This is actually the only article I’ve seen use the phrase LGBT. Every other media outlet I’ve seen run this story has used LGB. I think the media is very aware that this only applies to LGB folks and not trans folk, so I think this is the exception. Just wanted to throw that out there.More monumental than making the news is that this lovely photo was also posted to the Navy’s own website. I look forward to the day this is not news, but it is wonderful to see and such a lovely message to all LGBT troops right before the holidays.
Thank you for your service ladies!!
Kindly quit fucking using LGBT when you really mean LGB, kthx.
Kindly quit fucking devaluing what happened with those two women.
Kindly quit fucking using such hateful speech at such a big achievement.
Kindly quit sounding like a childish douche.
Kindly quit using “kthx,” it makes me imagine a ten year old girl using “txt tlk.”
Kindly quit telling people they need to use more inclusive speech, then punishing those who try.
Kindly quit devaluing the adorableness of these two women.
kthx.
It took me a long time to figure out a response to this. Sorry. I wasn’t intending to do the whole avoiding thing this time.
You’re right about devaluing what happened. I’ll give you that. It wasn’t my intention, but intent isn’t magic. So I’ll go ahead and say now that this whole thing is very, very beautiful and makes me very, very happy.
I wasn’t directing my speech at what happened, at all, though. I was directing it at the wording someone used in reference to it. There’s a big difference between using inclusive language and tokenizing a whole group of people. I have a serious, serious issue with people and organizations using “LGBT” when all they really care about is, for example, gay marriage. Yes, it’s a serious issue. Yes, it’s one I care a lot about. But these same people and organizations often never give a flying fuck about trans issues, even though they claim to be LGBT. They don’t give a flying fuck about getting birth certificates changed, HRT, or SRS. Or the terrifyingly high levels of violence and the like directed towards trans people.
I probably shouldn’t have posted the way I did. But it rubs me completely the wrong way when trans people get tokenized.
I love how no one’s pointed out the fact that trans* people can be gay, lesbian or bi. Also, gay marriage is a really big deal if you can’t get your legal gender changed. While it’s not socially two males or two females, do not haze me for misgendering (I don’t think you would, Nancy, but this is probably going to get reposted everywhere and I don’t want another thing like the time I misgendered an arm), legally, it is. L/G marriage may equal actual marriage in states such as Tennessee, where a person couldn’t get their gender marker changed. Unfortunately, LGB rights are going to happen eons before trans* rights.
Brynn: I lost track of my Tumblr for a few days and hadn’t seen that you had posted this til now.. ;;>_>
But I know that most LGB organizations don’t do a lot of stuff with trans* issues, but honestly, not everyone can multi-task. I know they’re all inter-related, but people usually focus on things they have personal investment in. The trans* community is small. Loud, yes, but small. Thus, a smaller amount of people that have a personal investment. Yes, there are people who aren’t trans* and don’t know anyone trans* that still care and do what they can to help, but mostly it’s just up to trans* people and their personal allies. So no, not many people mean the T in LGBT. But cursing at those who use the T without meaning it 100% is counter to what you say in other situations, when you wish people wouldn’t leave out trans* people. It just feels to me like you would be unhappy either way. I just think your vitriol it unnecessary and too harsh.
Also, Ruairi has a good point in the fact that trans* people can be LGB people, too. And that if you can’t change your birth certificate, LGB issues soon intrude on T issues. It sucks, and it erases identities, but it’s reality.
It’s situations like these responses, both the positive, and the negative, that solidify my stance that trans* folk should break off from the Glbt train. I know a lot of us identify within that umbrella, however not all of us do. And if it’s a matter of multitasking, then I’d rather step aside and fight for my rights as a trans* person, then stand here and join in a fight I have no personal investment in, and risk never receiving the rights I deserve
(via viridianshadows)
