A Frank Coming of Age Story

I guess being screwed over is a rite of passage as a transgender activist/advocate. Becky Juro’s written an excellent summary of the history of dangled carrots and broken promises. Vanessa Edwards Foster explains how we’ve been suckered like this in the past and how that played out at the most recent Southern Comfort Conference.

“During the speeches there was much congratulation and self-congratulation, and plenty of high spirits about the impending bills in Congress awaiting votes: Hate Crimes (already passed inclusively in the House) currently awaiting Senate approval, and the all-important Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) approaching the House vote. All seemed right with the world in Trans America’s focus point that weekend at SCC in Atlanta. All seemed eerily right to some of us long-timers with memories intact as well. Eerily too right.

After the speech, everyone clapped, ate, enjoyed the rest of SCC and went home. Most of us waited with baited anticipation. Myself, I couldn’t get over how this reminded me of 2002.”

Barney Frank’s latest round of comments to the San Francisco Chronicle seem contradictory.

“Some gay activists said Democratic leaders were worried that including transgender people in the employment discrimination bill would expose conservative House Democrats to a tough vote.

Frank dismissed that charge as ‘stupid.’

‘They had no idea what they were talking about,’ Frank said. ‘We put them to a vote on transgender hate crimes. We’re going to put them to a vote on sexual orientation. The problem wasn’t that we were afraid of it. We just didn’t have the votes.’”

Stupid? If it was as simple as not having the votes, why would he complain of nervous Democrats hearing whispers of Republicans amendments:

“that would talk about schoolteachers, and what happens when the kid comes back from summer vacation and teachers change gender. We just lost enough Democrats and we couldn’t be sure of the Republicans. – Barney Frank”

I reported earlier this week that Jeffery Hancuff of the House Education and Labor committee had contacted Ethan St. Pierre. He called to inquire about stories of transgender persons who work successfully with children, in order to counter accusations from the opposition that trangender people aren’t pedophiles. I spoke with St. Pierre this morning. He said he relayed this information to Mara Keisling of NCTE, without any response.

Barney Frank’s assertion that this isn’t about being scared out of a vote is a pretty transparent attempt to ignore the obvious. Drew over at So Far, So Left frames this perfectly:

“You know, I kinda wondered if this weren’t the reason that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act has fewer cosponsors in the 110th than it had in the 108th Congress: members of Congress – like David Scott – are “uncomfortable” with transpeople.

Which is to say, while our MCs may dislike discrimination against gay people, they don’t dislike it quite enough to give up their right to discriminate against transpeople. Such wonderful character, our Congress.

Now, I know that David Scott will probably vote for this bill, with or without the transgender provision – he’s said he would. But it’s his weak response to the bill – as evidenced by his failure to cosponsor – that makes it easier for Democrats like, oh, say, Sanford Bishop and John Barrow, to remain silent or oppose it outright. Erstwhile liberals like David Scott lower the bar for decent behavior, allowing the still more erst to hop right over.“

According to Queerty.com:

“Gay rights groups HRC and the Gay and Lesbian Task Force don’t support the move, but gay politico Barney Frank thinks it’s worth a shot: ‘I think the notion that we should let the whole bill die if we can’t pass [a] transgender [provision] is a terrible idea.’ Frank points to past wins, including women and blacks, which came in stages, not a flood.”

This isn’t really a fair comparison and he knows it. The GLBT community is a united movement. Women and civil rights activists may have supported each other in their fight for their own rights, but they weren’t a unified community.

One only need look as far as New York’s Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act to see the whole “we’ll come back for you” attitude doesn’t work. Passed in the fall of 2002 and five years later they’re still trying to pass a gender non-discrimination bill and the future of such a bills passage isn’t very good.

Barney Frank is doing something even the far right can’t do. He’s dividing the GLBT community and is fracturing it into a million pieces. Good As You humorously said:

It remains to be seen if our largest organization, HRC, will also come to bat for the T’s, or if they will join the Dems who think full non-discrimination, like sex reassignment surgery, is a multi-part process. However, if that organization does break ranks with the other LGBT groups and goes along with the Dems’ apparent new strategy, we must warn them: We’ve already heard outcry from folks who say that if the T is dropped, they wouldn’t attend another HRC banquet even if the entertainment lineup included Felicity Huffman doing a one-night only, one woman version of TransAmerica, followed by Calpernia Adams and Alexis Arquette doing an interpretive dance to the latest song from Lipstick Consipracy. And they seemed to mean it, too!

