~Clean Close Shave

Whenever people who do not label themselves, or who are not labeled "Trans"-anything speak of Trans issues, they speak of "them". It's always " They deserve their rights, or " They are all sick", or " They're ok, just as long as they stay away from me."

Before getting to the primary reason this seems pretty darn wrong to me, let me say this: Humanity is a "we". When a person who wears a different label than you suffers, it's still human suffering.

Now, to the primary reason I see "Trans" issues being of concern to everyone...

If a law is passed that makes it illegal to discriminate against Transgendered or transsexual people, that law protects everyone. I've yet to meet a person who is not, to some extent, "transgendered". Everyone has things about them that are deemed the "opposite" of their assigned sex and attached gender role by the almighty rule book from hell.

Gay people are transgendered. Men are not supposed to desire men sexually.
Lesbians are transgendered. Women are not supposed to desire women sexually.
Bisexuals are transgendered. Men are supposed to desire women sexually and women are supposed to desire men sexually. Period.

It's not the GLBT community. It's the T community.

Thinking... "but wait! I'm not Gay, Lesbian, or even Bi!"?

Well, if you have pants on, you'd better be a man. Pants are for men. Women are supposed to wear dresses, and that dress better be pink. Pink is for girls, and blue is for boys.

Did you go to work today? I hope you're a man, because a woman's place is in the kitchen.

Feminists are transgendered.
Women are transgendered.

I hope that none of you guys shaved your face today. Men have facial hair. What are you trying to do, look like a girl? ...and I hope that you haven't made yourself anything to eat or washed your clothing lately. That's women's work.

Men are transgendered.

The guy who wrapped his car around a tree last night, who thought it was manly to drink half a keg and then drive home... I think that his parents might agree that gender stereotypes are a bit dangerous.

WE are all transgendered. There may be 3 people on the planet that are not. A stereotype is not the easiest thing to achieve. WE all need to be interested in "trans" issues.

There is no "they". Even those 3 people who fit today's stereotype might not fit it tomorrow.

True, if we say that everyone is "transgendered", then it doesn't allow for necessary laws and protections to be put in black and white to protect certain people from discrimination/oppression/violence, but... that's not my point here. My "point" is to point out to people that much of what most people consider to be "normal" about themselves and others is actually, by definition, "transgendered".

For example... a certain guy wears an earing (or two). Although he thinks nothing of it, it is, in essence, a "transgendered" thing to do. The stereotype is that only girls and women wear earings. Yes, the stereotype is slowly changing, but if you adhere strictly to it... There is a part of this guy's expression of himself that is "female/woman/girl/feminine" Shaving his face, if he does, can also fall into the "transgender" realm. By stereotype, men have facial hair. Gender is all about stereotypes!

Unless you are one to adhere strictly to the stereotype, in essence, you are transgendered. Being that I've never met one person in my life (and I've met A LOT of people) that fit the stereotype, I can safely say that in essence, everyone is "transgendered". People choose not to adhere to the stereotype, they choose to "play with gender". "Transgender" when broken down, means to cross (trans) gender lines.

No, not everyone falls into the flattering categories of "Genderfuck" or "freak of nature"... but my point in pointing out that "transgender issues" effect everyone, because everyone is transgendered to some degree, is to point out why people should support things like laws that protect transgendered people, and why people should take an interest in the subject.


ok... rant over... for now.


(originally)