A couple of prompts to write about this: debates in the letter pages of MCV and recent goings on in the trans community.
The MCV debate is the hoary old chestnut about whether trans and intersex should be "part of 'our' community" ("our" being spoken, as usual, by a gay man).
Well Mr MSG, (misogynist separatist gayboy) you don't own the community - it's not "yours." Doesn't this sound like racists who say "we don't want these Italians (1955) Asians (1985), Muslims (2005) in OUR country?" Fear of difference in every case. But one difference: gays experience prejudice too. Isn't giving it out a bit hypocritical?
That said, we can't and shouldn't agree or defend each other simply because we are GLBTI (or one of the G,L , B etc). My approach is we ask to be treated on our merits, no differently, not better, not worse due to our sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status.
That leads into recent goings on in the trans community. Looking at people's behaviour on its merits, when trans people bully, threaten, intimidate or mistreat other trans people, we tell them they are out of order. We don't unite to cover up wrongdoing.
This sort of behaviour occurred 3 weeks ago towards me and another trans person. I'm aware of it happening from the same person to another in the form of threats of violence over a simple difference of opinion. I have second hand information it's happened to at least ten other people, maybe twenty.
As the old maid/old Muppet in the Box of Victoria's trans community who has been around for 12-13 years, I've seen this time and again. People who stand for election in existing groups, but generally form their own groups because they have to run it their way, know it all better than everyone else and their ego says "it's my way or the highway." They bully, steamroll and cajole. They have more in common with Tony Abbott or Gunns timber than Mother Teresa. There's no "I want to care for the community," rather it's "I know how to do it better." They can't with work with other people.
I normally don't play amateur psychoanalyst, but having seen 6 examples of this, I can see a pattern. Generally, these people come out later in life. Have they spent so much time in stealth and secrecy that they can't learn to trust and be open with anyone? And, controversial as it might be, all are MTF. The phrase "residual male programming" comes to mind.
The good thing is, in the end they all disappear or end up running mini-dictatorships disguised as social/support groups. They have no influence because people see through their head-kicking ways and leave them alone (sounds like John Howard???). So we go through this over and again. What are the answers? Succession planning could be one - any others?
Earlier this year, when I (and many others) experienced bullying in a workplace. a friend said something very apt.
"The real measure of any organisation is how it treats its own people. The grand aims it has are irrelevant."
Well, this applies to the trans community too. It matters not what big ideas you have that will supposedly help trans people. Helping trans people starts NOW with how you treat them on a day-to-day basis in everyday interactions.
Maybe that's a message for this time of year too.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Bah frickin' humbug
Well December 24...
Has anyone noticed an increased stress level around Xmas this year? More horns honking, suicidal pedestrians, more aggro? Is there any jollity out there at all?
As a nice Jewish Australian Princess I obviously don't celebrate Xmas. There is no emotional attachment to it. Normally, I can, well, inoculate myself from the insanity and forge on. Not this year.
I'm stressed, fed up and over it. I can't F--KING stand it. I'm tired and want some peace and quiet.
The arbitrary deadline that Xmas creates: gotta have the "empty in-tray" by 5 PM tonight; everyone wants it all complete NOW. WHY? My Dad has a phrase "hurry up and relax." It seems apt this year. And it's all bloody stupid.
But, having vented that, I wish everyone peace and happiness.
Has anyone noticed an increased stress level around Xmas this year? More horns honking, suicidal pedestrians, more aggro? Is there any jollity out there at all?
As a nice Jewish Australian Princess I obviously don't celebrate Xmas. There is no emotional attachment to it. Normally, I can, well, inoculate myself from the insanity and forge on. Not this year.
I'm stressed, fed up and over it. I can't F--KING stand it. I'm tired and want some peace and quiet.
The arbitrary deadline that Xmas creates: gotta have the "empty in-tray" by 5 PM tonight; everyone wants it all complete NOW. WHY? My Dad has a phrase "hurry up and relax." It seems apt this year. And it's all bloody stupid.
But, having vented that, I wish everyone peace and happiness.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
ROFL
Hi all
That's "rolling on the floor laughing" for those not up with the trendy abbrievs.
So how come it's a day of such hilarity? To use the ol' stand-up maxim of "jokes with 3 parts":
1st, an article in Crikey about how progressive the Libs are because they've elected a Catholic as a leader. In the words of "The Rock," "well woopdy doo." Gee they've caught up to the 1950's. This means by 2050 they'll have openly GLBTI folk, single mothers, those of Muslim background, even ex-imprisoned people in the parliamentary party. So truly representative, what?
