Only the Bay Area could come up with shit like this.
Although it strikes me that Madtown is about this hip, too.
Trans Stonewall
I found this article denying the importance of trans involvement at Stonewall which states, in part:
This point does not deny that drag queens participated in the riot. They did. It only makes the point that their centrality to the event likely has been exaggerated, probably for ideological reasons.
Finally, these historical disputes have no bearing – either way – on whether “gender identity” ought to be included in gay civil rights legislation. Even if Stonewall was the single casus belli of the gay struggle, and even if transgenders were the only people there kicking shins and uprooting parking meters, so what? And even if no drag queens were present that night, what difference would it make now?
and was pretty surprised. It may be old, but as the comments are closed, and have been, it seemed a reply to it was needed. So I talked to Susan Stryker, who explains:
The thing is, the historical part is largely accurate in its details. What I find fascinating–and frustrating–is that Carpenter can then say “facts don’t entirely support the popular myth,” therefore throw trannies under the bus. Or even: understanding history is hard, make no recourse to the past when staking a political position in the present.”
and further clarifies:
What I find particularly misleading about the Stonewall myth is the idea that the riot was instigated primarily by the bar’s patrons. The whole question of “who frequented the Stonewall Inn?” is kind of a red herring, particularly when used to deny the salience of understanding the role of gender-noncompliant people in the act of resistance. The riots started when kids on the streets–and there are pictures of them–started taunting the cops who were making the arrests. It was a street fight, not a bar fight. And it should definitely be pointed out that many, perhaps most, of the instigators were what at the time were called “gay kids” or “hair fairies,” that is, male-bodied people with non-masculine but not necessarily transgender presentations and identities: gender queers. But it seems clear that drag queens and trans women were also involved.
So there you have it. Record corrected.
If you’d like to read more about the importance of bars in the context of Pride, Slate did an article last pride highlighting some of the other bars that were notoriously gay in one way or another.
Happy International Women’s Day: French Version
io9, that groovy scifi mag, has a series of French postcards of “women of the future” which were created in 1902. They’re kind of adorable since the women – even in masculine military costumes – seem to be wearing corsets.
That said, they did get rid of the term “mademoiselle” in time for this year’s women’s day, and of course they did also give us Joan of Arc and Simone de Beauvoir.
Slut = Trans Ally
It turns out the woman who Rush called a slut is also a pro-trans advocate, too, who has written on the discriminatory practices of health insurance companies which don’t cover GRS. And this from an article that wasn’t happy and excited about it except to expose her as “out there”.
So, trans community, what we’ve got here is an amazing synergy of arguments for bodily autonomy and personal agency. In other words, a trans feminist has just helped clarify exactly why the trans & feminist communities are innately related and politically coherent.
Sounds like my kinda bandwagon.
In the meantime, something like 28 advertisers have pulled out of Rush Limbaugh’s dumb-ass show. Amazingly enough, it doesn’t take an advanced degree for people to figure out that a man who thinks taxpayer-supported birth control means the public owns women’s bodies is, well, an atavistic, arrogant jerk.
Or, as we used to say: FLUSH RUSH.
Two Tune Tuesday: Cheap Trick
I was never a fan of Cheap Trick, but I wasn’t not a fan, either – and then I went to Joey Ramone’s 50th birthday party which was, of course, a wake of sorts too, and in addition to The Damned (who flew in from London to play), Cheap Trick took the stage and my long-time concert-going self was duly impressed: what a tight, amazing, LOUD, band! It turned out Joey was a fan, and that night I became one too.
No.
Rush Limbaugh (kinda) apologizes for calling a woman a slut, and does so by explaining that birth control is somehow a conversation about “sexual recreational activities.”
Talk about not getting it. Amazing how arrogant someone who can’t get pregnant can be about birth control.
Sevigny’s Killer Role
So there’s a new series with a trans woman as killer heroine.
Expected criticisms?
- they should have found a trans woman to play her
- ugh, trans as killer is way overdone and so 80s
amongst others.
That said, to me it looks like she’s portrayed sympathetically, not demonized, which would be a vast improvement. Second, she looks like she could be a really interesting character.
Gay Vet Pins Romney Down
A gay veteran’s spouse is not as equal as a straight veteran’s spouse.
Interesting clip, no?
Morgan’s Story
Here’s a nicely told story of a trans woman’s transition that’s pretty funny in parts – it’s audio, but worth the listen.
Trans Nanny
I liked this piece about a woman’s experience when her nanny transitioned from female to male.
Y’s transition changed me too. Watching Y’s struggle with weekly hormone therapy, decide when to come out to his family, friends, and employers, and select the appropriate public restroom, transformed my beliefs on gender identity. Even though I always supported the notion that people could be born into the wrong gender, I now view gender as more fluid — if there is a spectrum for sexuality, maybe there is also one with gender. I started making sure that I approach gender more sensitively with my own girls, allowing them to tell me who they are.Because of Y’s influence in our lives, I made the conscious effort to choose gender-neutral toys and clothing. When the decisions were still mine to make, I purchased balls and blocks, in lieu of Barbies and Hello Kitty, and opted for brown and green shirts, instead of pink and purple. Once the girls began to exert their own unique fashion sense, I encouraged them to select their own clothing, making sure that they had a variety of colors and styles to pick from.
That any parent would need a trans person in their lives to make these kinds of choices surprises me, but so much of gender is a default, an assumed and not examined role, that I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised at all.