Like the Religious Reich and the conservafool movement, Gay Inc. twists words and phrases for propaganda value and effect as well to pimp its message. As a TransGriot public service, it's time to enlighten you on some of the ones you'll see crop us in the Gayosphere, their press releases and other Internet discourse.
ally a cis or trans person that unquestioningly follows their lead on marriage equality issues or agrees with their 'incremental progress' approach for trans rights.
crumbs any gay or lesbian favorable law or policy change that benefits either them or the trans community and isn't same gender marriage or DOMA repeal
discrimination free zone A jurisdiction that has a GL only protective law on the books and marriage equality, but no trans rights coverage
equality the push to have gay and lesbian people acquire the same white privilege infused 'special right' to discriminate against other marginalized groups
hater a cis or gay lesbian trans person that questions the 'all marriage all the time' strategy or disagrees with their 'incremental progress' approach for trans rights.
homophobe: cis or trans person who calls out gay people for their shady and questionably ethical behavior in online discourse
homophobia Any commentary by cis or trans people that brings up their history of stabbing transpeople in the back on civil rights issues or criticizes their nekulturny or shady behavior.
incremental progress Political strategy of pushing inadequate, flawed or unjust trans rights bills compiled by Gay, Inc 'equality' orgs that not only stretches out the time it takes to pass such legislation, it doesn't fix the problems that plague transpeople
just like you see 'equality' definition. The dog whistle codeword for the strategy.
out of state activists people, bloggers or national organizations who oppose bad trans legislation authored by GL people
playing by the rules The demand that legislators stop what they're doing to see Gay, Inc lobbyists, friendly legislators or allies pushing legislation of importance to the GL community while ignoring trans lobbyists, friendly legislators and cis, trans or GL allies opposed to that legislation
Kat Rose of ENDAblog brought this to my attention. It's a response to a comment I left over at Pam's House Blend on one of the ongoing contentious Maryland HB 235 threads popping up on an TBLG blog near You. Kat's post was entitled Sadly Not An April Fool's Joke and was highlighting Autumn Sandeen's response to the one sentence one I'd left on Autumn's original PHB post. .
Hey, I have love and respect for Autumn. On this HB 235 issue, we're on opposite sides. .
And this was my PHB response to the comment. Enjoy.
If we in the trans community and more specifically, white trans people in positions of influence in GL orgs keep accepting piss poor bills written by our so-called ‘allies’ because we’re desperate to have anything that covers trans people, what does that say about us as a community, Autumn?
Morgan Meneses-Sheets and EQ MD had the choice of either accepting a civil unions bill or same gender marriage. She and EQ MD chose ‘marriage or bust’. We know how that worked out. But they chose the hard route. Why is that route NOT acceptable for trans legislation? Can somebody on the Yes for HB 235 side explain to me in a cogent manner why it’s okay for GL people to demand first class legislation and we trans people can’t?
Why is it a problem when transpeople, and especially trans people of color continually tell you and point out from our perspective and lived experience as lifelong marginalized people (not Johnny and Janie come latelies to minority status who grew up ensconced in white privilege) that incremental rights for transpeople is not an option?
If you give the haters a millimeter to discriminate with loophole filled legislation, they will take it and run with it. The people that are taking the brunt of the anti-trans violence don’t look like the staff of EQ MD.
It is why I and others are insistent that trans rights bills be comprehensive, airtight and the best we can possibly write because we are not going to get many opportunities to pass trans specific legislation despite the spin coming from EQ MD and you HB 235 supporters.
2012 is an election year. How likely is any civil rights legislation going to get done when the legislators will be facing the voters that November?
So why waste those opportunities with piss poor bills that don’t FIX the problems that ail our community?
As many of you loyal TransGriot Readers know I began a fundraiser that's going to run until November 16 designed to not only get a new computer for the blog, but have some money set aside for emergency repairs.
I thank everyone who has contributed so far, and I'm 7% of the way to my goal.
While checking my e-mail discovered I had another $5 contribution and checked to see who the donation was from so I could properly thank the person.
