and now, the moment you've all been waiting for:

[bearsir]

Call For Submissions
GENDER OUTLAWS: THE NEXT GENERATION
Kate Bornstein & S Bear Bergman, edsDeadline: 1 September 2009

Comments

[fall_of_sophia]

:( is the use of the word "trannies" really necessary/appropriate? the use of it has really gone over the edge in "radical" spheres to the point that cis queers think it's just fine to call us that.

[mresundance]

This is true.

[crashtestcase]

Exactly. Thank you.

[fall_of_sophia]

No, "queer" is not the analogous term, or it's only partially so. For me, it's closer to the N word--which is pretty much the only word that I call by the first letter, as I'm sure is true for many of the people reading this thread. Or to "crip" (sorry if I've caused any triggers). Somebody who thinks that bigotry is bad, and who's not black or is non-"disabled" wouldn't dream about throwing those terms around. And yet, it is an important word to use for some black people and some "disabled" people to use and to "reclaim."
Myself, I started out thinking that "t----y" was a cool word to reclaim--and then I transitioned (MTF). I think differently now. I don't think that nobody should say it, but I do think that those who do should be sensitive about it--that it can be a trigger in a way similar to those two examples. I hope that some people reading this thread will have a Richard Pryor moment.

[anacas]

I think "tranny" runs the offensiveness gamut depending on the community. The in-group/out-group distinction is important with all reclaimed terms including queer, so the reason I picked queer for an analogy was that there's been a concerted effort toward reclaiming it similar to the one I've seen with tranny. Fag might have been a better example, since it's also reclaimed by many but generally has a stronger distinction between group insider and non-insider usage.

One of my least favorite uses of "tranny" is non-trans queer people using it to denote an insider status they don't actually have, for example.

[sparkymonster]

So....I'm not bearsir or Kate Bornstein. But I have thoughts on this issue

[moondancerdrake]

I can totally see what you and anacas both mean about the word "queer" and the comparison. I also know the anthology I was part of with the word "queer" in the title has been more difficult as far as marketing because of many people in the LGBT community having “trigger” like reactions to the word queer. I think projects centered around topics like gender identity are so very important so I really want this project to do well. That was really my only reason for bringing up the use of the word “trannie” because of the negative reaction sales wise around the word “queer”. If it’s really not a reason for concern then my question is answered.

[sparkymonster]

I'm still flailing through my thoughts on this (and doing it in public, oy).

I really hope the project goes well too. I want to read all of the essays! And go to the book events and give copies to people as presents and stuff.

I do want to back away from my use of reclaiming above because I don't want to put words into the mouths of Kate Bornstein, bearsir, or people who chose to use the word tranny for themselves. I also think that I was falling into the trap of comparing my understanding of the history of people using "queer" to reasons one might use "tranny" too closely. The fact that I don't consider my self identification as queer to be an example of reclaiming should have been a subtle hint to myself.

So yeah. Stuff.

[arionhunter]

Which is a stance I understand. As a trans-spectrum person (and a fairly frequent Baby's First Trans Person), I will on occasion humorously use the word tranny for myself or others who I have established are comfortable with the term.

However, I would never use it around a trans person who was not comfortable with it, or an audience where I could not sense or did not know how the term would go over. As such, I personally find bearsir's immediate response of, "Would you like to write, for the person stepping on your foot, about how I'm stepping on your foot?" highly insensitive to the issue at hand. It smacks of the same tactics privileged people use to ignore and brush away discussions of their privilege in favor of the Other talking about how they're Othered.

That's not to say the topic shouldn't be talked about at all, but there are ways to approach it without totally ignoring someone's legitimate concerns.

[heathergalaxy]

I'm really trying not to be the cis person translating what trans women have already said to cis people, but considering I'm seeing overlap between the people I know in the feminist SF/F community and the online queer community I'm a part of, that's why I'm in particular stepping up here.

What is going on is that "tranny" is a slur directed at women who are trans. People who are not trans women shouldn't be trying to reclaim it because it's not theirs to reclaim.

The trans women who have spoken against it are doing so, not because it's a maybe contentious word like "queer" is. If it was other trans women who they were having this discussion with, that would be like using "queer."

While it is obvious that cis-gendered people should not use "tranny", this is also the case for anyone who happens to be trans and not a trans woman. Being called a tranny means "you suck at being a "real" woman!" hence why people are calling this out.

[moondancerdrake]

Sorry for the lateness in my response, things have been hectic. I cannot speak on the trigger of the word for other biracial folks, but for me the world “half breed” carries a whole lot of past baggage. For many biracial Native Americans the term half breed links back to a feeling of not belonging, of not being part of the Indian communities or of white society (or whatever the non Indian heritage is). The word is a reminder of growing up being told you were “not white enough” and “not Indian enough”. Sure, some people want to reclaim it and I don’t feel right saying they can’t, but I would be very upset if someone told be I must embrace the word as well.

[fall_of_sophia]

That's nice. Because for me, the word means:

You fail at being a WOMAN. You're obviously too large, tacky, and take up too much space. You look ridiculous and your only value in this world, if you're lucky enough to look like cisexual women, is as a pornographic projection of men's fantasies; men who will use you and discard you like the trash you are.

And I mean, what does it mean about Ann Coulter or other cis women when liberal misogynists call them "tranny?" Nothing applicable to trans male spectrum people, I can tell you that.

It's as much about misogyny and male dominance as it is about transphobia. It has the same power that being called a fucking slut whore does. And when people liken it to 'queer' and non-consensually reclaim it for all other trans people, it's about distinguishing themselves as more-radical-than-thou. God forbid any of us actually heal from words before we accept their oh-so-radikewl reclaimation

[fall_of_sophia]

First of all, no one cares about your credentials. And don't tell me you respect my perspective and experience, because what you, Bear, and the others are saying to me is "I hear you and I believe you when you articulate how this causes real concrete harm to you, but I don't really care at the end of the day, because saying 'tranny' is just so important politically."