So yea, seeing as how a community divided is our opposition’s wet dream, we sincerely hope that you’ll step up and do the right thing, HRC! We’re pretty sure you know what that is. “

For an organization that knows what the right thing to do is, they’re being pretty damn silent. I’ll remember that the next time I gift money to any LGBT organization. I may not get a spiffy HRC sticker but I’ll trade that for the kind of advocacy that NGLTF is engaging in at this very moment. They’re already doing the right thing.

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Transadvocate contributor: Marti Abernathey (1924 Posts)

Marti Abernathey is Transadvocate.com's blog editor. She's also a podcaster, activist, and radiologic technologist in Madison, Wisconsin. She's been a part of various internet radio ventures such as TSR Live!, The T-Party, and The Radical Trannies, to name a few. As an advocate she's previously been involved with the Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance, Rock Indiana Campaign for Equality, and the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition. She's taken vital roles as a grass roots community organizer in The Indianapolis Tax Day Protest (2003), The Indy Pride HRC Protest (2004), Transgender Day of Remembrance (2004), Indiana's Witch Hunt (2005), and the Rally At The Statehouse (the largest ever GLBT protest in Indiana - 3/2005). She was a delegate from Indiana to the Democratic National Convention and a member of Barack Obama's LGBT Steering and Policy Committee.

Kathy

Isn’t the stereotype that we should be scared if people teach children – what these people always bring up about gay people?

So – it’s not anything new on this legislation.

I guess the conservaqueers had to try something new since gay men cornered the market on bathroom stories the last few years.

But you really can’t say Rep. Frank has folded like a broken deck chair on this issue.

He’s just taking a wider stance.
Kathy

Isn’t the stereotype that we should be scared if people teach children – what these people always bring up about gay people?

So – it’s not anything new on this legislation.

I guess the conservaqueers had to try something new since gay men cornered the market on bathroom stories the last few years.

But you really can’t say Rep. Frank has folded like a broken deck chair on this issue.

He’s just taking a wider stance.
http://transpolitical.blogspot.com/ Vanessa Edwards Foster

Touché Kathy!
http://transpolitical.blogspot.com/ Vanessa Edwards Foster

Touché Kathy!
Kathy

“Barney Frank is doing something even the far right can’t do. He’s dividing the GLBT community and is fracturing it into a million pieces.”
==============================

Sadly, it’s doing more than that. Several people who’ve worked in Dem politics have told me they wonder why they bother.
Kathy

“Barney Frank is doing something even the far right can’t do. He’s dividing the GLBT community and is fracturing it into a million pieces.”
==============================

Sadly, it’s doing more than that. Several people who’ve worked in Dem politics have told me they wonder why they bother.
Monica Roberts

Because sadly, the only thing between dictatorship and what’s left of our democracy is the Democratic party.

And they’re fracking it up with bonehead mistakes like this.
Monica Roberts

Because sadly, the only thing between dictatorship and what’s left of our democracy is the Democratic party.

And they’re fracking it up with bonehead mistakes like this.
Bobbi B

This, *this* is why I vote for outsider parties. The DNC is just Republicans with better manners. It’s a choice between being smoothy knifed the the back or clubbed: no real choice at all.

I won’t crow “I knew it,” but I have seen this kind of thing happen to us over and over through the years. My fave was the poltico or activist who suggested legislation would be “more palatable” without transgender rights. Nothing makes a gal feel good about herself like being told she’s less palatable than a tearoom quickie, yesssiree!

To heck with them — all four letters or nothing!

The moronic Shrub is likely to veto ENDA, and if so, it will be the only thing he’s ever done that I agreed with.

You Democratic voters, remember, you’ll most likely have one of your own in the White House plus a majority in both houses for the next go-round and we’d better be pushing hard to get trans rights back in when it happens. Your guys and gals in office are gonna tax me back into poverty and screw up my carefully compartmentalized medical records and I’d like to get something positive along with it, please.

