Prop 8 Fight Rages On: What About Trans Women and Men?

Now while the fight for marriage equality for LGBTs doesn't directly affect me in my daily life it certainly bothers my sensibilities. One of the major arguments about the passage of Prop 8 in California is how it discriminates against a marginalized group. Who has determined the criteria for marginalization? There has also been this somewhat successful meme-stealing by linking Civil Rights for African-Americans to Marriage Rights for gays. As an African-American woman I cannot express my continued outrage over this!! Not to mention the fact it posits those LGBTs being discriminated against must only be white. I have intentionally used "gay", because it's a dirty little secret amongst the LGBT "community" that it is in fact as fractured as what we commonly refer to as the "Black community".

There is a well-documented history and current bias that gays and lesbians engage in by attacking members of the trans community. I honestly had no idea it was as prevalent and entrenched as it is. Why would I - it's not as if they're going to ADVERTISE it!! I've been reading Voz Latina blog hosted by a transwoman who has been educating me on the history of violence and oppression by gay and lesbian activists against trans men and women. *She asked that I remove her name from this post for security reasons. Even in attempting to dismantle the biases of people within the LGBT community, transwomen are under additional scrutiny and potential for harm. This is why when we speak of all the "isms" we must make sure to get ALL sides of the story and tell the WHOLE truth. Otherwise we're nothing short of an echo chamber that feeds our ego and point of view. 

So we should be asking who does it benefit stepping over transpeople when you are trying to get your "homo" agenda pushed ahead? Who's the "real" victim? There have been cases where transwomen have had to sue companies for the right to use the women's restroom. The latest is a Denny's restaurant case but there was an rather embarrassing kerfuffle at the Beverly Hills Hilton last year with a music producer who was ejected based on her masculine appearance. Since she showed her driver's license and identified herself as female that should have been the end of it, but she was humiliated for being "different". Yes even in LaLaLand! 

Now admittedly I've had to do double-takes from time to time with whom I've shared a public space with but I've also had to get a group of women to commandeer stalls designated for men when there weren't enough available for us to use - which is practically all the time. I don't think I'd deserve to be presumed guilty of some uncommitted offense just because I was a cis-gendered woman. 

So I've written a few posts about the unsolved assaults and murder of transwomen like Duanna Johnson as well as the ongoing fight for gender parity and racism. It's all the same thing that manifests itself differently. I suppose we'll never have utopia but I can't abide with hearing about how "wrong" it is for two LGBTs who want to be themselves and be together from a pseudo-religious person who's following "God". Especially when I know and THEY KNOW they were doing everything under the sun before Sunday service or sit in harsher judgment of people than the Almighty ever would. We have come far but we have a long way to go. So let's continue the good fight and check ourselves along the way to have a little slice of heaven in THIS life.

Prop 8 & New Jersey 4 & Other Misdeeds: Where Race, Class & Gender Collide

Later on today the oral arguments will be heard in the California Supreme Court pro and con regarding the passage of Proposition 8. The judges will have 90-days to render a verdict. If the ruling strikes down the Proposition, the California Constitution will forever alter the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman and the same-gender marriages performed will be left intact. If it's struck down those marriages get invalidated and all hell will break loose!

These are the three questions being covered in three hours. 

Is Proposition 8 invalid because it constitutes a revision of, rather than an amendment to, the California Constitution?

Does Proposition 8 violate the separation of powers doctrine under the California Constitution?

If Proposition 8 is not unconstitutional, what is its effect, if any, on the marriages of same-sex couples performed before the adoption of Proposition 8?

We could discuss the meaning of marriage where women were/still are chattel and the "love" concept is a special privilege open to wild interpretation - and poor execution. What can't seriously be denied is that we live in patriarchal society where marriage was/still is a contract that can elevate one's financial/social status but it's definitely meant to maintain it at the very least. Marrying "down" is a big no-no because it could plunge a woman and her future children into poverty and a life of hardship. Yes, this is a decidedly hetero-leaning evaluation but often a "marriage" is an exercise of survival for an entire family.

When looking at it from that perspective the way the laws are set up everything from tax breaks to custody can be greatly enhanced by conforming to what's the accepted standard. The question now is what will that standard be? Personally, I think everyone should have all of the legal benefits of what's commonly viewed as marriage but separate the religious baggage attached to it. Even atheists marry after all. People who wish to add that can take that up within their individual faith practices. Which could be a whole other battle but I say go where you're wanted and don't put your money into people and institutions that don't value you - all of you. I somehow suspect that if the money dried up a bunch of "religions" would suddenly find new meaning in their religious dogmas that would favor the departed. 

