Intersex people are finally beginning to get the attention that they have long deserved concerning their issues and I couldn't be happier for them. But one of the things that makes me shake my head are the separatists in our alphabet soup movement that seem to get their jollies from saying stupid crap that hinders coalition building.
Lately we've had some intersex activists who have been either regurgitating the same hate screeds from rad fems, claiming that transpeople want to 'oppress' them, or ignorantly state that 'their problem is medical while transgender is mental'.
Yeah, right. The increasing pile of medical studies pointing to a biological cause for transsexuality is exponentially growing, so peddle that BS somewhere else.
What you people exhibiting Bushian level stupidity don't seem to understand is that transgender peeps aren't your enemy. If you're looking for your enemy, you needn't look any farther than at the same Bible thumping right wing idiots we have to fight.
If anything, intersex people and transgender people have some things in common such as the general public phobic at times misunderstanding our issues, shame and guilt issues in conjunction with that, and the fallout from the Religious Right attacks on same gender marriage affecting the legal marriages of intersex and transgender people.
Those are intersectional starting points that which we can respectfully work together on in terms of fighting the Religious Right. But at the same time, we're serving notice that disrespecting or trashing transpeople so intersex separatists can build up your own movement won't be tolerated. If that's what you're attempting to do, it's a strategy that's doomed to failure.
We are not your enemies, intersex people. I think many transpeople would agree that we'd rather work in concert with intersex people on issues of mutual interest that are beneficial to both parties. Contrary to the lie that's being told by some of these disproportionately white separatists, transgender leaders have no desire to 'hijack' your movement or issues. But if you choose to follow your separatists and use the neo-Mattachine gay/lesbian playbook and spew transphobia in the process, then it's on like Donkey Kong and we'll give as good as we get.
We don't need or want that drama right now. The transgender community has been there, done that and we're tired of fighting rear guard actions with our 'allies' while fighting tooth and nail with the Religious Right.
Time for cooler heads to prevail in the intersex community leadership ranks and to repeat this message like a mantra until it sinks in.
Transgender people aren't your enemy.
