Trans Blues

Thank you, Caitlin Jenner, but, no thanks.

Let me first state that I have no issues with Caitlin’s debut to the world. My problem is with society, and as always, particularly, the black community. Even more specifically, the black, gay community. 

For years, I’ve been an advocate for the trans community because for a while, I was the partner of two very wonderful men. No, I will not name them because that is not my place. But I can definitely share some stories about the ignorance I endured during these relationships. One of my least favorite memories with my first would be when he was referred to as an "it". Yes, an "it". Why I wasted my time addressing this person is beyond me. I suppose I just was not mature enough to understand that you can not fix stupid.

The sad thing about the ignorance that would come my way from time to time is that it always came from my black friends and sometimes my own family. Now those same NEGROES are here for Jenner. I didn't get angry at the support, but I definitely got myself a good laugh. These same people would ask me, "so now that you are dating a 'man' does that mean that you aren't a lesbian anymore?" I'm not even going to waste my time explaining how stupid that question is, especially when I know most people don't share the same intellect as me.

Caitlin Jenner does not excite me one bit. However, her story and the reaction from my peers does evoke emotion in me because some of the same people who would have exiled me from the lesbian community are now on my timeline shouting, “Yasssssssssss, Caitlin, come through!”

Please. Stop. It.

Most of these same people had no idea who Caitlin was pre-transition and probably still don’t know as I type this. But because it’s the trending topic of the week, they have jumped on the bandwagon.

You. Make. Me. Sick.

There were so many transgendered people who needed our support long before Jenner exposed her truth.

See: http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/alarming-number-of-transgender-people-killed-worldwide-in-the-last-seven-ye

My question is where were you then? We never go into a frenzy of support and acceptance when melanin is involved. Nor do we backup the poor or the D-Listers. It seems the only time we jump on bandwagons is when black people are being shed in a negative light. It’s okay for a man to be a woman when he is degrading black women.

See: The many YouTube videos of men in wigs and dresses i.e. Watermelondrea. That’s a subject for another day. Today is about transmen and women.

We can also talk about why it’s okay for Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, or Tyler Perry to shuck and jive and perpetuate more stereotypes, but I digress.

I just keep on straying. I know, I know.

My feelings about this are all over the place and the fact that I've made it this far in this blog without using the F-word shows my growth on the subject. The root of my anger stems from the lack of open minds in my own community. It's disappointing to see people applaud someone for something that so many other people have been beaten, stabbed, and shot over. People who did not have the money to protect themselves from slander and embarrassment. Even as I explore the darker side of this subject, there is not enough upset over black transgender men and women who commit suicide. We do not get "it gets better" projects. Hell, we don't even get GoFundMe pages and they are handing those out like a government commodity.

I honestly just want blacks to realize that there is a difference in empathy and reflection. Caitlin Jenner is not my sister, but Amiyah Scott is. Every community needs their own representation and not simply because of race but because of culture and preservation. We ALL need to see that there not just ONE way of doing anything in life.

There is a reason for Michelle Obama being loved. Yes, we loved Hillary when her husband was in office, but when we got Michelle, it said to little black girls that they, too, could be something other than the wife of a drug dealer or basketball star. The way we deliver messages is important. 

On a more positive note, there are times when I scroll my timeline and I feel certain moments of relief because I can acknowledge the effort of those who try. Still I can only give them partial credit because their education on the topic didn’t extend beyond what someone else posted.

Let’s add a few more things:

• ·         Do not ask about if a trans person has a penis or a vagina
  


• ·         Do not “out” someone that you know is trans. It is not your place.
  


• ·         Do not ask to see their surgeries.
  


• ·         Do not say you accept them yet continue to use the improper pronouns.
  


• ·         Just like being gay, they were born that way.
  


• ·         Their sexuality has nothing to do with their gender.
  


• ·         Drag Queens and Trans people are not the same.
  


• ·         To answer your next question, no, RuPaul is not trans. He is a Drag Queen.
  

While I'm thinking about it, don't even dare to come to me with the defense that GOD doesn't make mistakes if you are one of those people who are against transgender people altogether. I won't even have a conversation with you. 

Duality: Define it. Apply it to God, the universe, or whatever else you need to in order to gain understanding.

I am now exhausted and that is not even half of my thoughts and feelings on this subject, so, I leave you with this. 

THAT GOES FOR HETEROS, TOO!