After watching numerous news reports, reading articles in newspapers and blog posts I still feel conflicted about the whole thing and it's been four months. I've written posts about my thoughts why No On 8 would fail, the ruling and its aftermath in my November 2008 archives. I still feel that the people most gung-ho for Prop 8 are middle class white men with some white women sprinkled in there. Funny enough so is the opposition. Of course the focus of ire was reserved for Blacks even though Asians and Latinos also voted in opposition of it at a greater rate. Blacks only make up 6% of the state and since we (over)populate the Prison Industrial Complex (to the point where the state spends more on prisons than education) you can bet a large percentage didn't even vote at all. 

We're gonna beat that dead horse some more because Blacks were universally blamed from Dan Savage to Andrew Sullivan, curiously enough white...gay...men who retreated with little (Sullivan) or absolutely no (Savage) apology. It irks me to this day!! Marriage equality (as it's poorly termed) doesn't begin to address the complexities involved with this, but let me tell you all something. Equating it with Civil Rights will eliminate many would-be allies each and every time. Marriage can never be equal in a patriarchal society (where a woman is property) but I suppose that's a nuance too subtle for most of the (white) men to get!

For some white gay men it's their only issue of contention and once satisfied they'd return to their self-absorption (white male privilege) without a thought to anyone else's suffering in the world at large. I've barely seen any non-whites involved - and that's not to say that there aren't many who support marriage rights - they'd certainly benefit from it. I was following Jasmyne Cannick's writings during this time (in November) and she took an unpopular stance (for some) by stating it wasn't the biggest priority for her and how the Gay Rights Industrial Complex (my terminology) of mostly white men had hijacked the narrative while refusing to build key relationships with Blacks and other people of color. Just like Eric Holder calling out people's cowardice for ignoring race issues, white people just don't want to hear it. It's uncomfortable and it disrupts privilege. Too bad!

That relationship is further fractured with the implementation of the ridiculous "Gay Is the New Black" meme being used without remorse AND after numerous people let it be known how inappropriate it was. My position has always been to wonder why the Black LGBT "community" allowed this narrative to take hold without protest? Blacks have always been uniquely involved in securing equality - our very lives depended on it. From Crispus Attucks, to Toussaint L'Overture, to the pre-Stonewall activities, to Bayard Rustin, to Barbara Jordan and beyond we've always been down for the cause. 

So now it's okay that everyone else gets to reap the benefits while ignoring our historic contributions? Not on my watch!! We can argue about how gay rights, like feminism will always show cracks along the fault lines of race, ethnicity, gender and class constructs but....so what! White people shouldn't always have to be reminded of how we built this country with our blood, sweat and tears when most of us where brought here by force. The ignorance is very grating and unacceptable.

I don't recall any national protests, major news reports, Olberman or Maddow-style "special segments" or candle light vigils being held for the Black women sent to prison and separated from their families and children for defending their very lives. Where were the local LGBT chapters offering help from them being attacked in the press during the farce of a trial? If you asked the average person they'd probably know about Prop 8 but would have no idea what a "New Jersey 4" is. In case you dear reader are unfamiliar with this case, 4 young women were defending themselves from being raped in 2007 by a man who thought he could make a lesbian straight and a fight broke out. 

The prosecutors apparently didn't believe a Black woman had the right to refuse sex from some jerk on the street while the judge had utter contempt for the women during their trial and sentenced them to terms harsher than men get for killing their wives. If this sounds familiar to a gay bashing or what happened to Brandon Teena it's because it is. Except for the race part - so I guess all bets were off. By the way when you do a search on Google it doesn't even pop up automatically. Why is that? When the LGBT issue is fought from the body of a Black woman there is nobody there for her. 

Even moreso when that she is a transwoman. We all know how the GRIC fails miserably at setting an appropriate agenda and offering the same amount of support for trangendered issues as gay issues. Violence is prevalent and often directed at Black women (and other WOC) in a much higher proportion considering population size. From the violence in mostly Black residential areas to hate crimes, Black women are under assault constantly. Didn't we just hear about a 15 year old who was beaten by two racist cops while in custody? Just look at the life - and death - of Duanna Johnson or all of those whose names fill the pages for the Day of Remembrance. It is not a coincidence and it is not right!  

