Marriage and Trans Legislation in NH

Ok, so yesterday New Hampshire’s Senate approved a bill advancing marriage “equality” so it will go back to the House where it should pass again (slight changes were made requiring another vote). If you get your LGBT(Q?) news from the HRC you already know how wonderful the leadership in the Senate and House are “for their leadership in reaching a positive result.”

Bad news? Last week, the NH Senate Judiciary Committee “voted 5-0 to recommend that the full Senate kill the transgender rights bill” which would have added gender identity or expression to the already existing non-discrimination and hate crimes laws. This was after three hours of testimony (from both sides) that had stories of being fired, ridiculed, and physically attacked for being transgender.

I think it’s important to notice what things are advancing and what things aren’t… Bills to allow same-sex couples access to a heterosexual privilege that is classist, racist, and invasive are passing in multiple states, while a bill to protect everyone (though especially Trans people) concerning employment and housing regardless of gender identity or expression is put done. The big argument against the bill? Bathrooms and the safety of children. A woman who testified to the Committee "said that as a mother, she is angry and concerned about her daughter's safety. She wondered what would stop a man who considered himself a woman from using a woman's restroom." Well... If someone identifies as a woman (regardless of genitalia), then she is a woman, not a man. Now, the safety of children is certainly important, but it isn't relevant to the legislation... In the 1970’s Anita Bryant used the “Save Our Children” rhetoric to attack laws friendly to gay men and lesbian women and to pass harmful ones. Thirty years later, people are still using discourses around protecting children to deny equality!

I feel that the LGBT movement is a little off in praising a group for advancing equality a week after they voted against it...

The SWAS (A quick linkfest)

So, I really want to post about the SWAS, The Century Project, and John Foubert. But I really don't have time to do any of that until this weekend, so I'm just going to do a quick linkfest for articles about the SWAS.

Flat Hat Article #1
Flat Hat Article #2
Flat Hat Article #3
Flat Hat Article #4

Daily Press Article #1
Daily Press Article #2
Daily Press Article #3


Just FYI, the show went pretty well, even though we didn't sell out.

I was talking to my cooperating kindergarten teacher yesterday, and she was emphasizing just how much her students have learned this school year. "When I got them in September, some of them didn't even know if they were a boy or a girl!" Clearly, this is the most important thing we can teach in kindergarten. Ugh.

Trans Exclusion: It Isn’t Just for the HRC Anymore

Trans exclusion isn’t just about not being considered in legislation, being left behind in the LGB(T) Rights Movement, or ignoring the fact that the Gay Rights Movement was started (largely) by Trans people. For those of us who can’t, or don’t want to, identify or express ourselves as either a man or a woman, it can be about a lot more. Having to think about the fact that you are entering a public restroom and are actually uncomfortable going into it (bathrooms are a crazy topic and I will probably write more). Having to think what to mark on applications, though sometimes you do get a blank or a third option for gender. Then you have to weigh the risks or appropriateness of coming out as Trans. Taking a survey. In class, divided by a teacher into “boys and girls.” If you are presenting yourself as society dictates, you may not be in the group that more accurately fits you.

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For a class, I had to map my family on a kinship chart on which everyone is gendered either triangle/male or circle/female. As the chart maker, I was to be labeled the “Ego,” the centerpiece. Triangle or circle? I overlapped them, but even that wasn’t right.

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It’s interesting to interact with people my age in a social setting. Oftentimes the group subconsciously divides itself along gender lines. Even, or perhaps especially, among LG(B) youth. Now, no one has bad feelings against the “opposite gender,” but this is partially part of trying to find someone in whom you are interested. I feel that this could also be frustrating for a bi/pansexual individual, having to pick a group and miss dating opportunities. However, for those in-between or outside of these gendered groups, having to pick one is really aggravating because you are being forced into a binary that you may really hate. And once you do pick, you aren’t interacting with people with whom you may (partially) identify. You are included in one group, but not the other. It certainly isn’t a conscious effort to exclude anyone, no game of “Shun the Genderqueer.” It just happens. Because “that’s the way it is.”

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I think that this is going to be a major issue for Queer student groups over the next few year as more Trans and Genderqueer people come out younger, trying to consciously make an effort towards Trans Inclusion.

Speaking of perpetuating the myth of the importance of virginity...

Did you know that there are masturbatory sleeves that come with their own virginities? The "Tunnel of Love," by Tasteful Treasures, "has an intact ‘hymen' so he’ll know he was the first."

Of course he's the first (if this particular male bodied individual does use masculine pronouns)... he bought this sex toy all for himself, did he not? But regardless, this places such an unnecessary emphasis on physical "virginity." Many women, believe it or not, do not have intact hymens, because they were born without them, because they were broken during some sort of athletic activity, because they've masturbated, or, goddess forbid, perhaps because they've had sex before. Honestly, I can't imagine that it would be fun for the first time using a toy to be extra difficult. I would want to orgasm, not to force my penis through a layer of rubber. If only I had a penis, perhaps I would understand.

Ginny is perpetuating the myth of the importance of virginity. SHE IS A PAWN OF THE PATRIARCHY.

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