Friday, September 30, 2011

My Vlog, the National Post and more

I've been getting a lot of responses to the vlog post (though interesting none as youtube comments) that I made about cis people talking for trans people. There has been many events over the past month starting from Ottawa Pride where I have gotten angry about the coopting of trans experiences and needs by cis people. It should be important to understand that not all of the situations that have recently experienced can I talk about. If you haven't seen the video here it is:
One thing that I have found is that cis straight people whom have seen it are some of the most supportive even when they do not understand the concepts. As such there have been some requests for me to make a trans 101 video which I may do. Where I have encountered the most resistence is among cis queers who rarely disagree wholeheartedly, but tend to try to excuse others problematic or outright discriminatory actions.

The day after I posted my video however, a large controversy occurred surrounding the publishing of a transphobic ad in the National Post. The ad which shows a young child says to stop teaching her to question whether she is a, "...boy, transexual, transgendered, intersexed or two-spirted." Understandably, a lot of anger went towards the National Post by queer people and a coalition of queer-serving organizations led by the 519 Community Centre, EGALE and, the Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youthline sent a letter condemning the ad. The National Post since wrote an official apology and stated that the money recieved for the ad would go to a queer charity. The apology has since been edited multiple times as in the original they claimed the issue was surrounding sexuality when it was directed towards gender and stated that one's sexuality was a choice, which provoked continued condemation of the paper.

Yet, in all this condemnation of the National Post cis gay activists did exactly what I complained about in my video. In many cases - though not all, some acted in amazing solidarity which I thank them for - they made the ad about homophobia and anti-gay issues when it very much targets trans, intersex and two-spirt people. One example of this is Gawker.com whom made a post along those lines and, made matters worse by using transgender as the umbrella term when many trans, intersex and two-spirit people definately do not identify with that term. I made a comment critiquing them, but they have not approved it in over 12 hours. Cis queers really need to learn solidarity activism when transphobia occurs instead of either trying to speak for trans people or coopt our struggles for in particular cis gay and lesbian agendas.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

TBTN ... and trans women?

Dear Take Back the Night Organizers,

I was at TBTN this year and have been many years in the past – I believe this was my seventh. TBTN is an important event and I thank you for organizing it. For many women it can be an empowering event where they can stand up and feel safe on streets where harassment may be an issue they face on a regular basis. A few years ago I was asked to speak on the plight of trans-women as well as trans inclusion in the women’s community. It is partially due to this experience that I feel the need to write this letter.

At the rally before the march it was asked why we were here being, “to stop violence against women.” Afterwards a small group yelled, “...and trans women!” Now I have to say I’m fairly well connected with trans women in Ottawa and from talking to others whom knew the group none of the group were trans women. I certainly don’t expect the organizers to control what people chant or yell nor, am I sure if any organizers were involved or not let alone heard what was yelled and then clapped to by those around however, I would like to explain the problem in that exclamation.

By stating “...and trans women,” this puts in the implicit assumption that trans women are not included in the word “women.” This puts trans women as somehow other as somehow not fully women. Now certainly trans women and cis women have some different experiences, but this could be said of white women and women of colour or, working-class women and rich women or, straight women and queer women, women with disabilities and able-bodied women or women who have been involved in sex work and women in other professions. I am sure the list could go on greatly.

Certainly the statement was said with the concept to be inclusive of trans women and to oppose experiences of violence against us. However, the statement only further marginalize a population whom many of which already would not feel comfortable about coming to TBTN due to the history of oppression by cis women towards trans women. This is a history where trans women’s voices become either excluded entirely or become unheard. This history is one of erasure or outright bigotry, most famously characterized by the women-born-women movement – which the term is problematic in and of itself as trans women were still born women just of a different sex.

I would like you to know that I appreciate all the wonderful work putting on TBTN you did, but I also felt this point needed to be addressed. Perhaps next year a trans woman’s voice needs to be heard again and, it should be stated that TBTN is for women of all identities, experiences and backgrounds. I know that I am welcome, even if I did experience transphobia at TBTN years ago, but other trans women should know this too without such a problematic statement.

Sincerely,
Jade Pichette