What about tolerance?

Comment by Caroline Grace on September 26, 2012 at 4:37am

Good for you to be writing a book that includes a transgender character.  We need more positive media exposure. Writing is both fun and a chore, isn't it?

May I suggest something? If you are publishing,a book, in today's standards a person is not transgendered (a verb) but rather they are transgender.  It is like calling someone a gayed man or a gay man, I think.  I am not saying I agree with this distinction - but I do know that dropping "ed" at the end is preferred by most transgender people.

Let us know when it is published. Or if you feel comfortable share a few paragraphs with us so we can get an idea of how the book will read.  May you complete this endeavor soon, have it published, and may it be well received by multitudes of readers.

Comment by Rachel King on September 26, 2012 at 6:39am

My thought is, Jaime, you can only change a persons mind by conversing with them.

In our case it is on Pe, a wonderful way to air our views.

Now if you, or any one else disappears from this site, then we don't get the variation that is your opinion and you don't get the variation that we have to offer.

What you have left, is a you that is stilted in your thoughts because you don't have that variety of opinion to weigh up and use or discard, as you see fit.

Hmm, since getting my computer running after it crashed last Thursday, spell check has appeared, a mystery I shall not query, as I don't believe in looking a gift horse in the mouth,hahaha.

Where was I, oh yeah, the major reason I stay with Pe is twofold.

I like to be of help in sharing my experiences in transition and I learn so much each day I share on a blog.

Seems a good enough reason to put up with a bit of negativity to me.

Good luck on your book, I hope that your transgender person ends up living happily ever after, many of us do.

Comment by Jaime Melisa Roth on September 27, 2012 at 12:11am

Rachel,

My comment was not directed at PE only. I was referring to discussions in many places about the definition of transgender. I have been busy writing on many human rights issues and to me arguing about the definition of transgender is counterproductive. Others may disagree but I don't want to spend time engaging in that argument. I also try to spend less time on the internet generally.

I have always appreciated your perspectives.

And Caroline, thank you for your input and wishes for success.

Comment by Caroline Grace on September 27, 2012 at 4:16am

@ Rachel, thanks for giving us vacation, even if it was only from last Thursday.  (hahahaha - you know I am just teasing).  You have one of the most original and sensible voices here, Rachel, so like  Jaime I am always looking for your comments.   And I agree with the one below. Having different ways of looking at things helps us grow. When I post a blog, as I am apt to do every once in a while, I read every comment. I try to look at everyone's perspective as it helps me gain a better understanding.  I feel like I still need a daily dose of PE and the blogs & comments are the  most rewarding to me.

Comment by Juliet Femme on September 29, 2012 at 1:27pm

Here in the UK,it seems things are getting better.Reading many reports from the US,it seems that its not so good,which is not good news.It may be the media,or just people have no time for anybody who does not fit in the society which they live in there bubble.So we all suffer in the long run and I hope we will see more education ,everybody should be able to live the life they want.We have missed you here and I am pleased you now can now enjoy our company again.

Comment by Erin Detty on September 29, 2012 at 4:40pm

The Media has a long way to go as far as Tolerance is concerned when it comes to us the trans community. 

The Dr Phil's and the Anderson Cooper's of the world seem to be underhanded as far as the way they betray us as.

Some of us have problems on the job, I haven't had problems where I work but the thought of going openly to a new employer is a bit scary, hearing some of the stories I have heard or read from other girls here and elsewhere.

I have had no problems when I go out but at home, at times, its been a little exciting at times and longing for Tolerance, it has got a lot better were pretty much room mates and that works for me, what ever it takes I just want the relationship in what ever form it comes in as long as were not fighting.

I joined a number of LGBT Meet up Groups, I found very little Tolerance there, sort of an outsider, wasn't what I expected at all. I have sense learned my place in the LGBT community, I feel bad saying that.

I'm glad and grateful to have Pe as a place to feel a part of, I know it means a lot to many of us to have this as an outlet, to learn and to support one another. 

