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Saturday, Aug 30, 2008
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Letters |
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| THANK YOU, SGN I have been reading this week's SGN online as I now live in northern California. It is interesting to see what's going on in Seattle (I always pick up a copy of SGN when I visit). I have to comment George Bakan and Tom Flint for their loyalty to SGN and its longevity. SGN is a must-have commodity in Seattle because it brings a fresh perspective and delves into subjects glossed over in other papers. What I now find interesting is that over the years (I've been involved in Gay life and activities since the mid '70s) is that problems evolve, they don't just go away. Whether a person is Gay or Gay-friendly (I don't really care for the terms myself), the history of Gay life is filled with turning points, with changes, and also with routine. After all, we are human and we age and take a journey through time and experience. Gay men and women don't always agree on issues. Solutions can be varied. Opinions can vary. And it is important to know whether you have an opinion or just tidbits of information. I am concerned for the Transgender clause regarding protection of rights in the current bill. I'm also concerned that the struggle for Gay rights and protections will continue to sway back and forth in American society and legal systems. I'm not a political activist, nor a person interested in enlightening the world regarding my sexual persuasion. I am a person who believes in "equal rights" for all Americans, and that is something that the Gay community has always had to fight for. Thank you, SGN, for keeping the struggle and the joy in Gay life visible. Lawrence M. Dickson REMEMBER OUR MILITARY HEROES Too often we forget the military personnel who have sacrificed their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq unless we read the newspaper, watch television, or are a member of a family with someone in the service. Our brothers and sisters are engaging in a war where the casualty numbers have increased immeasurably. The sacrifices made by our military are heroic, as are those made by the many families trying to get along in our country. Let's not forget our prayers for the many deceased military and the lucky ones returning to places throughout our nation. Buzz Flowers LGB...& T? I've noticed a number of contributing writers to the SGN are very supportive of the decision to exclude the T from ENDA. They've even gone so far as to try to blame T for fracturing the LGBT community. I find that ironic, as for the most part the push by the more politically active T folk is to include the T in LGBT. It's a few politically active, non-T folk who've been pushing to cut Transgender people out of the discussion. Many points have been brought up by both sides, for instance the statement that sexuality and gender are different, and therefore Transgender folk aren't really like the rest of LGB folk. You know, when it comes to employment, I've rarely seen anybody, let alone LGB folk, actually having sex. Nor have I seen many talking about sexual acts. So the workplaces issues are about sexuality when said sexuality is basically absent from the workplace? It seems to me that the employment discrimination issues are all about who you appear to be, and what or who you're allowed to talk about in the workplace. Flaming queens, butch dykes, and people transitioning between genders all catch hell for appearing different from everyone else. Perhaps more people should try to see what it's like. Wear a dress to work (or a suit, if you're a straight passing woman), or to the grocery store outside of Capitol hill. Take a walk in someone else's shoes. Another issue: talking about whom one loves. Yes, Lesbians and Gay men face that hurdle every day. But when every Tom, Dick, and Mary tells one's spouse they must be so strong to suffer through one's transition, well, that hurts too. And the assumption that only a pervert could love a Transperson? That scares away many potential partners. o Transfolk are labeled with the same slurs as LGB folk. o They're kicked out of the same churches. o They're fired from the same jobs. o They're snubbed by the same neighbors. o It's hard to remember, sometimes, but not everything in this world is about sex. o ENDA is about discrimination. Roxanne S |
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