John Aravosis over at America Blog (http://www.americablog.com/2007/10/if-wishes-were-horses-beggars-would.html) pretty much sums up my view on ENDA and the need to get it passed in some form as opposed to losing the whole ball of wax:
"And, once we succeed in getting the T added back to ENDA, what's the plan for convincing the Republicans and conservative Dems to endorse transexual rights, to vote for a trans inclusive ENDA? I haven't noticed a massive pro-trans ad campaign, TV campaign, op ed strategy, or anything else over the years.
We debate gay issues all the time publicly, and it's still taken us 30 years to get to the point where we have a shot at passing ENDA for the gays. And now we're expected to easily pass it with gender identity added on (ENDA has been around for 30 years, while gender identity got added to it for the first time this year) when there's been no real education of the American people or the Congress whatsoever (and yes, I know the transgender organizations have been lobbying congress since the early 90s, at least, but that is not the same as a national education campaign such as we've had on gay issues - and even then, we still have an awful time when gay issues come up for a vote, especially when the congress turns Republican (and there's no guarantee it won't again sometime soon)). It's just my gut, and I hope I'm wrong, but I fear that anyone who thinks the US Congress is going to pass a "transexual civil rights in the workplace bill" any time soon is deluded. I'd love to see it passed, I support its passage, but wishing (aka "insisting") doesn't make it so.
So insist away that the Dem leadership put the T back in to ENDA, but please don't call it a victory when ENDA goes down in flames as a result of your actions, and 25 million gays and lesbians are told to wait a few more decades for their civil rights (assuming they live that long, don't lose their jobs in the meantime, etc.). If losing is your definition of victory, then we can all pack our bags and go home, because we can achieve that victory - have been achieving that victory for decades - without lifting a finger or donating a dime to a knowier-than-thou gay group.
I have transgender clients and my heart goes out to them for what they have to endure. But, the passage of any form of ENDA is a win for gays in Virginia who currently have NO protections against employment discrimination whatsoever. Part of politics is doing the possible, not holding out for the impossible.
2 comments:
And yet HRC actively solicits money from transgender people. This wasn't a sudden thing, as I understand it. HRC steadfastly refused to include Ts to the point that Ts campaigned against ENDA. When they finally included them in their mission statement. Seems more like embracing the opposition to curb the hostilities until they were really ready to pursue their true objective.
Transgenders have committed financial support and man hours to HRC. Why was HRC using those resources to only educate on GLB issues? Was that why there was trans-educational campaign? Because our money was going to HRC, which was supposed to have our interests at heart?
According to one poll, the GLB community appears to support inclusion and an almost 90% level. Do you think they're not aware that they'd be giving up their chances too? Or do they believe that what's fair is fair?
You misundersatand my point. First, I have no illusions about HRC. Second, I support inclusion myself. However, from many years of political involvement, I know that at some point it is better to get some protections enacted as opposed to none at all.
Once LGB individuals are protected and the general populace sees that none of the problems cited by the lunatic and hysterical far right occur, it should be much easier to add the T to the protected categories.
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