I have expressed my feelings on more than a few occasions in this blog and elsewhere across the Net about how insulting that show is to me, my people and African descended women and our allies in general, so what made you think I would accept that from you?
To paraphrase a shero of mine, the late Rep. Shirley Chisholm, I'm unbought and unbossed and plan to stay that way.
So hell no Chuck, keep your money. My integrity and editorial independence is worth far more than $5.
Yeah, I know you're trying to raise your OQ (Outrageousness Quotient) vis a vis your competition such as Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, but statements like this only leave us questioning your Intelligence Quotient.
"Freaks are what make everything mildly more interesting in life but with trannies, they make me want to be a better woman. I see these men who have way better bodies than I do, more beautiful faces, better complexions, beautiful makeup, and they're more fun than any person I've met in my life. They make me feel like I'm not a very good woman."
First of all pop tart, 'tranny' is a derogatory term to many people in our community.
Just an FYI to you. Trans women are WOMEN, not men. The sooner you get that concept burned into your brain, the better so you can avoid the TransGriot, our allies and the rest of the trans community calling you out on it next time.
We just had to take another more pothole filled obstacle strewn road to get to the point where our physical bodies match our gender identity.
We transpeople are here on Planet Earth to live our lives as part of the diverse mosaic of human life. Yes, some of my transsisters are so stunningly beautiful even I get a little envious at times when I check them out. Others are just ordinary women that fade into the background living their lives, and some would have a hard time as my Kentucky friends would say, 'passing in a coal mine at midnight'.
We are fun to be around, but we aren't 'freaks', 'men' or 'trannies'.
Ke$ha, one of the things we transwomen have learned in terms of the feminine journey is that an evolving woman recognizes the areas where she is deficient, and expeditiously makes those corrections and improvements in her life.
One area where you are woefully deficient is knowledge about trans people and our lives. When it comes to transwomen of color, even if we are drop dead gorgeous, we still don't get called or considered 'beautiful'.
If you're feeling a little insecure and self conscious about your body issues, please deal with them without using language that is insulting to the trans community.
One of the things I noticed in the aftermath of the NY Senate committee 12-11 vote that killed GENDA for another session was all the vitriol being hurled at NY state senator Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx).
While Diaz deserves it for being a longtime foe of TBLG rights coverage, what I didn't like was seeing and hearing once again, the 'conclusion jump' that ensued and recitation of the inaccurate meme that Democrats are no better than Republicans when it comes to GLBT rights issues.
Hmm, guess y'all conveniently forgot about the last eight years under the Bush misadministration, much less last week's State Department rule change that drops the SRS requirement for a passport gender marker change.
That came from a State Department run by Hillary Clinton, not Condoleezza Rice.
Lost in the GL community rush to condemnSen. Diaz was the fact that 10 Democrats voted to pass GENDA out of committee and that the eleven Republicans voted against it.
Those eleven Republicans all happen to be white.
Why haven't you condemned those Republicans, especially Sens. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) and George Maziarz (R-Niagara) who reneged on their commitment to support GENDA, only to vote against it in committee?
Maybe the answer lies in the perception that GLBT people of color have about the predominately white led GLBT rights movement.
The perception of many GLBT people of color is that white GLBT people are so desperate to regain what you see as your lost white privilege and show conservative whites you're 'just like them', you're reluctant to voice or mute your criticism for whites who oppress you.
But you have no problem expressing yourselves when that oppressor happens to be a person of color.
You also have no problem expressing yourselves and your feelings about an African American president you lukewarmly supported that you don't feel is moving fast enough on your issues.
So why no rising volume of condemnation for what is glaringly obvious to any person of color? It's white Republicans who are and have been for decades the enemy of TBLG rights.
Every now and then I get an interesting comments on the various posts I write that I just have to elevate into a post in order to properly eviscerate it.
This one comes from commenter Renee W, who alleges she's a Black female Republican and took issue with my recent post slamming Angela McGlowan.
**** Dear Mrs. Roberts
First of all as a Black female, can I give you a bit of advice give honor were honor is due. You need to get off of Angela's back, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican stand for what you believe and leave it at that.
