the side) who have taken up the cause full fury. I’ve decided to do my part by both writing all the state legislatures as well as creating a new page on this blog. My feeling is that no matter how right it is that people take action, they are much more likely to do so if you make it easier for them. So, to make it easy…

1. Pick the legislature for your district.
2. Print out the letter.
3. Use the conveniently provided address
4. And send to them

 

And here is a link to find who your state senator might be that you may contact them with ease at your convenience:

 

http://www.nysenate.gov/report/member-directory-142011

 

Coming soon to a page near you, sample letters and other tools to make this process even easier!

 

Remember, making positive changes at this level is not like having to convince the Supreme Court of anything, especially the Roberts court. This is simply about outnumbering those people who have linked the denial of rights in others to a validation of their highly specific belief system. And hey, even if you can’t be bothered because you don’t know or care about any trans people, won’t it feel good to know you can still royally piss off the other side?