Yes, there has been some attention - mostly from female bloggers of color -  but it's like a drop in the bucket when all the "leaders" are white and all they care about is "marriage" as the single most important agenda and the media hasn't covered anything else with the same intensity. So if all LGBTs had the right to marry tomorrow how is that going to improve the lives of those women from behind bars or bring back those who didn't survive their attacks? As for me since I consider my time precious and the No on 8 leaders thought they had it in the bag I'd suggest we spend our time actually helping those that need it and would appreciate it. I haven't seen or heard from them since November trying to do anything to rebuild what they tore down. 

Let's focus on what's most important. Tell Essence magazine to get off their "Black Love" nonsense and save some Black women.  Remind the NAACP their purpose is to help all Blacks not just Black men who've been hurt by white cops. Call up GLAAD and the HRC to get off their high horse. Let's not forget the names of the New Jersey 4 and their ages at the time of their attack and subsequent arrest:

• Venice Brown (19)
  
• Terrain Dandridge (20)
  
• Patreese Johnson (20)
  
• Renata Hill (24)

When are MILLIONS of people going to demand they get justice? 

For the latest information check out:

Free the New Jersey 4

Justice 4 the new Jersey 4

Transphobia, Prop 8 and Racism = Same Thing

For all the continued brouhaha over the failure of the No on 8 campaign I am curious how many of the protesters bothered to pay attention to other ballot measures that have an equal or greater impact on the LGBTQI community. I also wonder if the court challenges are successful and Yes on 8 gets shot down will the Gay Rights Industrial Complex pat itself on the back for a good job and ignore all the lack of involvement with communities they're still trying to blame?

There's this great open letter written by Adele Carpenter, a fellow SF resident who asks why was there a lack of support of Propositions that would have made life a little easier for a lot of people and potentially saved some as well. She also mentions how the State of CA incarcerates a high percentage of some of its citizens. I've not seen a larger discussion about how that's tied to Prop 8 by many others. This is also why I am supporting Kamala Harris' run for Attorney General. Read Ms. Carpenter's letter here.

What were some of those Propositions?

Prop K: To decriminalize prostitution. Yeah I know that's a yucky topic for many but since we know it's the 'oldest profession' why not make it legal and safe for those that do it? Also SF is a big market for human trafficking and we'd actually prevent people from abusing children.

Prop B: Affordable Housing initiative. We know how ridiculous rents are here. Enough said.

Prop 5 & 6: More treatment, less jail and an increase in crime prevention programs. List of other results are here.

LGBTQI is a long acronym and usually the Q(ueer) and the I(ntersex and Questioning) are meant to be encompassed in the first four but they're not really. I know a Queer woman who I thought was a lesbian because she was dating a woman but as it turns out she likes men as well - though she's not bisexual. I don't need to understand to be supportive. Our identities are mutable and should be our own choice.

L = Lesbian

Probably the only time the "Gay" community will put a woman first.

G = Gay

Lots of straight people still think it's men in short shorts making out at clubs.

B = Bisexual

There's still some resentment and questioning whether you can truly be bi and not just being greedy choosing between genders.

T = Transgender

It's one thing to like and love someone the same gender, what do you do when you think you're the wrong gender?

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance. From Gay/Straight Alliance Network site:

The Transgender Day of Remembrance is held in November each year to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender, each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgender people. The list of deaths available at Remembering Our Dead only contains those deaths known to the transgender community or that have been reported to the media. The Day of Remembrance is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved.

I wanted to write about the life and death Duanna Johnson, a beautiful ebony woman who's life was taken less than one week ago. She was a transgender woman from Memphis who was arrested on a prostitution charge (it was later dropped). She suffered a vicious beating by the police back in February while being held and objected to being called he/she (and probably ni**er) by them. Thank goodness the officers involved were fired, and there's a lawsuit pending. One of the reasons this tape came to light was the officer filed a complaint that he wasn't getting help in beating Duanna! I hope the killer(s) will be brought to justice.

So this is why I think the Gay Rights Industrial Complex is intentionally being short-sighted by focusing solely on marriage equality as the issue of importance. This does nothing to address the lives of working class people or those whose work is not met with societal approval. This does not address the inequality of our lives and the specific danger transpeople of color face. I hope that singular agenda will be reassessed and the ignored people and their 'less important' needs will be given their "props". I'm not counting on it though.

