Yup. I just couldn’t do without some way to vent. So, here I am back at the blogging thing, albeit this one is a bit hidden but exposed to search engines. Let’s start off with my recent most serious unpopular view. It has to do with ENDA. If you don’t know what it is just Google it. If you don’t know the hype and controversy surrounding it, again, Google it. Here are the basics. People want to be protected in their employment. They don’t want to be fired just because they are gay, lesbian or bi-sexual. This is where ENDA comes in (Employment Non Discrimination Act). However, Congressman Barney Frank wants to leave protections for transgendered people out of ENDA. I agree…and here is why. Being transgendered has nothing to do with being gay, lesbian or bisexual. As I was taught in my volunteer training for Lambert House, they are separate issues. Transgender refers to gender identification and being gay, lesbian and/or bisexual refers to sexual orientation. I had the difference between the two hammered into my head time and time again. Just because someone is transgender does not mean they are gay or lesbian. This is why some biological women identify as men, are attracted to women and therefore consider themselves straight. And vice versa. So, as I said, my opinion may be an unpopular one but is one reason why I wont hop on the ‘grassroots bandwagon’ and harass my Congressperson and/or Representative. I have a larger issue here than this proposed bill. I think that everyone should be protected from workplace discrimination. What I do have an issue with is the fact the transgender people continuously get lumped in with GLB people. Again, an unpopular view, I realize, but still mine. I suppose that until someone decides to ask that question out loud, the status quo will go on the same.
EDIT: I sent an email to ERW or Equal Rights Washington in response to their email asking me to call my Representative to not support the current ENDA (what started this whole thing). This is the response I received back:
Derek—
ERW is committed to working for civil rights for the entire diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. While the issue of gender identity is of particular importance to the transgender community, it is also of great importance to anyone, gay or straight, who does not conform to rigid gender stereotypes. An ENDA that only includes sexual orientation would not protect masculine women or effeminate men from workplace discrimination. Hope this helps.
Josh Friedes
Advocacy Director
Equal Rights Washington
Well, no, Josh it doesn’t. You address the issue as ERW can see it, but you didn’t answer my initial question: “What does gender identity have to do with sexual orientation?”