Mrs. McGlowan has won my favor and regardless of if she doesn’t fit into what you think she should fit into. Watch yourself, because one day you’re going to look around and see a new breed of republican who skin may just be a little darker than you would like. Angela has won my favor as well as the favor of many BLACK women, who are secure in their race. Women who are bold, fierce and willing to stand up for things that are right. Now you take that how you want to take it, and please feel free to comment. I will be awaiting your reply.
Real quick question why in the world would anyone support the abortion industry? When more black baby’s die at the hands of Planned Parenthood than any race. Hummm possible genocide? Duh you think. I don’t care if your republican, independent, democrat shows me good politics and I will show you real change. Renee. W --Plainfield--
****
Renee, Renee, Renee. Mrs. Roberts is my mother. I'm Ms. Roberts and happily single. But thanks for the respectful props anyway.
Your Republican minders are going to have to prep you better before you step to me with these tired GOP talking points.
Oldest conservative Internet trick in the book is for you vanilla flavored peeps to go into an African American blog or online space, try to claim you're Black, and then launch into conservative talking points and spin.
There's only a 2-10% chance you actually are Black, but I'll give you the benefit of a doubt on this one just for fun.
USS Monica going to DEFCON 1...spooling up 20 megatons of knowledge to drop on this poor deluded Faux News watching person. Board is green, rhetorical Tomahawks ready. Begin countdown. 5..4..3..2..1..launch
Renee, I too admire Black women who are bold, fierce and willing to stand up for things that are right.
But the women I admire such as Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), the late Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), the late Rep. Barbara Jordan (D-TX), the late Rep. Shirley Chisholm, the late Audre Lorde, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Jasmyne Cannick, Dr. Marisa Richmond and the late Coretta Scott King stand and stood up for what is right, not right wing.
And what I define as right is advancing the same social justice, civil rights, political and economic justice we've been pushing as a people since emancipation.
And what exactly has Angela McGlowan 'stood for that is right' that motivated you to post a comment on TransGriot to 'get off Angela McGlowan's back'?
Expound on that in terms longer than a single sentence.
Now let's play Final TransGriot Jeopardy!. Remember your answer must be phrased in the form of a question.
The Final TransGriot Jeopardy category is 'Black Leadership', and the answer is:
This noted political scientist and commentator from the University of Maryland penned the 'Definition Of Black Leadership'. Name this distinguished professor.
Times up...the Final TransGriot Jeopardy answer is:
Who is Dr. Ronald Walters?
I am simply judging her by the definition of Black leadership as articulated by Dr. Ronald Walters, and Angela McGlowan falls far short of that.
In case you aren't aware of that...here it is:
The task of Black leadership is to provide the vision, resources, tactics, and strategies that facilitate the achievement of the objectives of Black people.
These objectives have been variously described as freedom, integration, equality, liberation, or defined in the terms of specific public policies. It is a role that often requires disturbing the peace. And we constantly carry on a dialogue about the fitness of various leaders and the qualities they bring to the table to fulfill this mission.
If Angela were working for the uplift of the Black community, maybe I could 'give credit where credit is due'. Impressive resume, Ole Miss grad, minister's daughter. But it's the people she's chosen to align herself with politically that's the problem.
I can't ignore the fact that Condoleezza For The New Millennium supports a party that has worked tirelessly AGAINST the interests of African-Americans for over 40 years. The fact she's from Mississippi makes it particularly odious and she should fracking know better.
She has aligned herself with the racist Teabagger movement, worked for Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) and as a Fox News commentator willingly participated in attacks on President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and African-Americans in general.
As for the 'many Black women who are secure in their race' that you claim support Angela McGlowan, I have to ask you, in what alternate universe? Maybe in Fox 'News' watching Bizarro world, but in the reality based universe Black women proud of being Black and seeking to uplift the race are predominately politically liberal-progressive, Democrats and members of Black Greek letter sororities and social organizations, not conservative teabagger sellouts hating on the President, the First Lady and the Black community.
And since you brought it up, let's talk about that proud legacy of negro Republican women such as Condoleezza Rice, Judge Janice Rogers Clown, oops Brown, Star Parker, Amy Holmes, Alveda King and Tara Wall.
