This morning I received an email talking about a website called "The Pink Butterfly Network". It claims to be a knockoff of Lynn Conway's Transsexual Women's Successes, pointing to transsexual women who should inspire us. I like Lynn Conway, and her Transsexual Women's Successes page has become more than just pretty faces. But this knockoff site and others like it bother me. A success to who? What qualifies as a success? Someone that is feminine? Someone that is pretty? To… Read more.
Be a Trans Advocate
Tag: radical feminists
Tag: radical feminists
Radical Feminists on the Transgender v. HBS Controversy
January 29, 2008 · Marti Abernathey
I found a pretty intriguing comment over at Womens Spaces/The Margins concerning a post written by Harry Benjamin Syndrome apologist, Cathy Platine, at Pam's House Blend. That whole thread over at PHB consists of males scratching out turf over the female body, each laying claim to ownership. While I live in this society as a woman, the reality is that I'm male bodied and a surgically constructed vagina will not change that. Thoughts? Read more.
With Apologies to Radical Feminists
January 24, 2008 · Marti Abernathey
Recently, I commented on a post at Bilerico: You want to get technical Sue? In the strictest definition, you're not female. The distinction between the "sexes" is that a female has the ability to produce ova, and the male has the ability to produce produces sperm. Your "sex" isn't based on an organ but on your reproductive ability. For that matter, your neo-vagina isn't even an "organ." An organ is tissue or a group of tissues that constitute a morphologically and functionally distinct part of an organism. Your "vagina" isn't a social construct, it's a surgical construct. And an incomplete construct at that! Go find your bartholin glands.... And in the above scenario, the woman wasn't afraid of genitals, but because of other physical characteristics. It's more about passing privilege than genital configuration. And judging from the pictures I've seen of you, ya got your own passing issues. So you might want to jump off that high horse of yours. Pretty strong statement eh? I said this in response to Sue Robins, who said: A ladies locker room is no place for Man and if you have male genitals you are a Man end of story. Read more.
Michfest Music Melodrama
August 7, 2007 · Marti Abernathey
I really have no desire to go to the transphobic Michigan Womyn's Music Festival. I don't really care to protest the event (with Camp Trans). If the Klan wanted to have a meeting out in the midde of nowhere, I'd let em. But the one thing DOES bother me about Michfest are the performers. Artists like Alix Olson, Melissa Ferrick, and Ferron are playing at an event that actively excludes transwomen. I keep thinking, should I refuse to go to any further shows or buy their albums? Is it anathema to support any of these artists? :( I really do love Ferron. Some music under the cut... Read more.
This Says It Better Than I Ever Could
July 27, 2007 · Marti Abernathey
From Alas, a blog Amp has been personally attacked many times because of this cartoon. I believe it's because it's speaking truth. Some folks don't like to see their own reflection, or refuse to believe it and react violently when they do. Read more.