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LGBtqi article
This is a topic of discussion that I intend to engage at the up coming ANZPATH transgender health and community conference. It is the first of three I will post over the coming days. I am going to leave a little time to digest and maybe comment if you like these are all published on GNN.
Any way here’s one.
A political change.
There is an undercurrent of disillusionment in the trans/gender diverse community. We are a minority among minorities, under the banner of LGBtqi we sit in limbo with out true representatives or action. We fail to take our place in the acronym and make it our own . Some complain with real reason but in truth offer no options. I entered this community and all I saw was a void. I have slowly found people who are making efforts but there is no cohesive force binding those efforts.
Politically we are muted by our division. Our needs lack urgency for we are incapable of presenting a unified pressure on the policy makers. It is easy to placate an individual, the request is listened to, the argument is appreciated and the individual is patted on the head and sent on their way. It is not enough to claim to represent a community. You must have the support of the group you wish to represent. No individual, what ever their experience has the right to claim the confidence of a community without the support of the community, this is where so many fail.
People who have the power to make a difference also have the opportunity to ignore problems that have no apparent support. An individual who claims that they represent a community without community support, will at best be used as a token for policy makers to claim their support for a minority. They will effectively obstruct true progress as they only speak for themselves or their small cliques. They are often manipulated by policy makers deliberately to obstruct with small funding arrangements keeping them in check.
To change our situation we need separate from the past and unite. We need to create a national group of activists and especially of advocates. Petty difference needs to be left in the past and we need to create a positive attitude to ensure we have a healthy discourse among our group . With unity we will have power , the power to change our future, to ensure that no one need follow the same uncomfortable path we did. The power to change the way we are veiwed the way we are treated. We the gender diverse community have to raise our status in the LGBtqi because thats how it stands now. TQI NEEDS TO BE CAPITALISED.
We need leadership with consultation and inclusion. It is time for us to take our stand and build a strong coherent structure of our own. It must cross the boundaries of the states and individuals and truly represent our needs. Lateral hostilities must cease, ego must be set aside with opinion , a national body must be a reality. An opportunity for bringing this to fruition is coming in October this year. In Adelaide the third biannual trans health and community conference. In conjunction with the community this presents a wonderful chance to change the future.
As a member of the conference organising committee I am keen to see this become an intrinsic part of the discussion. There is already discussion underway, it is time we controlled our own destiny it , is the time for gender diverse people to be heard without the filter of the LGB. In my mind it is time to separate sexuality from gender . That’s my next subject! -
3 Replies
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How many times has the ‘strike out on our own’ tit bit been posted, I’ve lost count. I can’t speak for Australia and New Zealand but only stab at we here country cousins in Canberra.
AGA founded by Peter Hyndal and company makes our voice heard in the Canberra community however we still cling to the coat tails of the LGBTIQ (whatever). This has been necessary to even make the minority of folk slightly aware of our existence, but along with the rest of the world we are, as a whole making a difference.
My personal view is softly, softly catchee monkey. In time we will become something of a force with a firm voice, however it will not happen overnight. Just keep pegging away individually, educating the masses that we are human, capable of smiling and being polite to everyone. -
Past failed attempts are in the past , you are defeated when you give up. For those who are not interested in trying again I would say that is your prerogative but your choice should not stifle progress. Without effort everything stays the same and the subservient position of the gender diverse community is not acceptable and it is only efforts of our community that will change that.
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Kristyana, I commend you for your interest altho I must confess my ignorance on what you see as the issues. I’m usually one of the silent majority but, given your effort, I thought I should provide some input.
I’m out dressed some 4 days a week and do all the things on those days that I would do as a male or genetic female including flying. I have made a good deal of friends as Michelle (many more than as a male) and I have had nothing but courteous and friendly service from all places that I go. Just a plain CDer (TG I suppose) with no interest in moving beyond femme presentation.
I am also happy not to cause waves. Being publically objectionable isn’t my idea of furthering my interests. I do that by engaging with the community, smiling a lot and taking an interest in people.
What I am wondering is what you see needs to be achieved. I can’t support something without knowing the objectives. I may even oppose you representing my interests. Clearly there is such a large spectrum of TG that it will be difficult to reach a concensus on the problems and the solutions. Without a concensus though you can’t “create a national group of activists and especially of advocates”.
Best wishes
Michelle
