February’s poll on health care gave rather predictable results with all those that responding to the question about coverage for Trans Health inclusiveness into Universal Health Care being 100% and only 2 out of 15 people saying that there should be no Universal Health Care in the US. The results are, I strongly suspect, the result of who the readers are. Having grown up in a nation where health care is a universal privilege, it’s weird to be in a nation where it’s not. But realistically impletementing it here will be difficult. One of the first things that will help is strong, secure and trustworthy universal health record keeping. I’m not sure how realistic that will be given the nature of some here. It will be interesting to see what happens, if anything, in regards to this. It’s a monsterous feat, to say the least, to implement in a population of the size of the present US population.
One of the things that I’ve seen a lot of lately are questions about LGBTQ friendly health care and that got me thinking about a topic that is often discussed both within the overall LGBTQ community and the trans community specifically: should the T remain part of the LGBTQ? I’ve talked about this before but there are times when I really question whether it’s worth it and whether we really belong. The T part of LGBTQ is about gender while the other parts of the “family” are about sexual orientation. Then again, you wouldn’t have this whole thing on sexual orientation without the perception of what gender is and isn’t. I was reading Miss Monica Roberts blog TransGriot and noticed this blog entry. I’m ashamed of what this gentleman did, said and conveyed. He certainly doesn’t express my view as a white man, gay or otherwise.
At the same time, however, he’s not the first. I’ve seen others from the lesbian camp sprout the same (or worse!). I’ve been told I’ve betrayed who I am (uh.. no.); that I’m a fraud; that because of my choice I’m no longer welcomed (I’m perceived as a white “straight” male — not quite) etc. It’s stuff like this that makes me question whether we really should be part of the overall group. HRC has no issue tossing us under their trampling feet as they rush for ENDA, whether it will pass or not. And then, on the other hand, I have so many close and dear friends (and chosen family) that are LGBTQ. I feel a connection with the overall.
That is me, however. I am curious as to what others feel or think. When you answer this poll, if you want, please comment. Let me know the whys and why-fores, as it were. I only ask that you be respectful.
I’m inclined to say “no”, but it may have more to do with how attached I feel to our “T” brethren than what may be best for either section of the community.
But now I’m going to think about this, and I’ll get back to you.
Thanks for the link love.
To answer your question, as much as I’ve griped throughout my time as an activist about clueless GL peeps tothe point where I’d rather we trans peeps do our own thing, the reality is that we have members of the trans community who are gay and lesbian themselves.
We were the ones throwing rocks and fighting tooth and nail to start the GLBT movement. We owe it to Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, the ladies of the Compton Cafeteria Riots and the Dewey’s Lunch Counter protests to stay and keep fighting for our place in it as we trans peeps ight for our constitutionally given civil rights.
.-= Monica Roberts´s last blog ..Dan Savage, Racism Has Its Rewards =-.