If you want to get technical, the title of this blog series, “Stupid Things People Say About Gays” doesn’t fit well when discussing Trans-Issues.  Not because Trangender people aren’t part of the LGBT community (after all there is a T in there), but because most Transgender people don’t identify as gay.  Therefore, before we get too far into this horror story of gender discrimination and hate, I must admit to using the term “gay” as an all inclusive pass for my gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and allied friends – that includes our straight allies (isn’t it lovely being gay?).

As previously reported, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (“SEPTA”) sales a riding pass, referred to as a “transpass” to those wishing to avoid the use of tokens to ride the rail.  SEPTA issues the pass with a sticker, either “M” for male or “F” for female, in order to prevent people from sharing the pass with family or friends.  This is obviously a valid rationale for gender discrimination considering no females have female family members or friends and no men have male friends or family members – thus the SEPTA stickers have effectively prevented the sharing of the passes (do I need to note the sarcasm?).

The stickers have stirred up a bit of confusion, not only for enforcement officials, but passengers as well.  In 2007, Charlene Arcila purchased a transpass from SEPTA.  As a trans-identified female, her sticker was appropriately labeled with an “F.”  However, Charlene was denied use of her pass by one rail employee.  To prevent the future trouble, Charlene got a new pass, this time with an “M” label; however, she was again denied use of her pass.  There is also an unconfirmed report of a non-trans woman being denied use of the pass as, in SEPTA’s opinion, she did not appear to be a woman.   Since that time, the group Riders Against Gender Exclusion (RAGE) has formed to take on SEPTA and their gender stickers.

However, as often happens with the virtual anonymity of the internet, many stupid things are being said about transgender people.  Perhaps one of the most unaware authors wrote what lead me to the disclaimer of the all inclusive word, “gay” at the beginning of this post:

Transgender = Attention Starved Homosexual. – “Edith Bunker“

Gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same thing.  A biological male who identifies as a female is not necessarily attracted to men, nor is a biological female who identifies as male always attracted to women.  Sometimes transpersons are “homosexual” and sometimes they are “heterosexual,” just like everyone else.

Wait!  Did I just say transpeople are just like everyone else?  Perhaps I should have said that transpeople are as diverse as everyone else, unlike implied by this comment:

I say they let the weirdos have the “Trans”passes and they make a “NonTrans”pass for us normal people who still have our original parts. – “Amen“

I love when people consider themselves “normal” and everyone else “weirdos.”  It’s particularly enchanting when they attempt to combine offensive humor with there normalization technique. That’s when the lyrics of a song from one of my favorite movies, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, came to mind:

She’s the king, she’s the queen
All hail of the freaks, all the freaks on the scene
From the Bows of the Bowery to the bustle of Bombay
She’s the bearded lady of Avenue A
That’s the way God planned it
That’s the way

– Freaks.

As I’ve said on many occasions, and now seems as great a time to say it again as any, “Everyone’s a freak to someone.”  No one is safe from being labeled a freak or weirdo.  No one is “normal” to everyone.

NOTE: For more of the column, Stupid Things People Say About Gays, click here.

Related Posts:

1. Transgender Day of Remembrance and Ms. Lauryn Farris