From: Gwendolyn Ann Smith Newsgroups: alt.support.srs,soc.support.transgendered Subject: My MWMF statement about the MWMF statements Message-ID: <200820001552025358%gwen@gwensmith.comatose> Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2000 22:51:14 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 24.12.36.29 Ya'll, I just have a couple things that I feel I have to say, not only as one of the original signatories to what is now referred to as the "Lawrence statement," but also as a transgendered woman. First off, yes, there may be some issues with the class or race language in the original statement. The language is vague, at the very least. Do I think it was the *intent* of the signatories to be classist or racist? No, and certainly not with me. I signed the original for one reason. After hearing some of the tales that came out of Michigan last year, I felt that the "camp trans" folks had clearly gone too far, reaching into territory that would only cause us more harm, and cause us to lose some of the hard-won support we did have up there. I've since read the statement in response to the original statement, which I also feel is a concise and well-written piece, and does a good job of pointing out some possible flaws in the original note. There is one place I feel there may be a flaw with the new statement, however. I sincerely doubt that the "competing purpose" that is spoken of in the first note is merely seeking the inclusion of transwomyn for whom reassignment surgery is beyond reach. I feel it is more when when this becomes a sole motivating factor: when hijinks are pulled simply to disrupt the event in order to push for such inclusion. And let us not forget that it is the rule of the MWMF that no transpeople are truly welcome on the land. It doesn't matter who you are, or why you are there, or what justification you have for being there. There policy is clear as handed out to attendees this year: if you are trans -- be it pre-op, post-op, or whatever -- you are not wanted. They just won't challenge you. Is that good? No, It's not the best option. But pulling some of the pranks that have been done up there the last couple of years is not going to improve the situation. I consider the MWMF's handout at the event, clarifying their "womyn- born-womyn" policy, to be a third statement in this mix. Of the three statements, this is the one to rail against. A statement that, on one hand, speaks of how the MWMF does "not want to see transphobia fostered here or anywhere," yet says it in a statement about excluding transwomen based heavily on transphobia. But there are two things that I feel are more important that any of these statements. 1. This "battle of statements" points out, very clearly, that there are still divides on our community, on both side of things. There are still issues with individuals on all sides of transness who are at odds with their kin. As such, it seems to me that we best work on these issues first, before we worry about just who is welcome in a music festival in Michigan. We need to get over all our prejudices. Not all pre-ops are "men in dresses who are trying to subvert the women's movement." Nor all all post-ops "radical assimilists who got theirs, and want to deny it to others." Some may fit those, but stereotyping either way will not serve to further us. 2. There are, quite frankly, better things we can do with our time and evergy. A festival in Michigan may need to be watched, and encouraged to change, but all the time that has been spent drafting statements and counterstatements (and yes, I'll admit my own guilt in writing this!) could be used to strengthen our community elsewhere. * It could be used to try to foster understanding amongst the various portions of our community, and of those communities who we can ally with. * It could be used to help create and foster laws to protect us, both locally and nationally. * It could be used to create wonderous projects that help show the world what we are about, that can help form new alliances, and strengthen new friendships. * It could be used working on the republicrat candidates currently running for office, in order to see what they can do for us -- if anything. * It could be used to help strengthen each of us, ourselves, to get over any demons we face, and strengthen who we are inside. One could even channel all this useful energy into creating their own truly inclusive music festival off in the wilds of Michigan. One that improves on that one that has been called MWMF for so long. Who knows? Maybe such an event could eclipse the MWMF, and make the need for protests and statements a part of our past. Consider the possibilites that we have in life, and consider if our actions over the MWMF are better our lives as individuals, as as a community. If not, there are plenty of other things we can do instead. Cheers, Gwen Smith -- . . /\\//\ Gwendolyn Ann Smith * Community Host, Trans Gazebo > () < Board Member, GEA * Webmistress, TransBay \/()\/ Webmistress, SCCatl * Webmistress, Gender.org "I want this to be a harmony of voices" - Lauren D. Wilson **Posts may not reflect the views of the above organizations