As mentioned in an earlier post, life a transgender is not walk in the park. Discrimination and mistreatment lurks in every corner, and not knowing your rights will turn you into a helpless victim. Live in Uganda, being a transgender might cause you to end up in the land of the dead. In Melaka, depending on the religious authority's mood, you might get a good beating a few night stay in jail for waiting for a bus at the bus stop.
Cases of discrimination and mistreatment of transgender people is not much publicized here in Malaysia due to several factors:
- Media don't find it interesting, and some journalist find it more fun to mock the case.
- The victims find it taxing, time consuming, and dignity eroding to report such cases. Then again, we're talking about Malaysia, where dealing with the authority is at least taxing and time consuming.
- The victimizers would always get to runaway scott-free. While there are anti-discrimination law in effect, they does not cover gender variants (confirming with my HR personnel at the moment), thus providing a loophole on this issue.
There are other factors, of course. But the ones stated above are the most prevalent in my observation. Feel free to share your observation on this.
Overseas, however, there are quite a few documented cases on discrimination and mistreatment against gender variants. Take this letter, shared by International Foundation for Gender Education:
So. Though the origin of this is not necessarily homosexuality, this seems like the place to post this.
Someone I know (through another forum, a trans woman) went to the DMV to get her name changed on her license. A not really fun procedure made worse by employees fucking it up every step of the way.
Several days later, she got this in the mail.
For those of you who don't want to read, it's a poorly thought out attempt to dissuade her from surgery. I figured I would post it here though it's really a trans issue as transphobia and homophobia intersect in the worst of ways. And homophobia is the source of the transphobia, in this case.
Essentially the point I want to put out there (though I'm sure most of us know this is the case) is this: The dominant culture of homosexual (and transsexual) disapproval is so overwhelming that an employee of the government felt it was his business to use the address obtained in a government transaction to send a trans woman a homophobic letter telling her that she is making an evil decision by attempting to live out her life as she feels necessary.
I don't really know what to say. It's a pretty disgusting letter, and I guess just one more person who thinks other people's private lives is his business."
On Thursday, October 21, 2010, I helped you get a driver's license or ID card at the San Francisco DMV. I noticed that you were changing your name and had supporting documents for the change. As I recall one of these documents outlined something to do with a gender change.
I have learned that the reason for the vast majority of gender change operations is the client's homosexual orientation. The homosexual act is an abomination that leads to hell. "If anyone lie with a man as with a woman, both have committed an abomination; let them be put to death." (Leviticus 20:13) "Do not err; neither ... the effeminate nor liers with mankind ... shall possess the Kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) The homosexual act is one of the sins that "cries to heaven for vengeance." Supporting those who commit this act and encouraging and justifying those who have the orientation also lead one to hell.
Romans 1:21-32 explains how the homosexual orientation is connected with worshiping visible things in the world rather than the One Who created them. If this orientation is the reason for an operation that has yet to occur (or is in the process), I beg you -- DO NOT GO THROUGH WITH IT!
You can see that I do not support gender change operations. Consider Genesis 1:27: "Male and female he [God] created them"; and then Leviticus 19:28: "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh..." Jesus clearly prohibits gender change operations. If an operation like this is the reason for changing one's name, then one has made a very evil decision.
Although I helped you with the name change, I have to say I do not support the reason for it if it relates to the above. If it does I must say I do not approve of this name change, and I also do not believe the state's recognition of it -- through official documents -- makes it legitimate or any less evil.
Please take a look at www.vaticancatholic.com. This website has critical information for your salvation and much more on many other topics.
In Charity,Thomas
I would say that this is a breach of privacy, and that the DMV staff had overstepped his authority by accessing the recipient's contact information and sending such letter. Having studied in a few religious institution, I believe his intention is good (for Muslim this might be seen as nahi mungkar, discouraging immoral actions), but I also believe that he is misinformed and ignorant of issues on gender identities.
