Transphobia in the West - a timeline and overview by Cebastian Gomez

What is Transgender?

chegomez05 — 2024-06-28 23:24:07 UTC

By Oxford English Dictionary' definition - "Designating a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond to that person's sex at birth, or which does not otherwise conform to conventional notions of sex and gender."

Breaking the word down etymologically, trans is "across, beyond, through, on the other side of; go beyond" (etymology online). Gender is characterized by Jespersen' "Philosophy of Grammar" as "whether the division be based on the natural division into two sexes, or on that between animate and inanimate, or on something else."

Origins of Two Spirit Identities.

chegomez05 — 2024-06-28 23:24:45 UTC

Across the globe, transgender identities have been ever present through history. In North America notably, the concept of "Two-Spirit" was proposed by Elder Myra Laramee in 1990: An umbrella term that connects euro-centric and indigenous understanding of a person that displays both/neither/or the transition of feminine and masculine traits. Each nation expressed their own "two-spirit" through differing characteristics, however the message remained ubiquitous: All life is sacred, including that of the Two Spirit. Many native communities viewed Two-Spirit as inherently spiritual and gifted, caretakers/medicinal, and leaders of the sanctity of the tribe. Both sexes could be defined as two spirit across all nations - Describing some of the earliest notions of the dissimilation from the common gender binary.

Origins Pt.2

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 01:01:02 UTC

With the arrival of settlers across the United States, the introduction of residential schooling, the genocide of the First Nations, and the assimilation into Eurocentric beliefs and religion marginalized all natives and greatly impacted the Two-Spirit. Wherein the native belief lied in harnessing the power of the Two-Spirit, Eurocentric and Christian beliefs were extremely heteronormative, and worked to perpetuate the Stigma surrounding Trans people while upholding the patriarchal standards of their lives. Native's symbolic comparison of balancing two spirits provides insight at how highly they regarded both genders, understanding the gravity of carrying in one person, two lived experiences. There was no formidable sexual socialization in the two-spirit identity that is often found in trans-conversation today, instead it represented the harmonic balance of a person in the society. As a result, the sociological imagination was one that was innate in the Two-Spirit.

Origins Pt.3

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 01:39:36 UTC

The Two-Spirit serves as one of the earliest depictions of a groups of people revolting against the rigid standards of gender-norms instilled post-colonialism. the introduction of a universal term, and the reclaiming of the sacred nature of two Spirit people. Their nuanced understanding of Gender, as well as the rich tapestry of history surrounding Two-Spirit allows for activists now to break away from post-colonial ways of thinking and help to resocialize what it means to embody & become both the masculine and feminine dichotomy.

Origins of Transgender - Postindustrial

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 01:54:46 UTC

Entering the 1900's, the mobilization of information across the nation introduced readers to the stories of countless gender-bending people. How they chose to identify themselves varied, with prominent historical figures such as Charles Winslow Hall being outed post-humously (meaning for 10+ years Charles was stealth), and Christing Jorgenson fascinating readers. Articles titled "Not a New Woman Freak: Many Women Have Masqueraded in Garb of Men", and "female impersonators" terrorizing the traditional American values. While there was already a pervasive homophobia problem within American society, based on "Transgender Us. History 1528-2020", it seems as though publications studying the origins and rational for this behavior began to publicly demonize and create the stigma surrounding LGBTQ+, by using language such as: Sexual Perversion, Sexual Inversion, Viragint, and Hermaphrodite. By drawing comparisons between these "sexual vagrants" to the two-spirit/flagrant gender non-conformity found in the First Nations, the mass media and scholars alike were able to demonize the practice as primitive, and degenerative.

Postindustrial Pt.2

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 02:42:21 UTC

At the same time, women were denied economic freedom, men were often sent to war, and generally revolting against heteronormativity meant you could seek federal punishment and humiliation - so why did it still occur? The same reason it does today. While some scholars speculated that women may choose to adorn male garments (and vice versa) out of relative depravity (acting insubordinate in a patriarchal society), or at the result of trauma in youth, it's clear that prior trans figures were extremely aware of the power of perception. The projection of a new being is an act of socially-transitioning; it may take years for a person to develop the strength, or knowledge of how to present their new identity in a way as to protect themselves. In this time, trans people would have to live their lives following the rigorous standards of our patriarchal society, being misgendered and denying themselves access to freedom of gender until permissible. In history, the structure of society was dependent on the normalcy of gendered roles, and by breaching societies norms a trans-person inherently endangered themselves. As a result, they likely built a strong guard against societies pressures to conform or chose to live their lives as trans people in stealth (a transgender term, used to describe a person living as their identified gender in secret.)