As for HRC, I’m old enough to know an “auntie” when I see one. They’ll cozen up to the breeders for a pat on the head and push all us flakes and weirdos into the shadows if that’s what it takes. Don’t give them a dime or one second of your time. There are plenty of trans-inclusive GBLT groups out there.
Bobbi B

This, *this* is why I vote for outsider parties. The DNC is just Republicans with better manners. It’s a choice between being smoothy knifed the the back or clubbed: no real choice at all.

I won’t crow “I knew it,” but I have seen this kind of thing happen to us over and over through the years. My fave was the poltico or activist who suggested legislation would be “more palatable” without transgender rights. Nothing makes a gal feel good about herself like being told she’s less palatable than a tearoom quickie, yesssiree!

To heck with them — all four letters or nothing!

The moronic Shrub is likely to veto ENDA, and if so, it will be the only thing he’s ever done that I agreed with.

You Democratic voters, remember, you’ll most likely have one of your own in the White House plus a majority in both houses for the next go-round and we’d better be pushing hard to get trans rights back in when it happens. Your guys and gals in office are gonna tax me back into poverty and screw up my carefully compartmentalized medical records and I’d like to get something positive along with it, please.

As for HRC, I’m old enough to know an “auntie” when I see one. They’ll cozen up to the breeders for a pat on the head and push all us flakes and weirdos into the shadows if that’s what it takes. Don’t give them a dime or one second of your time. There are plenty of trans-inclusive GBLT groups out there.
http://www.kellyvision.net/ Kelly

I’ve been following this whole debacle here and on other trans pages. I’ve always been reading John Aravossis Americablog and especially the rather argumentative comment thread on Aravossis’ support of Frank. To his readers credit, most have taken it out on him pretty hard, but his comments to me were typical: Why should he throw away possible gains for 20 or 30 million gays and lesbians for someone like me who just came on board this year.

This is the view of the white and wealthy gay male subgroup that only cares about marriage. It also pisses me off because I worked my ass off locally to try and defeat a marriage amendmant. My point is, I’m not supporting a trans inclusive ENDA because it benefits me, I’m already 100% protected with a local law, but because many of my friends around the country who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender that don’t have the same protections I have.

For anyone to question my commitment as being greedy or trying to ride the coatails of the gay and lesbian community, screw them. I’m doing the work I’ve done because I believe in fairness for all and the rights of my transgender friends around the country are just as important as the rights of my gay and lesbian friends.

http://www.americablog.com/2007/09/barney-on-enda-transgender-controversy.html
http://www.kellyvision.net Kelly

I’ve been following this whole debacle here and on other trans pages. I’ve always been reading John Aravossis Americablog and especially the rather argumentative comment thread on Aravossis’ support of Frank. To his readers credit, most have taken it out on him pretty hard, but his comments to me were typical: Why should he throw away possible gains for 20 or 30 million gays and lesbians for someone like me who just came on board this year.

This is the view of the white and wealthy gay male subgroup that only cares about marriage. It also pisses me off because I worked my ass off locally to try and defeat a marriage amendmant. My point is, I’m not supporting a trans inclusive ENDA because it benefits me, I’m already 100% protected with a local law, but because many of my friends around the country who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender that don’t have the same protections I have.

For anyone to question my commitment as being greedy or trying to ride the coatails of the gay and lesbian community, screw them. I’m doing the work I’ve done because I believe in fairness for all and the rights of my transgender friends around the country are just as important as the rights of my gay and lesbian friends.

http://www.americablog.com/2007/09/barney-on-enda-transgender-controversy.html
Kat

“I won’t crow ‘I knew it.’”

If you did know it, you should indeed crow it – shout it from the housetops.

That sound you’ll be hearing soon (as soon as I replenish my supply of NCTE-logo toilet paper) is me doing just that throughout the midwest.
kateforbes

My point is, I’m not supporting a trans inclusive ENDA because it benefits me, I’m already 100% protected with a local law, but because many of my friends around the country who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender that don’t have the same protections I have.

