Maine Transgender Rights Up For Vote!

[eredien]

A new bill recently introduced in the Maine Legislature would repeal the protections that transgender people have already had for five years under the Maine Human Rights Act. Maine Rep. Ken Fredette (R, Newport) says

Comments

[fiddledragon]

Grar. Thanks for the link!

[eredien]

You are welcome, though I'm sorry the link isn't something awesome like the Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko.

[faerieboots]

Sad face. My state is moving backwards. Thank you for the link and I apologize on behalf of my state's legislature. :( :( :(

[eredien]

Well, I know you're personally doing what you can.

[emerald_scales]

I guess nobody pointed out to these people that some folks have biological parts belonging to both genders? Where are these people supposed to go? I can imagine how it must be when a hermy (of any ratio) walks into a public locker room to shower and everyone else leaves... pitiful. Some people need to be swatted.

[eredien]

Hi there, Digi. First, since you want to support intersexed people's rights, you should know that most such people prefer to use the term "intersexed" instead of "hermaphrodite," which is often considered a slur; "hermy" is definitely going to be read and understood as a slur. So, please make a note of it, and when we're talking about intersexed people here I'm going to ask you to use that term from now on. As you know, it's a sign of respect and care to call people by the names they like, and doesn't show respect to do otherwise.

Second, no, it doesn't seem like they're even aware of the issue at all. As stated above, it looks like this bill is basically aimed right at transgendered people who don't "pass."

[emerald_scales]

Sorry to have used the wrong term there. I wasn't aware that a new word had been introduced. When I was "rediscovering" myself years ago I had difficulty figuring out what it was I was supposed to be, so ultimately I decided I was Bi, seeing as it was a "best-fit" scenario. Not being physically intersexed but still feeling like I was multi-gendered somehow, and being attracted to persons regardless of what physical gender they were. You can understand how I was confused.

Ending up living with gays as roomies, they thought nothing of it when I called them "fag." They knew I didn't mean anything by it. Heck, I would flirt with them anyway. I often refer to myself as "half-fag."

[eredien]

Well, now you're aware, so you can use it. I can totally see why you'd go through a bunch of labels during a period of self-discovery; I've decided to label my own understanding of myself, which seems similar to what you describe above, as "genderqueer pansexuality" instead of "bi," but you should of course use whatever terms you have decided to use for yourself