We remain deeply concerned about the Lateral Hostility which continues unabated within sections of the wider LGBTIQ community but are particularly concerned about the degree to which some Trans Activists are engaging in bullying, stalking (particularly cyber stalking) and smear campaigns against other Trans people on a systematic and ongoing basis. Norrie being banned from Facebook for using a term Tranny, which a small but highly vocal group of Trans people find personally offensive (more below) is frankly far from the worst expression of this toxic culture of personal attrition. That said, we believe its emblematic of a much deeper problem and multifaceted problem. What seems to underpin this cultural phenomona is the incapacity of some of us to understand that ALL human beings have a right to self identify .. to accept something many others see as a universal truth - that none of us have the right to police the identity of other people nor bully them for being different or simply holding different points of view. We hope those currently campaigning to ban various terms or labels - knowing full well that many others in our community are perfectly comfortable with those terms - will reflect upon how they might feel if other Trans people were investing huge amounts of time and energy trying to erase their own identities or inhibit their own right to self expression. We believe that this is an aspect of LGBTIQ culture than needs to be talked about far more openly in the hope that that we might better understand this phenomena, explore possible solutions and build a consensus for change. Wed love to know your thoughts with Rami Mandow, Geoff Field, Cindy Macardle, Caitlin Hall, Jasmine Isabella Neuenhaus, Fin Phineas, Kristine Johnson, Tranz Australia, Tranz Victoria, Candice Inoz, Pablo Bensemann
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 22:31:09 +0000