« Catching Up on the News | Main | Network Update: Big Beautiful Heaven »

GaydarGirls is Anti-Trans
Posted by Meredith on Nov 20, 2005 at 04:15PM in Sex - permalink

As if Michigan's rules against transwomen weren't bad enough, now GaydarGirls.com has made a fool of itself by banning a paid member because she hasn't completed her SRS. Here's what I sent them:

Hello,

I wanted to express my dismay at the recent administrative choice made by GaydarGirls.com to remove a longstanding member of the community based on the fact that she is transgendered. To be honest, I am appalled at your willingness to practice discrimination against a member of a group marginalized by society - so much for minorities supporting each other. I'll explain that a little better with the following example:

I was recently hired by RSVP Vacations as an interpreter for one of their cruises. On day two of the trip, the RSVP employee who had hired me (along with another lesbian and a gay man) pulled the three of us aside and said he was terribly sorry but he had to ask the two female interpreters if we really were lesbians. It seems there was some complaint among the passengers because we looked like we might be straight. The other interpreter was able to establish herself as a dyke, but apparently rumors continued about me for the entire week. Finally, on the next-to-last night, I was confronted directly by a passenger who demanded to know if I was lesbian. When I said yes, he demanded to know if I had a girlfriend. When I said yes and that we'd been together for seven years, he demanded to know if I had a picture of her! I was so incensed by this treatment that I went to the ship's Internet cafe and printed out a picture of my partner and myself with a well-known gay celebrity. That was apparently good enough for this individual, but I later heard that the male interpreter had been asked repeatedly if I was straight...because I am femme and have long hair.

The idea that a group of gay men (RSVP cruises are about 90% male) can discriminate against a lesbian is shocking, I'm sure you'll agree. And so it is equally astonishing that a group of lesbians can discriminate against a transgender woman. Whether or not she is lesbian (that is, sleeps with women) is irrelevant - you were attacking her based on her sexual characteristics and NOT her sexual orientation. Telling a transwoman that she should join a site intended for gay men is ridiculous, and I condemn you for such practices.

Sincerely,
(me)

Horrifying, isn't it? I encourage readers to get in touch with them about this; if you are a member of the site then please consider withdrawing your participation.