Amen. Same here– I’ve worked for laws that wouldn’t impact me, because they’re just. And again, while ENDA would help me if/when I move, I’m in a pretty good shape in my line of work– it’s actually about doing what’s right and helping other people.
Ronald C Nichols Jr.

only independent minded people are going to be the one’s to save this country the democrates of the past are gone ans so is thier direction that kept this country sound, such JFK, Harry S Truman

now we have a bunch of utopian socialist that want take us from the cradle to the grave with thier bull shit idea’s on how to take care of us

I don’t need any european style health care, I don’t need thousasnds
of illegals coming here and destroying the america that once was,

You better get a gun monica and learn how to use it you need sooner
than you think G.W. on may 9th of this year just authorized the new construction of concentraction camps { world net daily } hope I never see you there.
Lonestar

I’m a straight biological female. I was looking to educate myself about ENDA and transgender issues, and I happened on your site from a Google Search.

I don’t pretend to be well educated on transgender issues. Honestly, it is not something I’ve given a whole lot of thought to, although I have trans aquaintances, and have taken some sensitivity training through workplace, I still consider myself relatively naive about the issues.

As I was reading this page, I noticed Bobbi B wrote
“As for HRC, I’m old enough to know an “auntie” when I see one. They’ll cozen up to the breeders for a pat on the head and push all us flakes and weirdos into the shadows if that’s what it takes.”

When I seek out information to educate myself and see disparaging references to “breeders” it does give me a sinking feeling and causes my finger to want to click back off this page… I’ll still continue to educate myself, but if you’re interested in opening up a dialogue with people like myself, maybe leave the disparaging remarks behind.
Lonestar

I’m a straight biological female. I was looking to educate myself about ENDA and transgender issues, and I happened on your site from a Google Search.

I don’t pretend to be well educated on transgender issues. Honestly, it is not something I’ve given a whole lot of thought to, although I have trans aquaintances, and have taken some sensitivity training through workplace, I still consider myself relatively naive about the issues.

As I was reading this page, I noticed Bobbi B wrote
“As for HRC, I’m old enough to know an “auntie” when I see one. They’ll cozen up to the breeders for a pat on the head and push all us flakes and weirdos into the shadows if that’s what it takes.”

When I seek out information to educate myself and see disparaging references to “breeders” it does give me a sinking feeling and causes my finger to want to click back off this page… I’ll still continue to educate myself, but if you’re interested in opening up a dialogue with people like myself, maybe leave the disparaging remarks behind.
Marti Abernathey

“I don’t pretend to be well educated on transgender issues. Honestly, it is not something I’ve given a whole lot of thought to, although I have trans acquaintances, and have taken some sensitivity training
through workplace, I still consider myself relatively naive about the issues.”

I love allies… even relatively naive ones

“As I was reading this page, I noticed Bobbi B wrote ‘As for HRC, I’m old enough to know an “auntie” when I see one. They’ll cozen up to the breeders for a pat on the head and push all us flakes and weirdos into the shadows if that’s what it takes.’

When I seek out information to educate myself and see disparaging references to “breeders” it does give me a sinking feeling and causes
my finger to want to click back off this page…”

You really have to take that in context. There are so many people (usually rich white gay men) that want to align themselves with
“normal” people (normal=suburban, conforming to societal norms heterosexual, white) and say “we aren’t like them.” The constant torment that we “weirdos” (weirdo=social outcasts, gender variant people, people of color) feel from society sometimes manifests itself in this kind of anger. I hope you can see that for what it is.

“I’ll still continue to educate myself, but if you’re interested in opening up a dialogue with people like myself, maybe leave the
disparaging remarks behind.”

Understood. I don’t think that’s the tenor of Transadvocate… just the feelings of a commenter. I hope you do stick around… we need all the allies we can get.
Lonestar

Marti,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, of course I understand the anger many must feel at being marginalized. I have often felt anger in the face of plain old sexism. All I was pointing out is that by directing that anger generally at all “straights” or “breeders” that it tends to alienate everyone even further.

As far as being naive… we are all probably somewhat naive about people who are in any way “different” than us. Trying to keep up with current events, and educating oneself about what is going on with all the different groups of people who are being discriminated against – women, gays, transgendered people, immigrants, people of various backgrounds, etc, is an ongoing challenge.

To expect everyone to have the same degree of sensitivity or awareness is also naive – opening the doors to dialogue is the best way to educate people who are wanting to understand but perhaps afraid of asking the “wrong” question or saying the wrong thing in an attempt to broaden understanding.

