Using children to perpetuate discrimination

Google must have a sense of humor. Their ad network displays relevant ads on websites that use their service. So far I’ve found the ads on Crossdresser Heaven to be mostly interesting and relevant. Ads for crossdressing stores, or woman’s clothes – things that your average red blooded, blonde wig wearing crossdresser might want to check out.

Imagine my shock when I visited Crossdresser Heaven to find this ad prominently displayed! It’s an ad by a right wing organization (that I won’t grace with a link) that opposes ENDA – The Employment Non-Discrimination Act. What better way to perpetuate discrimination than taking advantage of children, distorting facts and sowing fear? Reading this ad one would think that once ENDA passes that perverted sex offenders in dresses would be in our schools molesting our kids.

This could not be further from the truth. Given recent scandals I’ll wager it’s more likely you should watch out for the priest in your local church than a transgender woman. It’s also offensive and ignorant to classify transgender women as ‘men in dresses’. Though it makes for a compelling stereotype, this statement makes it clear they’ve never met a transgender woman – or perhaps they have and they just don’t know it

What is ENDA?

In a nutshell, if this law were to pass it would make it illegal for employers to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Much like it’s illegal today to discriminate against people because of the color of their skin. Many ladies who have transitioned to living as a woman full time say they that it is difficult to find work because they are transgendered. ENDA would give them a fair shot at earning a living and taking care of their families. The Human Rights Campaign has a website describing more details about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Why Should Crossdressers Care About ENDA?

If you ever plan to transition then it should be quite clear why ENDA is an important law to protect your livelihood. But even if you have no plans to spend every day as a woman a strong, healthy and financially viable transgender community is invaluable to the part time crossdresser. The counseling centers, support groups and even transgender friendly businesses flourish when the community has the financial means to support them. They wouldn’t be selling size 12W high heels if there was no market for them

Have I inspired you to take action? Good! The easiest thing you can do to support ENDA is to write your congressman in support of it, you’ll find a list of their contact details here. Your local transgender group might have more activities you can become involved in as well, so give them a call.

P.S. For what it’s worth, I filtered these ads from Crossdresser Heaven…

Related Crossdressing Posts

• Crossdressing – It’s a Republican Thing (9)
• Have You Experienced Hate and Intolerance Yet? (14)
• When Hate Has Been Said And Done, Let Love Remain (5)
• End Transgender Discrimination – Take This Transgender Survey (9)
• A Call to Crossdressing Action – it's Not Just the Transgendered Who Suffer (6)

She starts strong, saying:

We are here today to celebrate the beginning of the end of the political power of the extreme right. They have lost their self-proclaimed moral authority and we have now claimed the moral high ground.

Indeed, I have felt for a long time that those on the far right claim to be followers of Jesus, but look more like those Jesus spoke out against. The higher moral authority comes from those who do as Jesus commanded – to Love others as you love yourself. To love your enemies as your friends.

Julie continues with the wisdom of how to fight prejudice, and is Martin Luther King-esque in the admonition to maintain the moral high ground. To speak with dreams of a better future, not out of hate and hurt but channeling our righteous anger into peaceful change this world needs.

We are angry today. It is a righteous and just anger but we must avoid words and deeds of violence or hate and harness that anger into positive expressions of the dreams we have. We are angry at some religious leaders, but we must not forget that many religious leaders, and true religious expression, are on our side.

Yet in this time we shouldn’t remain quiet – there are those who want to take away the gains we’ve made – to de-legitimize our claim to the fundamental rights every person should have.

Keith Olbermann’s comments on proposition 8 nearly brought me to tears, and are well worth watching:

Transgender Rights / Transgender Discrimination

I believe that despite all the challenges we face in the transgender community – despite the challenges that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters face – that the United States was founded with a declaration that promises a bright future for all. I’ll end this post with Julie’s words of hope, because when all the hate has been said and done, love will remain.

230 years ago our country – our country! – issued a bold declaration proclaiming ALL are created with the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It took awhile before ALL included blacks, but we got there. It took awhile until ALL included women, but we got there. “ALL” still does not include lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people, but we will get there!

Related Crossdressing Posts

• Have You Experienced Hate and Intolerance Yet? (14)
• End Transgender Discrimination – Take This Transgender Survey (9)
• A Call to Crossdressing Action – it's Not Just the Transgendered Who Suffer (6)
• Do You Want Men Dressed as Woman Teaching Your Kids? (19)
• Crossdressing – It’s a Republican Thing (9)

….
Right, now you’re back from the transgender survey [update, survey has now been taken down] you took. You did take the survey, right?
….

When we are divided we are powerless. A lone transgendered voice is soon silenced, her bruised and beaten body left untended on the side of the road. For years we have experienced transgender discrimination – whether we are part time crossdressers or post-op transsexuals we have all felt the burden when our gender identity does not meet societies expectations.

This treatment is reserved for the lucky ones who are brave enough to live their life with freedom from their own judgement. Yet it is as we take the first steps to self acceptance that we collide with the intolerance and hate in society. For many of you the intolerance is not just a drunk heckling at the bar, it’s your employer firing you. It’s not just nasty comments from a teenager in the mall, it’s your landlord evicting you.

This is unacceptable in a free society.

And for some about to begin their journey of self discovery, the threat of being left desolate keeps you from finding who you really are. Your life is lead in a half-chorus. Singing stoically along, but never rising to the hallelujah’s. Clapping out of tune, and too ashamed to dance.

This is unacceptable in a free society.

There is a historic survey of the transgendered community, sponsored by NCTE and NGLTF. By understanding your experience they can work to end transgender discrimination. Please, if you have a few minutes take this survey and stand up for transgender rights [update, survey has now been taken down].

Should crossdressers care about transgender rights?

I recently wrote about crossdressing action that encourages crossdressers to stand strong with their transsexual and transgendered brothers and sisters. If you are a crossdresser who has never thought about transgendered rights please read this.You may not be willing to risk being outed, or have the financial means to support a transgender organization, but surely you can spare five minutes to make your voice heard online?

Related Crossdressing Posts

• Have You Experienced Hate and Intolerance Yet? (14)
• When Hate Has Been Said And Done, Let Love Remain (5)
• A Call to Crossdressing Action – it's Not Just the Transgendered Who Suffer (6)
• Do You Want Men Dressed as Woman Teaching Your Kids? (19)
• Crossdressing – It’s a Republican Thing (9)