If You Dig Michfest, You’re NOT a Trans Ally

I recently had a discussion with a person with cisgender privledge about Michfest. I thought feminist/POC theory taught rather early on that a person who isn’t in the oppressed category doesn’t get to define if they are in fact, an ally. If you support Michfest, you’re NOT a Trans ally. This is what I said:

“No, we don’t share similar viewpoints on Michfest. I wouldn’t go to Hammerfest, no matter how ‘good’ or how much of a “safe space” it created for me. This isn’t just about exclusion, it’s about belief. A belief that comes out of the work of Raymond and Daly. It’s not just some innocuous thing. “Technology on the Social and Ethical Aspects of Transsexual Surgery, for the US Government” had a devastating effect on transsexuals that is still felt today.

If you support Michfest, you aren’t an ally. And you don’t get to decide if you’re an ally or not. That’s a game the oppressor plays.

As far as those words coming out of my mouth, if you heard that I attended a Hammerfest, would you NOT think I were an ignorant bigot? I would be rightfully indicted by attendance.”

Marti Abernathey is the founder of the Transadvocate and the previous managing editor. Abernathey has worn many different hats, including that of podcaster, activist, and radiologic technologist. She's been a part of various internet radio ventures such as TSR Live!, The T-Party, and The Radical Trannies, TransFM, and Sodium Pentathol Sunday. 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). In 2008 she was a delegate from Indiana to the Democratic National Convention and a member of Barack Obama's LGBT Steering and Policy Committee. Abernathey currently hosts the Youtube Channel "The T-Party with Marti Abernathey."