Gender Fucked...

6 November 2005

I got a phone call from a friend of mine today that was worried about a mutual friend of ours. This friend was experiencing some major chest pains but was worried about having to deal with coming out as trans in the emergency room. Let me repeat that line...my friend almost did not seek medical treatment for chest pains because he was worried about having to come out as transgender to the medical staff at the hospital.  That is the bullshit world that we are living in. I wish I could say that I didn't understand his reluctance but I can...trans folks that have sought emegency medical treatment have been flat out refused treatment, been further harmed (mentally and/or physically), and gone through what any non-trans person would never contemplate having to endure during an emergency situation (or any situation....period).

This is going to be a short blog entry today because basically I'm pissed....so let me make this clear....GENDER IDENTITY IS NOT DETERMINED BY HAVING A D!CK or a PU$$Y...GENDER IDENTITY IS NOT DETERMINED BY CHROMOSOMES. YOUR IDEA OF GENDER MEANS NOTHING OUTSIDE OF YOUR GENDER IDENTITY. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE MY GENDER EXPRESSION OR THE GENDER EXPRESSION OF ANYONE ELSE. GENDER IS AN INDIVIDUAL CONSTRUCTION THAT MUST BE RESPECTED AND CELEBRATED. CHICKS WITH DICKS, MEN WITH CLITS, and EVERY GENDER EXPRESSION IN BETWEEN IS PART OF THE BEAUTY OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. 

No one else has to die because they have had the courage to live their gender truth. It is our responsibility to make sure that no one we love or care about ever has to worry again about the reprecussions of seeking medical attention because of their gender identity. Support the rights of transgender and genderqueer individuals. Period.