a great day for trans rights, cynicism, or possibly both
In (queer) media coverage following the Zapata trial conviction, the pretty blonde anchor who blinked too much was saying, "You know, [token trans woman], I've thought long and hard about this case, as many people have, and I guess one of the reasons why it's so moving to me is, I think, boy, what privileges I have as a person who is not transgender, I'm never the victim of hostility or hatred, I don't have to decide on a daily basis if I'm going to tell people who I'm meeting my biological gender, I don't have to worry about what people are thinking about me..."
And in my head, all I could think about is "wow girl, keep talking about my life like that, I could get you some hatred."
If we can come far enough to have this kind of talk on any kind of mass media, that's huge. I'm sad that it took something as horrible as what happened to Angie Zapata, and I'm even more sad that what happened to her happens to a whole lot of us on a fairly regular basis. But the fact that I'm inured enough to positive media attention so much so that this doesn't warrant more than some cynical half-awake snark? That's a sea change in my mind. Between Tyra Banks, Diane Sawyer, Oprah, and god knows how many other positive media portrayals of trans people I've seen come out since I did, there's a swelling and critical mass. Still, it's all pity-based.
"What we've learned in this case on what transgender people go through on a daily basis, from the serious threats of violence to the little mundane issues like when you're going to come out, and when you're going to tell people has been so enlightening."
Maybe to your ignorant cis ass.
I need some caffeine. I'm tired of the pity party.
-Allison is hunting caffeine
And in my head, all I could think about is "wow girl, keep talking about my life like that, I could get you some hatred."
If we can come far enough to have this kind of talk on any kind of mass media, that's huge. I'm sad that it took something as horrible as what happened to Angie Zapata, and I'm even more sad that what happened to her happens to a whole lot of us on a fairly regular basis. But the fact that I'm inured enough to positive media attention so much so that this doesn't warrant more than some cynical half-awake snark? That's a sea change in my mind. Between Tyra Banks, Diane Sawyer, Oprah, and god knows how many other positive media portrayals of trans people I've seen come out since I did, there's a swelling and critical mass. Still, it's all pity-based.
"What we've learned in this case on what transgender people go through on a daily basis, from the serious threats of violence to the little mundane issues like when you're going to come out, and when you're going to tell people has been so enlightening."
Maybe to your ignorant cis ass.
I need some caffeine. I'm tired of the pity party.
-Allison is hunting caffeine