The second, also courtesy Crikey, (with respect, dark/dry humour) is about how those guardians of morality, Christian fundamentalists, have been caught out offering a home-schooling book that apparently promotes physical and emotional child abuse by approving methods of belting kids to make them G-d fearing. Yes, looking after our families for sure...
But the classic for me is Andrew Bolt. Today's Hun has an opinion poll re gay marriage equality. Yours truly naturally sent out notice of the poll to lists and yahoo groups of which I'm a member - my right to freedom of communication in a democracy.
Well http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/ scroll down 1/3 of the way actually has my e-mail. Good heavens Andrew, my ego wants to thank you for the biggest boost it's had in years. You think I've got so much influence to sway an opinion poll? Me, a little ol' tranny with no money at all - compared to your mates at Saltshakers, Christian Lobby, Families Association and Gloria Jeans who get money from collection plates and siphoning proceeds off cups of coffee without being transparent in their disclosure?
Now I'm soooooo sure all of the above nice ethical Christian organisations would never ever ever ask their members including the alleged 3000 members (i.e. e-mail addresses) of Saltshakers to vote in opinion polls, would they? But today, maybe someone's requested taking the counter-intuitive approach and told them not to vote to back up your nice blog sub-heading of "Ballot rigged." No, such ethics would never allow such a thing...
However, I can only say Andrew, it's great to see you've broadened yourself and adopted a secular non-Christian specific belief - from "The Secret." Keep putting it out there and it will happen. What do I mean? You and others of your ilk kept saying how the (assume whinging fart voice here) "homosexual (sic) lobbyists are so well organised." Well, you kept talking about it - and it's happened. On lists totalling no more than a 1000 different individuals, we have enough friends to show we can make a difference. Fantastic. (Actually, it's 999, given one of your spies leaked my e-mail to you, but who's counting?)
So thanks for the comic relief, Bolta. We need a laugh now and then in this grim ol' world...and I think it is so generous you gave the laughter and merriment to me today.
PS To Andrew's spy - check out http://www.bettybowers.com/homoagenda.html It has the whole homosexual agenda. Now you know, saves you being on a list or lists that you don't need to be on.
That's "rolling on the floor laughing" for those not up with the trendy abbrievs.
So how come it's a day of such hilarity? To use the ol' stand-up maxim of "jokes with 3 parts":
1st, an article in Crikey about how progressive the Libs are because they've elected a Catholic as a leader. In the words of "The Rock," "well woopdy doo." Gee they've caught up to the 1950's. This means by 2050 they'll have openly GLBTI folk, single mothers, those of Muslim background, even ex-imprisoned people in the parliamentary party. So truly representative, what?
The second, also courtesy Crikey, (with respect, dark/dry humour) is about how those guardians of morality, Christian fundamentalists, have been caught out offering a home-schooling book that apparently promotes physical and emotional child abuse by approving methods of belting kids to make them G-d fearing. Yes, looking after our families for sure...
But the classic for me is Andrew Bolt. Today's Hun has an opinion poll re gay marriage equality. Yours truly naturally sent out notice of the poll to lists and yahoo groups of which I'm a member - my right to freedom of communication in a democracy.
Well http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/ scroll down 1/3 of the way actually has my e-mail. Good heavens Andrew, my ego wants to thank you for the biggest boost it's had in years. You think I've got so much influence to sway an opinion poll? Me, a little ol' tranny with no money at all - compared to your mates at Saltshakers, Christian Lobby, Families Association and Gloria Jeans who get money from collection plates and siphoning proceeds off cups of coffee without being transparent in their disclosure?
Now I'm soooooo sure all of the above nice ethical Christian organisations would never ever ever ask their members including the alleged 3000 members (i.e. e-mail addresses) of Saltshakers to vote in opinion polls, would they? But today, maybe someone's requested taking the counter-intuitive approach and told them not to vote to back up your nice blog sub-heading of "Ballot rigged." No, such ethics would never allow such a thing...
However, I can only say Andrew, it's great to see you've broadened yourself and adopted a secular non-Christian specific belief - from "The Secret." Keep putting it out there and it will happen. What do I mean? You and others of your ilk kept saying how the (assume whinging fart voice here) "homosexual (sic) lobbyists are so well organised." Well, you kept talking about it - and it's happened. On lists totalling no more than a 1000 different individuals, we have enough friends to show we can make a difference. Fantastic. (Actually, it's 999, given one of your spies leaked my e-mail to you, but who's counting?)
So thanks for the comic relief, Bolta. We need a laugh now and then in this grim ol' world...and I think it is so generous you gave the laughter and merriment to me today.
PS To Andrew's spy - check out http://www.bettybowers.com/homoagenda.html It has the whole homosexual agenda. Now you know, saves you being on a list or lists that you don't need to be on.
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