While Prop 8 Rages On Racial Profiling Continues in Palo Alto

In case all you Obama stans thought it was going to be hug a Negro Day and an end to white guilt, the contrast could not be greater. While mostly white middle class people who identify as gay rage about the failure of their entitlement to Prop 8 for voting for Obama, Black and Latino men of all classes can't leave their houses for fear of being shot by the police. In case you hadn't heard the Palo Alto Police Chief issued a public notice of open season on them because of the increase in crime. This isn't Oppression Olympics, this is a matter of life and death. Now somebody please tell me why No on 8 should take precedence in the lives of PoC over everything else? 

See story on CBS5.

*****

Update 11-11:

The Palo Alto City Council voted to condemn racial profiling on Monday evening. City Manager James Keene has hire/fire authority over Police Chief Lynne Johnson. He is not without controversy himself. He worked in the same capacity in Berkeley before going to Tucson, AZ and coming back to Northern California. He earns nearly $200K per year. He should be doing his job don't you think? 

I would absolutely advocate firing any Police Chief who's racism has been so blatant and long standing. There shouldn't be any question as to whether her judgement is compromised and how that poisons the entire well. There also needs to be a 'retraining' or more firings than one person. While he "evaluates" we can contact him (via link above) to let him know we will not tolerate men of color being treated like insurgents!

See latest developments on KTVU.

My original post is here.

Prop 8: Evaluating & Finding Common Ground

So while the blame game continues, people take to the streets in protest and file lawsuits take a look at the actual votes for Yes on Proposition 8 by non-Blacks:

White Men:   51% of 31% of 10,325,615 votes: 1,632,480 Yes
White Women:   47% of 32% of 10,325,615 votes: 1,552,972  Yes
Latino Men:   54% of 8% of 10,325,615 votes:    446,067 Yes
Latino Women:   52% of 11% of 10,325,615 votes:    592,170  Yes
Asian/Native:   51% of 9% of 10,325,615 votes:    473,946 Yes

Total: 4,697,635 

9.3 times the maximum TOTAL number of Black votes in California.

Continuing this discussion of the failure of the No on 8 campaign and similar legislation in FL and AR, I'd like to work on presenting strategies we should consider. 

1.) End this focus on Black straight religious-based labeling of those that voted Yes on 8 as homophobic. There is a larger argument here that is multi-layered and not as simple as 'black and white' or 'loving God means hating gays'. Accept the fact that some people's religious traditions do not support LGBTQI on certain aspects but find other issues that you can get their support on. There is too much emphasis on sex and sex acts and not enough consideration of loving monogamous (if you will) relationships and families. Focus on poverty, housing, employment and improving the lives of children and you will make inroads. I have a religious tradition that has constantly evolved as I've matured, experienced things in life and have revisited what I believe. It's called evaluating, questioning and growing - something that we can all benefit from.

Read this article in the Bay Reporter Online from October 23, 2008 that focused on Black religious leaders and community gathering for support for No on 8. 

About 100 people gathered at a predominantly black church in San Francisco Sunday, October 19 for an evening of preaching against Prop 8.

Referring to blacks' fight against oppression, the Reverend Amos Brown, of Third Baptist Church, told those present, "We have become that which we hated."

People "ain't got no business telling gay and lesbian and transgender people that they cannot have equal protection under the law in these United States of America," he said. His words were greeted with a loud standing ovation.

So much for that "all Blacks hate teh gay (and can't be gay)" meme!!

2.) The Gay Rights Industrial Complex (GRIC) has a serious image problem. First of all every LGBTQI person is not white, male (mostly) and monied. That's the only aspect we see. Look at who's running the organizations, who's driving the media narrative and who the celebrity spokespeople tend to be and it's a virtual white-out. If you present yourself as exclusive and wealthy any cries of discrimination and marginalization are not gonna fly!! You can't have it both ways. A regime change is absolutely necessary from the top down.

3.) Where are the people of color who are LGBTQI? Where is the parity within the GRIC? There should be conservations between them first. Why have you allowed a movement with an agenda being pushed that largely discounts you? There has to be a coordination with non-LGBTQI supporters who should be at the table as well. And let's be real: people need to go places they don't feel comfortable going and speak to people as human beings, not as labels. The one thing that should be gleaned from the Obama campaign is community organizing and listening to those whose viewpoints you are unfamiliar with or don't agree with. 

We need more of this:

And Less of this:

4.) If whites had a real understanding of the tradition of Civil Rights and how it began in the Black church they would not continually lay claim to the idea in theory when applying it to Gay Rights activism. Have you ever heard of a repeating comparison to the Holocaust? Of course not. It's ridiculous! Yet there is this inherent racism, yes, racism by placing all Black people into victim status and then trying to co-opt our struggles as having the same meaning. It also places a hierarchy of status by placing Blacks beneath whites - which brings us full circle back to my beginning argument. There are also the struggles of the other ethnic groups (Natives, Asians, Latinos, etc) that haven't even been considered. No matter what circumstances or who is involved it always seems to come back to blaming teh Black. 

