So this weekend. Here in the city of Renton Washington. There was a summer time festival called. “ Renton River Days “ For those of you who do not know. Renton lies about 30 minutes outside Seattle. Not known for being a super progressive place. It’s better known for building Airplanes. Boeing 737, 737 MAX and the variations of these planes. Blue collar union jobs. So I was more then a little surprised to find out that there is a chapter of PFLAG in this here city. So I of course stopped by to say “ Hi “ . After talking to them for a minute or three. I noticed that there was a small book(let) entitled. ( it’s 61 pages long!)
“ Guide to being a trans ally “
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So I picked one up. After making a few comments about a similar book(let)
“ Guide to being a straight ally “ Whatever that means? And my wife letting on to my girl side. We talked about meeting and where they where at. We left taking with us this book(let)
So I had some time today to read through it. Honestly skimming as I didn’t need to read some of the stories that they used as examples of the different gender variations and the about sex vs. gender explanation. Got those down thank you very much. I did skip to the glossary of terms just to see what it said about Crossdressing or if it said anything at all about it. BOY did it ever. I was struck by what was written in the glossary of terms regarding us.
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It struck me in several ways.Cross Dresser: Someone who wears the clothes typically worn by another gender, sometimes only in their home, or as part of sexual play, and sometimes at public functions, it can be a self-identity. This term is not interchangeable with transgender and some people who cross dress may consider themselves to be part of the trans community, while others do not. (This is a newer word for the older and less preferred word “transvestite” that is sometimes used in this context).
I felt after reading the definition from them that I was not included in what they are about. Unless you put me under the header of Queer. and I am not interested in that.
I was struck by the wording that it made us out to be more interested in this being a sexual thing and thats all.
I was struck by the exclusion of us as part of the trans umbrella.
I felt that on the never ending issue of bathroom use. That this organization would not have my back. That even they consider me to be unworthy.
when I got done reading this I felt like less. Less of a member. Less of deserving an ally. Less important. A second class citizen if you will.
Now you maybe saying that it left it open ended about these issues. That we get to “ Self Identify “ Which I suppose is fair to say. But the writing did not strike me as that. It struck me as those people ( Us ) are not included and are less of a group. That we do this for sexual reasons. That we don’t go out. We are a bunch of shut-ins.
So when you read these words out of this book(let). How does it make you feel?