If you're curious there's a link to the video on nbc's site here.
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/McDonalds-Beating-Caught-On-Tape-120538054.html
It's incidents like this that make me afraid of the bathroom. I find it really sad that people are trying to put laws into place that will protect the trans community from legally sanctioned discrimination, and you get responses to it like "This law will allow sexual predators to legally enter the womens restroom" ugh really?
I got off on a tangent there! What I wanted to say about that incident was that it doesn't matter if the woman was trans or not, those employees just stood by and watched it all happen all the while filming it on their cellphones. I did not watch the entire video, it was far too disturbing to me, but I read that the manager did in fact call the police. Good for the manager, shame on the group of spectators.
The girls who beat up the poor woman have been charged with assault and may also face hate crime charges.
The other thing that has been circulating on twitter was an add in J.Crew that featured a mom painting her sons toenails pink.
http://maryconcannon.wordpress.com/2011/04/23/j-crew-director-under-fire-for-controversial-ad/
What's bothering me is the total lack of awareness that is causing fear and hatred in both of these cases.
In the case of the beating people were leaving comments like "That's a WOMAN, NOT A TRANSGENDER I READ THE ARTICLE GET UR FACTS STR8 blarglarg!"
Well the woman in question happened to be transgendered. Yes, we are women. We may have some physical differences to cisgender women but our actions, attitudes and desires are quite often the same.
So what's the problem? Why are people afraid? I am afraid of the bathroom. Both of them. People are afraid of me using theirs.. people are afraid that the woman who painted her toenails pink will turn her son into a transgendered person. It used to make me feel like some kind of monster. A theme lady gaga plays upon by taking on the role of mother monster. I like how she defuses that feeling. Way to go!!
But that's just glossing over the feelings of being different. Those feelings are misguided in the first place. We really aren't so different. I have a female friend who's far more interested in motorcycles and airplanes than any other girl I've heard of. She does not identify as transgender, but is certainly different.
The only way to clear up misunderstandings that I know of is to talk to people. So if you're reading this I encourage you all to go out and make a friend. Find someone who's trans if you're not, or if you are trans, find a non trans and make a new friend! Don't bring up trans as an issue! Just be friends. Show everyone that we are normal people too.. not scary monsters.
Share the love people!!
