I have no doubts that a lot of “straight” guys support transgender rights, even if they would never date a trans person. They’re just good guys who support equality for trans people — and, no doubt, equality for everyone else, too. But you don’t often hear about “straight” men coming forward and speaking up in support of trans people.
Well, one has done just that, in response to the British Affair. Among the things Dan Solomon points out in a column on The Frisky site called Guy Talk: Why a Straight Man Like Me Cares About Transgender Rights:
Trans people, (last) weekend, were reminded by a major, supposedly-progressive newspaper that a lot of people in the world saw them as undeserving of basic dignity as human beings, in no uncertain terms.”
Yes, we were reminded of that by more than one mainstream news organization — others republished the offensive article — in more than one country.
Dan explains why it is all wrong, from his “straight” guy’s perspective.
I wish more “straight” guys had the guts to speak up in support of trans people.
On a personal note: You gotta know that the behaviour of some media outlets in all of this — i.e. those who republished the offensive article — hurts me big time, especially since I work for the mainstream media. Although I am a woman and am recognized as a female by my beloved Quebec and by Canada, I am crying inside for trans people — because I am one of them, too, having transitioned. Any thoughts of going into stealth mode are gone now: I stand in solidarity with all trans people around the world.
Jillian
