The linked story is from the Seattle Times and describes the possibility for same-sex marriage to pass the Washington Senate, however, I was very intrigued by this quote: “The supporters of the bill determine you’re a ‘hateful bigot’ if you vote no, while the opponents question your faith and say you’re ‘turning your back on God’ if you vote yes,” Hatfield said. I wonder how we frame and work towards full civil rights by talking[Read More…]
In otherwords, for me, it isn’t VoterID itself, that I have a problem with- it is the myriad issues that surround it and come about because of the way it is implemented.
GetEqual has a problem with the President’s current methodology, but they aren’t going after the President, such as a picket at the White House. They are targeting Obama campaign offices. In other word, they are targeting my future, and your future. Their efforts may assist in electing a GOP President. Thanks but no thanks.
I can accept that Seamus is “male” but I am not so sure I accept that he is a man. His gender identity is incongruent with man-ness, but fully congruent with male-ness. I am not sure if a men’s locker room is a place where men (sex) change and shower. I think it may be. I don’t think it is the place where males are, if that makes sense.
The more frightening part of bills like this however, is considering the door it could open. We know that underneath the anti-same-sex marriage facade is just blatant rejection of gay people- of being gay as an acceptable sexual orientation. If wedding providers can be considered for exclusions and allowed to discriminate, what is to stop restaurant owners, employers, health care providers…
It is one thing to discuss nondiscrimination as a concept, but how does that change when put into practical situations like shower facilities, locker rooms, prisons, etc. Maybe nondiscrimination is the same, and a concept can be equyally applied everywhere. Maybe not.
In this case, the Pitt Administration wants to see a comprehensive policy in place that treats all students, staff, and faculty, fairly, respectfully and trans-positive.
it is true that today, Pitt doesn’t have a good comnmprehensive policy regarding a wide assortmnent of trans issues. They have added “gender identity” to their non-discrimination policy, and they are working through the usual channels to write and then adopt a real and good policy . Life will be better for everyone, once that process is completed, and then, Pitt will have a policy consistent with it’s stated intentions as expressed in their non-discrimination policy. So the progress contihnues.
Trans community leaders are pulling together a comprehensive policy that can be presented to Pitt for consideration. This is, if I understand it, a policy that has been used at a number of other Universities. I don’t have all the details, but I want to express that Trans voices are out there and ready to participate in the solution. This is essential for a real solution.
But the point that I want to make is that more can happen when people are willing to talk to one another. There are times when this doesn’t happen: one party refuses to talk, or the other party is all about making demands rather than talk. There are real times for loud demands too. but underneath all of it, is a need for people to talk and change what needs to be changed, once it is understood what that may be.