Now, take a look at this case, also shared by International Foundation for Gender Education:
Costello & Mains, P.C. Files Transgender Employment and Housing Discrimination Lawsuit
Mount Laurel 10/27/2010 02:27 PM GMT (WooEB)
New Jersey employment law firm Costello & Mains, P.C. has filed a lawsuit on behalf of April Murdoch, a male to female transsexual who was viciously tormented by her employer when her landlord, who entered her apartment without her permission and discovered paperwork pertaining to her transition, informed her employer of his find.
“This is one of the more egregious and profound examples of hostility to transgendered persons," says partner Kevin Costello. “Her landlord invaded her privacy, called her homophobic names, and then kicked her out of her apartment. Then he told April's employer, who proceeded to torment her on the job with homophobic hate speech. He also forced her to work overtime without pay, under threat that he would ruin her life if she didn't comply." Finally, the suit claims, she was discharged.
"We hope not only that justice will be done," Kevin says, "but also that by continuing to expose the sort of hate transgendered people endure for having the courage to be who they are, we can start to reverse the societal bias and ignorance that so often infects the lives of transgendered people. They already have enough challenges without such outright and hateful discrimination."
The employment law attorneys at Costello & Mains, P.C. are dedicated to protecting the rights of New Jersey workers. If you suspect your employee or civil rights have been violated, visit http://www.costellomains.com/ today for a free legal evaluation of your claim.
About the Law Offices of Costello & Mains, P.C.
Kevin Costello and Deborah Mains have been fighting for the workers of New Jersey for nearly 30 years between them, having counseled and represented unions and workers for their entire careers. They can fight your employment rights, harassment, retaliation, discrimination or wrongful discharge claim in Court. If you have questions about employment rights in New Jersey, visit http://www.costellomains.com/.
Again, breach of privacy, and on top of that breach of employee's rights as well as breach of employment contract. It's a good thing that the law firm decided to take on the case. All the best to April. May justice prevail.
We have seen examples of discrimination by government staff and employer, and a busy body 3rd person. How about in schools? Check this out (thanks to International Foundation for Gender Education for sharing):
US school official tells gay teens to kill themselves
Gay rights groups are calling for a US school board official to resign after he posted an anti-gay rant on his Facebook page.
Clint McCance, who is the vice-president of the Arkansas school district, wrote on his page that “queers” and “fags” should kill themselves.
He made the remarks after Spirit Day last Wednesday, which encouraged people to wear purple to mark a spate of suicides among gay teenagers.
According to The Advocate, which got a screengrab of his page, Mr McCance wrote that the teenagers had “sinned”, that he would disown his children if they were gay and that he was pleased that AIDS kills gay men.
He wrote: “Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves.
“The only way im wearin it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed thereselves because of their sin. REALLY PEOPLE.”
In response to a commenter who criticised his remarks, he added: “No because being a fag doesn’t give you the right to ruin the rest of our lives. If you get easily offended by being called a fag then dont tell anyone you are a fag. Keep that shit to yourself. I dont care how people decide to live their lives. They dont bother me if they keep it to thereselves.
“It pisses me off though that we make a special purple fag day for them. I like that fags cant procreate. I also enjoy the fact that they often give each other aids and die. If you arent against it, you might as well be for it.”
In later comments, he wrote: “I would disown my kids they were gay. They will not be welcome at my home or in my vicinity. I will absolutely run them off. Of course my kids will know better. My kids will have solid christian beliefs. See it infects everyone.”
Tom Kimbrell, Arkansas commissioner of education, said in a statement Wednesday that he had “grave concerns” about the situation.
He said: “I strongly condemn the statements that appeared on Mr Clint McCance’s Facebook page … The statements attributed to Mr McCance constitute a significant departure from statements we expect from our school leaders.
“The divisiveness and disruption of these comments cause me to seriously question the ability of Mr McCance to remain as an effective member of the Midland School Board.”
Mr McCance is an elected official, the statement said, and the local education department cannot deal with him directly. But the department promised to deal quickly with any instances of homophobic bullying.
Facebook groups and gay rights campaigners are calling for Mr McCance’s resignation.
Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese said: “McCance shouldn’t be allowed near children, let alone managing their education. We call for his immediate resignation from the school board.”
Any of you readers have similar experiences to share? Feel free to email them to radicalscope@gmail.com :)
Michelle, signing off :)