I welcome and seek out the opportunity to educate myself. Reading about the current issues with ENDA prompted me to start searching the web to understand the various issues surrounding including trans people in the bill, and the various debates on all sides about how this is playing out. I found all the debate surprising, particularly the feuding within the LGBT community about the bill, which caused me to want to get more information from that various stakeholders, so I could determine what I would say when I called Speaker Pelosi’s office about this bill (which I did this morninng).

So thank you for the response.
Lonestar

Marti,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, of course I understand the anger many must feel at being marginalized. I have often felt anger in the face of plain old sexism. All I was pointing out is that by directing that anger generally at all “straights” or “breeders” that it tends to alienate everyone even further.

As far as being naive… we are all probably somewhat naive about people who are in any way “different” than us. Trying to keep up with current events, and educating oneself about what is going on with all the different groups of people who are being discriminated against – women, gays, transgendered people, immigrants, people of various backgrounds, etc, is an ongoing challenge.

To expect everyone to have the same degree of sensitivity or awareness is also naive – opening the doors to dialogue is the best way to educate people who are wanting to understand but perhaps afraid of asking the “wrong” question or saying the wrong thing in an attempt to broaden understanding.

I welcome and seek out the opportunity to educate myself. Reading about the current issues with ENDA prompted me to start searching the web to understand the various issues surrounding including trans people in the bill, and the various debates on all sides about how this is playing out. I found all the debate surprising, particularly the feuding within the LGBT community about the bill, which caused me to want to get more information from that various stakeholders, so I could determine what I would say when I called Speaker Pelosi’s office about this bill (which I did this morninng).

So thank you for the response.
Kat

“I won’t crow ‘I knew it.’”

If you did know it, you should indeed crow it – shout it from the housetops.

That sound you’ll be hearing soon (as soon as I replenish my supply of NCTE-logo toilet paper) is me doing just that throughout the midwest.
kateforbes

My point is, I’m not supporting a trans inclusive ENDA because it benefits me, I’m already 100% protected with a local law, but because many of my friends around the country who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender that don’t have the same protections I have.

Amen. Same here– I’ve worked for laws that wouldn’t impact me, because they’re just. And again, while ENDA would help me if/when I move, I’m in a pretty good shape in my line of work– it’s actually about doing what’s right and helping other people.
http://Ronjr Ronald C Nichols Jr.

only independent minded people are going to be the one’s to save this country the democrates of the past are gone ans so is thier direction that kept this country sound, such JFK, Harry S Truman

now we have a bunch of utopian socialist that want take us from the cradle to the grave with thier bull shit idea’s on how to take care of us

I don’t need any european style health care, I don’t need thousasnds
of illegals coming here and destroying the america that once was,

You better get a gun monica and learn how to use it you need sooner
than you think G.W. on may 9th of this year just authorized the new construction of concentraction camps { world net daily } hope I never see you there.
Marti Abernathey

“I don’t pretend to be well educated on transgender issues. Honestly, it is not something I’ve given a whole lot of thought to, although I have trans acquaintances, and have taken some sensitivity training
through workplace, I still consider myself relatively naive about the issues.”

I love allies… even relatively naive ones

“As I was reading this page, I noticed Bobbi B wrote ‘As for HRC, I’m old enough to know an “auntie” when I see one. They’ll cozen up to the breeders for a pat on the head and push all us flakes and weirdos into the shadows if that’s what it takes.’

When I seek out information to educate myself and see disparaging references to “breeders” it does give me a sinking feeling and causes
my finger to want to click back off this page…”

You really have to take that in context. There are so many people (usually rich white gay men) that want to align themselves with
“normal” people (normal=suburban, conforming to societal norms heterosexual, white) and say “we aren’t like them.” The constant torment that we “weirdos” (weirdo=social outcasts, gender variant people, people of color) feel from society sometimes manifests itself in this kind of anger. I hope you can see that for what it is.

“I’ll still continue to educate myself, but if you’re interested in opening up a dialogue with people like myself, maybe leave the
disparaging remarks behind.”

Understood. I don’t think that’s the tenor of Transadvocate… just the feelings of a commenter. I hope you do stick around… we need all the allies we can get.

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A Frank Coming of Age Story

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