Do you support Transgender rights?

[Ann Thomas]

I've not had time to read the thread, only the initial post. So, my post is only in answer to that.

Yes, I actively support Transgender rights.

I avoid doing business with companies that are openly LGBT phobic. Even if they have issued apologies after being outed, I tend to stay away from them.

I stay away from the state of Arizona (it's the state right next to mine), and that includes taking aircraft flights that might layover or change planes in that state. I do that since they as a state are too anti-LGBT in their parade of bills in recent history.

I write letters to people who support LGBT causes, encouraging them.

I have been writing letters recently to those opposing LGBT rights in any way. When I do, I include as much science as is reasonable, while trying not to bash their religion if possible. However I do make it clear that my creator made me this way - and that's pretty easily proven as both my dad was trans and my son is trans, and we hid it from each other most of our lives.

I support same sex marriage, as that ultimately can affect many of us that are born one gender, and change that to validate our feelings. We may be attracted to what then becomes the same gender as we have become, so therefore in the eyes of the law, it's a same sex marriage. We do not need to have our rights violated: to reduced income taxes; both parents listed on a child's birth certificate; both spouses having parental rights; and being able to accompany our spouses into the emergency room at the hospital. I enjoyed those rights as a married man when young, and those rights should not be abridged just because I have to change gender later in life.

I work at a blue collar union job, so I'm surrounded by people of all political backgrounds, and they are vocal. What I've had to do is reason with them and show them LGBT people are not evil, nor do I have an agenda that would deprive them of their rights. I've had to show some of them on a daily basis that what they hear on right wing radio and tv broadcasts is not always true. I try to show them that what anyone hears on any radio or tv show is advertising dollar driven, so people will say whatever it takes to get viewers or listeners. (My dad was on the editorial board of a major daily newspaper back in the 1960's and explained to me in detail how media works. He was also a closet CD.)

I've worked with our union president (we're part of AFL-CIO) on including transgender rights protecting verbiage in our union contracts here in Southern California. We are one of the first unions nationwide to have done so. Currently I'm the only transgender member in our local union, so it's been both an honor and a challenge to be involved at the beginning like this.

I also try to keep in touch with certain US Senators I have gotten to know over the years, and dialog with them regarding this and other issues.

So, yes, I'm active and try to do my best as an individual to do all I can behind the scenes to help us all out.

Tally ho!

Ann