So far all I see and hear from the 'new breed' of negro Republican women is the same tired, failed, racist GOP policies and message white male Repugnicans spewed for decades. They are regurgitated by pretty packages all too willing to sell their people out for designer clothes, book deals, media attention and face time at conservative conventions.
I also see many of these women, such as Amy Holmes distancing themselves from their African heritage as well or more concerned with being loyal to the conservative movement and clocking those sellout dollars than they are to the Black community.
Ahh, makes me wanna go get a pair of Ferragamo pumps and rush to change my voter registration to Republican.
Dr. Julia Hare, another fierce Black woman, warned us at a recent 'State of the Black Union' event there's a difference between Black leaders and leading Blacks.
Angela McGlowan sadly doesn't fit into either category.
And finally, why bring up Margaret Sanger in the context of your alleged defense of Angela McGlowan?
FYI for you, contrary to the lies the anti-abortion industry pimps about Planned Parenthood and Margaret Sanger, she had the support of W.E.B. Du Bois and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. If she was as 'racist' as you and your anti choice friends allege, why would she in 1930 open up a family planning clinic staffed with a Black doctor and Black social worker in Harlem?
The mission of that clinic was to enlist support for contraceptive use and extol the benefits of family planning at a time when Black people women were routinely denied access to their city's health and social services
This clinic was endorsed by the way by powerful institutions in the African American community such as The Amsterdam News newspaper, the Abyssinian Baptist Church, the Urban League, and W.E.B. Du Bois.
Renee, Duh, we're only 13% of the population, so there are far more white women terminating their pregnancies than Black women.
BTW Planned Parenthood was run from 1978-1992 by Faye Wattleton, an African American woman, so that blows your 'Black genocide' talking point straight to Hades doesn't it?.
But if you had other news sources besides Fox, the sacreligious Reich and the conservative movement you would have known that.
Thank you for playing Renee W, and we have lovely parting gifts for you.
Now that Mr. Cablinasian has fallen seriously out of favor with the predominately white fans of the golfing world over his marital woes and infidelity issues, I wonder how long it's going to take before he remembers he's Black and tries to appeal to us for support?
Save it homes. Seen this pattern before with the most recent examples being O.J. Simpson and the late Michael Jackson.
Been there and done that. The sad part is I'm a huge fan of the Athlete of the Decade, but I and much of the African-American community is just through with Eldrick Woods.
There are a lot of ways to be Black, but we get more than perturbed with the lot of you who have at least one African descended parent and are in severe denial about the African part of your heritage.
We get a little pissed with you peeps who are chasing 'honorary white male' status, ignore Black women as potential life partners as a part of that and our community as a whole during your pursuit of superstardom.
But when your ample round butts get into trouble or you fall out of favor with whites for whatever reason, you suddenly remember you're Black and start calling up African-American media outlets and magazines to do interviews. You then try to show you're down with the people in your bid to mend fences with the African-American community and garner our support.
Naw homes. We don't want sloppy seconds. We wanted then and still want to be your first love. But your declaration you were Cablinasian, that you had every right as an individual defining himself to make, was seen as a slap in the face by those of us who are proud to be Black.
One of the biggest surprises of President Obama's Inauguration Week last year was Tiger's participation in the Sunday 'We Are One' event.
Many peeps in the African-American community expressed surprise he was even there, seeing his reluctance to speak out on any issues political or otherwise pertaining to the African-American community over the last decade. Even when he did his short speech, he did so without mentioning President Obama by name.
If we weren't good enough for you to show solidarity and pride with beyond the superficial level when you were doing all those amazing things on the golf courses of the planet, give me and the African descended community one good reason why we should show any love or support to you in return, especially in light of the fact that many of your golfing buds like Jesper Parnevik are openly turning on you like rabid dogs?
But being we African descended peeps are a forgiving bunch, after we get over the simmering anger of being jilted and ignored for the last decade, if Mr. Woods is sincere about doing a much better job in the 2k10's and beyond about staying in better touch with his African descended roots, we'll probably make room for him at the family table.
Hell, somebody's gotta show him some love. But it's definitely going to take awhile before we warm up to you again.