CW: Slurs

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 03:46:58 UTC

Entering the late 19th century & early 20th century, the publication of libel in reference to the trans-identity hindered any sort of development and stratified the group from participating legally, economically, or socially. In 1848 Ohio, it was ordained as an act of immorality and illegal to crossdress. In the years that follow, over 40 other states adopted similar bills. As a result, trans people were often sequestered to positions that were deemed immoral/degenerative (sex work, drag, war {the act of deceiving the army in the case of trans-masculine identities}, or a life of vagrancy) or mocked within media portrayal with terms such as: Dyke, Fairie, & Impersonator amongst many other vile terms that were often kept out of media publications. The manner in which trans people were described was inherently vile, shifting their status to low rank. With such a poor media portrayal, Trans people faced discrimination unlike any other.

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 03:47:01 UTC

Trans-Liberation goes as far as the late 18th century, with the Cercle Hermaphroditos, hoping to "unite in defense against the worlds bitter persecution". Being named as one of the first trans-oriented support groups, the Cercle Hermaphroditos garnered attention for providing a space where trans-femme people could gather to discuss issues surrounding their lives, as well as provide escorting services to gentlemen. As a result, the police were quick to raid Paresis Hall on nights of meetings - unaware that the clientele drawn in by the trans-crowd oft resembled that which was visiting for the cis-gendered escorts at "the hall". (outhistory) Sex work has been associated with trans people since colonialism, however it was the industrial revolution that capitalized on the stratification and desperation of a community stripped of any human right, and truly ingrained sex work as a pillar of detriment in the trans community. No person should be forced into sex work, however the stigma surrounding trans people (like any other stigma surrounding a group in history) only encouraged for more discreet measures to be taken, in order for trans people to be taken advantage of. Deeming cross-dressing illegal, yet allowing for sex-work to fester enforced the notion that the state controlled what occurred in people's bedroom, at the cost of capital

CW: slurs

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 06:50:25 UTC

Louis E. Jackson coined the term Faggot in his Publication: "A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang, With Some Examples of Common Usage." In it, Jackson describes "All the Fagots (sissies) will be dressed in drag at the ball tonight." being one of the first written accounts of the word. I note this, as the location is vital: found in a book detailing criminal lingo. Drag was at the time illegal, and thus the LGBTQ+ Community could be penalized for such and were displaced as lawbreakers. Drag has a rich history in theater, and the general understanding of drag at the time only conceptualized it as Men adorning Women's clothing. As a result, drag was symbolic for a man's subversion of gender norms, never once imagining that the Drag queens attending may have been trans. Drag may have also allowed these people to adorn their garments for the night, as a means to protect themselves. Being visibly trans at the time was obviously prosecutable, however the Drag balls provided a safe space for someone to dress up if but for one night.

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 08:03:16 UTC

Jumping forth to the late 1960s, homophobia and transphobia ran rampant in the United States. In New York specifically, LGBTQ youth were often tossed to the streets due to varied reasoning, not limited to the criminal association to the LGBTQ community, as well as religious/cultural beliefs that deemed the behavior inappropriate. As a result, the youth sought protection in the public parks in primary groups, closely bonded by their shared experiences of being estranged from society and their family. In "Stonewall Forever", Elder queers share their experiences of facing extreme discrimination at the hands of the police. For years, the LGBT community faced this discrimination biting their tongue, understanding that retaliation could be met with greater force. Stonewall was no different than any other gay bar, what marks the occasion as special is the intent and collective conscious that defined the riots of Stonewall. The people at the forefront where those whose identity were compromised at the hands of the police most oft. While there were plentiful white middle class gay and lesbian folx who fought the good fight, these people characteristically sought to liberate just the "gay" aspect of life, not to embolden society to change for all folk.