In the end the Marriage Amendments may have to be decided by a ruling from the Supreme Court. Hopefully the Obama administration will be able to make at least 2 appointments of more moderate (but I'm hoping for uber liberal) judges. That's why voting for him and working on a long term agenda is so important. You might be surprised to find th actual votes from white gay males was lower for President-Elect Obama than Sen. John Kerry. Let's not even talk about the Log Cabin Republicans!

 

Black people and other PoC who are LGBTQI and supportive of have to sit down together and hash things out with those who are not. White people who are LGBTQI and supportive have to make a choice about what's most important to them: white privilege or gay rights. And act accordingly. 

A coordinated attack from an opposition force that is well organized and well funded will not survive if all allies are united. 

Let the Backlash From Prop 8 Be A Warning

Here in California the moment of our coming together unraveled rather quickly don't you think? Some people may not have noticed yet but certain people have already drawn their line on the white side and are gunning for our jugular. 

Some of these white people who identify as gay were sorta okay with following the Obama train because they felt he would do a little jig and tap dance on cue. They were anticipating tit for tat. If they voted for Obama, we'd vote No on 8. The fact that they made NO EFFORT WHATSOEVER to speak to Black (straight) people and have a history of excluding most Black people gay or straight from the official Gay Rights Industrial Complex then what were they expecting? Magical thinking doesn't work for anyone. 

It is not a coincidence CNN released inaccurate exit poll information and tried to present it a representation of actual votes. It is not a coincidence that certain white males who identify as gay with media access continued this lie and further spread the racial arson. It is not a coincidence that white people will appropriate elements of Black social movements and claim an endangered status when it suits them. It is a suit they can wear when navigating less amenable waters which can then be quickly removed once they are back on solid ground. 

I know many people are genuinely disappointed and angry that Yes on 8 passed. For them it may a singular issue of utmost importance. This affects many LGBT of color as well, but they're not the ones rioting! Since so many like to talk about discrimination I'd like to know how much people are willing to sacrifice to get rid of it?  Are people willing to denounce their white privilege to make it a level playing field for everyone? 

I highly doubt it!

I see this theme about 'homophobic Black bogeymen' as a straw hat argument that has no discernible meaning any more than the 'menacing Black mugger' Ashley Todd tried to use to start a race war on behalf of John McCain.  If a real discussion and analysis had been had the immediate eruption of anger and use of racial epithets even against fellow LGBT who are Black would not have occurred.  

Writer-activist Jasmynne Cannick wrote a great Op-Ed for the Los Angeles Times that you can read here.

Prop 8 Yeah or Nay?

Support for and opposition of Proposition 8 is neck and neck per the polls but I'd like it to fail just on principle. When Mormons from Utah fund legislation that affects voters in California I have a problem with that. Should Californians draft legislation that dictates how they live, particularly their so-called break away sects where 16 y.o. girls are forced to marry 80 y.o. men? The hyprocrisy knows no bounds, however I'm not sure the opponents made their case to the citizens of California.

Celebrity endorsements and comparing it to Civil Rights does not have universal appeal. Every person who supports it is not a raging homophobe. They did not leave every stone unturned in my opinion and if it squeaks by those who support "No On 8" should count themselves very lucky indeed. I hope this was not just a single issue for wealthier voters and they are equally supportive by deed and donation to assisting working class LGBT people whose immediate needs extend beyond marriage to housing, jobs, medical assistance and fighting police brutality.

It annoys me to no end that people carp about marriage being between a man and a woman as if it was always set up as an ideal and as a positive and beneficial thing. Women and children were and still are thought of as property. It was a business transaction and when did women typically have a choice?

In Western society how seriously do people take marriage nowadays? Is it simply a civil union or a religious ritual? Is there a spiritual component and alignment with a higher power? When people think they can find 'love' on a reality show do you think they're using sound judgement? When people focus on appearance and are driven by lust do they have the stamina to stick it out past that first bloom once it wears off? People take things for granted when it is a right given to them without merit. When you have to work towards something because it is being denied to you there is greater appreciation for it.

I am certain same gender loving people will eventually be allowed to marry, but the journey to get there may take a little while longer.