Reverse Thinking

I've noticed a lot of columns about the "T" in LGBT and how much transpeople need inclusion in and with the greater Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) community, for unity and gaining more support. I'm not against that since some transpeople are gay or lesbian.

But if you look at the recent progress transpeople have made it's not from the greater LGB community, as we saw when transpeople were dropped from the initial hate crime law and now from the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), it's been made by trans-only organizations.

The courts are deciding in-transition and especially legally-recognized men and women, meaning post-transition, are protected under the Civil Rights Law for sex, not gender. In several recent cases, judges have ruled for the women. They didn't need ENDA.

And if you notice trans-only organizations, eg. NCTE, have made gains for the diversity of transgender people without getting the support of the greater LGB community or adding LGB components to their effort. They have shown greater acceptance of LGB transpeople than the LGB groups have of transpeople.

And in many communities, like where I live, the transgender community and groups (there are several) don't incorporate their work or people with the greater LGB community, groups or people, except for greater efforts for public events such as the annual Pride parade, but they often hold transgender-only events which are very popular.

Transgender people are gaining without the LGB community, so maybe it's time to do as a whole community what others have done and succeeded, jettison the LGB from the community except where it applies to individuals who wish to participate in both.

The transgender community as shown they don't need the LGB community except to remind them about the treatment and exclusion they've gotten from the LGB people and to get them to stand up for transgender people, something they've long promised and reniged.

The transgender community has shown they're accepting of LGB people under the diversity of transgender people without raising it as an issue or a reason for their effort or work. They simply accept everyone's sexual orientation as the norm.

And now it's clear the transgender community simply needs to continue their work without the LGB community and only the support where the LGB community finally decided to be inclusive for all LGBT people, and not lie then renige.

The transgender community is now strong and independent, and it's time the LGB community recognize it and support it. The choice is that or asking for the transcommunity's help on their issues to have it fall on deaf ears and silent voices.

The transgender community is now equal for their cause as the LGB community is for theirs, and both can gain from each other if both, especially the LGB community, recognize it and share. And not isn't a choice anymore for the LGB community because the transcommunity doesn't need them.