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 08:53:22 UTC

While the riots at stonewall are pinnacle in understanding the history of the LGBTQ community's liberation, it's without question that the audience/communities perception of what was to occur became skewed. Sylvia Rivera was a prolific activist for Gay liberation, Sylvia Rivera also was a latina, who faced discrepancies not just for her gender but race. Marsha P. Johnson is another highly regarded leader of the stonewall riots, a black trans-woman who also faced racial inequalities, and spoke out against them in the same breath as calling for gay liberation. There seemed to be an understanding amongst the trans-poc, that the fight wasn't just to stop the policing of what occurs in bedrooms, but also to unite the people against all vitriol and hate. The white community's interpretation of why stonewall was to occur at that time is more similar in nature to the beliefs of Max Weber - detailing how the imbalance of power was causing inequalities for the LGBTQ community, and thus their fight was to co-exist, whereas the BIPOC that were facing discrepancies for their gender also faced them for their race or ethnicity, thus citing Sylvia Rivera's cause for "Revolution Now!" Their beliefs were more in tune with that of James Davies, insisting on the restructure of society as a whole (especially the heavily industrialized New York that provided much relative depravity).

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 09:10:05 UTC

The stonewall riots were successful in their ability to remove the control of the government from their bodies, however they still did not address the vehement racism that affected majority of the LGBT community in NY at the time. As a result, white queers were allowed to feel liberated, whereas trans POC often received the brut end of the stick. One particular instance that sparks in my mind, is pictured in "Paris Is Burning" Set in the 1980s, Paris is Burning paints a vivid and beautiful description of the colorful lives of the flagrant who ran amuck in New York. The cast is diverse, and rich in individual experiences of racism, homophobia, classism, ableism, and so forth, showing how the intersectional life of a POC queer person allows for them to feel more emboldened to seek community. There are plenty moments that shed light on the egregious discrimination against ALL LGBT people, however in my experience the stories of the Black and Brown bodies serve as a stronger martyr.

(Paris is Burning is a film I believe every queer person should watch!)

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 09:18:30 UTC

In "The Future Of Trans", the idea of a trans future seems so possible. Following the lives of countless actors, leaders, and the personal experience of the author, the idea that a world where trans people are free to live as themselves without the label of "trans" is what appeals to many. But what does it mean to live freely as a trans person? Visibility of trans people allows for the development of a culture that normalizes them, however without the dismantling of the inequitable systems that are put in place to defer trans people from receiving equitable care, no progress is to be made. How trans people were displayed in the media often mimed the legislation and general diaspora surrounding them, however our society now has polarized so deeply that it seems that most people are either vehemently anti or pro trans.

CW: Slurs

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 09:33:26 UTC

The 90's & 80s were a dark place for the LGBT community, with HIV/AIDS striking deep and cutting the lives of countless brethren short. There was also new legislation being put into place at the same time that even further ostracized the trans community, both socially and economically. At such a time of devastation, the media also began to portay trans people in a not-so-positive light. I use that term lightly, as within the 90's the term Tranny began being strung into media left and right, and the portrayal of trans people villainized their behavior further. Soapdish, Friends, and countless other shows & movies made mockery of trans identities, which in turn allowed for the general public to replicate these behaviors. One could argue that political correctness has tainted the rationale for why this edifying humor was used, however observing the historical context reveals that the transphobia against trans-femmes may be in part due to the growing misogynistic values instilled by the media.

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 10:12:53 UTC

The early 2000's proved no different, Sex & the City, The 40-Year-old Virgin, and many other stories all had a storyline involving a trans person (typically a trans-woman) who had been framed in a negative light for their transness. Both passable and clockable (easily recognized for being trans) trans women were at risk of being mocked on television, with the former being depicted as deceitful and the latter often as outright disgusting. The lasting implications of this shows in the language used to describe trans people now - Groomer, Pervert, Imposter are just a few I've heard and read at the hands of conservatives looking to dismantle the (already shaky) foundation of gay liberation and trans-freedom.

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 10:44:02 UTC

The Transgender community has grown tenfold in recent years, in part due to the mass migration of information into the digital age. In the past, Trans stories were only told by non-trans people, allowing for an overall pejorative narrative to often be told. The internet has allowed for individuals to share their stories, rather than being commodified as a community to the stories of the few lucky (or unlucky) enough to garner national attention. Trans actors are constantly emerging, however it's important to note that (in my opinion) the focus on trans issues is limited to trans-femme presenting identities most oft.

chegomez05 — 2024-06-29 10:47:42 UTC

In Trump's era of overt racism, there also coincided an era of overt homophobia. Trump's administration sought to dismantle the work done by the Obama administration, as well as generally rollback the legal barriers that protected trans people wellness and access to resources. The Republican party hath played a large part in the emerging countermovement based in religion and delusion, that trans people are inherently groomers/child predators. This stems from their fear of Drag, and its interactions with children, as well as the merging of the church & state.