tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-906442678610585215.post4981638118672795388..comments2024-02-26T02:14:00.144-08:00Comments on TransFusion: What is the name of my community?Dr. Cary Gabriel Costellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478058791195474381noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-906442678610585215.post-84934272762011131902011-12-07T19:47:25.889-08:002011-12-07T19:47:25.889-08:00I've heard the term GSM (for gender and sexual...I've heard the term GSM (for gender and sexual minorities) suggested, to get to the heart of what connects us, and cut back on the "alphabet soup" effect. I use the word "queer" for my personal identity, as "bisexual" erases the fact that I am attracted to non-binary identifying people and "pansexual" is too jargonistic to use in everyday conversations with people outside the queer community. I find it works well as a personal tool in that way. I think though that might contribute to people thinking of "queer" as a sort of stylized "B" identity, so I've read trans people who find it unattractive, especially straight ones. Also the fact that it's long been associated with gay men exclusively doesn't help. <br /><br />I don't know how much language can centre the concerns of trans people and gender transgressors, though. I think actually focussing on these issues instead of say, relentlessly pursuing marriage and conceding protections for trans people to get workplace protections for cis LGBs passed, would do a better job of that. Inevitably, it doesn't matter what you call yourself if you're not genuinely living up to the name. If you do regressive things or ignore members of the community, the name gets tainted. I've read quite a few trans bloggers express bitterness at LGBT organizations that do nothing to justify the T in their name, to the point of implicitly distrusting organizations that rally under that banner. It's like the word homosexual. In and of itself, it's value-neutral, yet I've heard it used so many times by the religious right that whenever I hear someone use the word it sends up a red flag. <br /><br />Finally, a bit of an aside about the people who think the word "queer" might be too radical for funding sources: my university has a Queer Students Community Centre without much trouble. On the other hand, I do change it to the "LGBT Students Community Centre" on my résumé so there's that.JfChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04690680357973160521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-906442678610585215.post-84066932657447946302011-12-06T18:33:01.480-08:002011-12-06T18:33:01.480-08:00thank you. i came to this blog post via kelly wash...thank you. i came to this blog post via kelly washburn and am glad to have read your thoughts.Turtlebeanzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05436756910037382911noreply@blogger.com