I can understand how your novel is a complex one:)  

Comment by Rachel King on September 29, 2012 at 11:08pm

In the Land of Oz, some 64% of the population support gay marriage( I use the term as an umbrella one) yet after around a month of fierce debate on the subject( not including the years prior) our elected politicians decide in their collective wisdom, to ignore the people who elected them and voted something like 60 % against law reform.

What is it they say about you get what you deserve in life?

My particular Member of Parliament replied to my email, that he knows what the people in his Constituency want, this in spite of consistent calls for a poll to be held to ascertain the electorates desire on the subject.

What arrogance.

And that is maybe the bottom line.

Politicians are an arrogant breed by nature and the public follow a lead because that is human nature.

To change Politicians who wont change their attitude, is where the real battle needs to be won.

Comment by Janell Elynn Smith on September 30, 2012 at 1:31am

Rachel, Our country has the problem that politicians don't want to lead or think for themselves or their constituents. They are too concerned with re-election, their own salary and benefits, maintaining the status quo, their own personal power, anything, but leading. And they will lie, steal, cheat, back-stab, and take money from lobbyists to protect their own little fiefdoms. It disgusts me. The great statesmen are few and far between, but when the appear they make a difference and become true icons of the people. We should all hope, pray, and work toward the day when true tolerance reigns throughout our lands.

Comment by Rachel King on September 30, 2012 at 2:02am

That lizard Gordon has a lot to answer to the world for, doesn't he.

We keep voting these arrogant, selfish, self-serving mutts in don't we, all because we are conditioned that if you don't vote for one party, you must be on the side of the other.

Party politics are an enigma.

They make no common sense.

Oztralia currently has a hung-parliament where the Independent members have the balance of power and it works.

At the moment, because one major party doesn't have a majority, they can't easily shove an unpopular policy down the public's collective throat.

It has many faults but it is the best example of democracy working.

As an example, re the same-sex marriage bill debate, the Labour Party and the Greens had a conscience vote but the Liberal Party had to follow party lines( this with a Catholic leader, guess what their orders on voting were)  and the inevitable 60% no-vote was a sad reflection on democracy.

Mind you, we have a woman Prime Minister, who believes that is is right to " live in sin" with her man-friend and not marry him but it is wrong for 2 women, or men to want to marry

Lunacy.

There will never be tolerance for us while this system remains, just as there is no tolerance for us or gay people in Russia where a dictator wields the absurd power that he does.

We are the answer, only in our voices, loud and clear, can a difference be made.

The question remains unanswered, will it be in our lifetime. 

Comment by Marsha M. Marsha on September 30, 2012 at 8:47pm

Jamie, first I admire you greatly for attempting to write a novel which has transgender people as characters. My GFF, Andrea, has been reading Michael Connelly novels and he mentions us in almost all of his works, but not in a positive way. so it would be a refreshing read to see us depicted as more than sex workers.

To answer your question, post-op transwomen seem to be the focal point of the transcommunity, for better or for worse, because the medical/pschological community has placed its emphasis on tryimg to assist us through our gender incongruence thus we get more face time in the media and on forums. I suppose the complexity and severity of the change brings about a certain attention to us akin to examining a new species: "you other specimens are interesting , but not as mysterious as the post-ops."

Is it fair, no. I mean look at the biggest contributers to Pink Essence, they are mainly post-op women or those who wish they were. The CD and no-op members see this quickly and often leave or never show up much because they feel left out of the transition discussions that dominate this site.Let's face it, there is a Trans hierarchy of which I get somewhat annoyed with at times, but it is not consciously promoted by the administration here. Chloe has tried to keep this site open to all members of the transcommunity and I believe from her viewpoint she wants tolerance but I have noticed the flow of discussion moves toward the post-op realm of which she has little control over.

Once again the real issue seems to be: is gender binary or more complex? Most people, even in the transcommunity, lean toward a binary model and this is what pushes us twoard a pole and not inclusion IMO.

Let us know when the book gets published, I would like to read your work.

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