Transphobia in Toronto: The Game of the Genderqueer Strawman

performativeandrogyny:

This is an open letter I’ve written in regards to the recent controversy at the University of Toronto surrounding Jordan Peterson and the use of gender-neutral pronouns. For those who are uninformed or potentially misinformed about these events, I highly encourage you to read this letter, and would appreciate it being circulated on social media.

This issue is severely impacting transgender, nonbinary and intersex people in Toronto and the media is not paying attention to our stories. Please do what you can to get this out. Thank you.

arnbivert:

Jordan Peterson Supporter Speaks at October 11 Rally

[Content warnings for extreme transphobia, transmisogyny, anti-feminism, ableism, pathologization]

An update on the ongoing situation in Toronto surrounding the transphobic professor at the University of Toronto and subsequent protest demonstrations [1, 2, 3, 4]. This is a speech that was given at what was called a “Freedom of Speech” rally, held in support of professor Jordan Peterson and as a counter-protest to the trans-inclusive teach-in that took place at the same venue the previous week.

Organizers in Toronto are asking for this video to be circulated to spread awareness of the vile and hateful rhetoric that transgender students are being subjected to at the University of Toronto.

The University of Toronto is planning to host a debate about the validity of transgender rights with Jordan Peterson on Saturday November 11th, to give further platform and validation to the man who has sparked so much hostility and hatred towards transgender staff and students at this institution.

Activists are calling for a boycott event, and we encourage transgender, nonbinary and intersex people and allies to take to social media to let people know that our rights and our humanity are #NotUpForDebate

You can also call the University of Toronto at 1-416-978-2011 to let them know your thoughts on the matter.

Ambiguous Bodies and Deviant Sexualities: Hermaphrodites, Homosexuality, and Surgery in the United States, 1850-1904

welkingender:

This article is the only one I’ve read so far out of the ones my partner got from the U of T medical library. It was completely eye-opening and explores the correlation between the medicalization/pathologization of homosexuality, bisexuality and gender variance and the rise of normalizing surgeries in intersex infants.

A very important and relatively short read that I heavily encourage intersex people as well as dyadic LGBT people to read.

CW: intersexism, homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, conversion therapy, surgery, forced sex assignment, medical/body talk

Transphobic U of T prof opposes the evolution of language so we made him write this op-ed in Middle English

bi-trans-alliance:

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has revealed plans to expand gender recognition laws

These plans include:

• The right to gender self-declaration (though those under 16 would need parental permission)
  
• The recognition of non-binary genders by 2021
  
• The choice to have ‘X’ on passports instead of ‘M’ or ‘F’
  
• Teaching children about LGBTQ+ acceptance from primary education onward

(source)

Why It's Important To Admit That Being Trans Can Be Funny - The Establishment

“When I meet up with my trans friends, what stands out is how much we laugh. It can be because of internet memes or jokes, but more often, it has to do with the practical realities of living life while trans. Writing your deed poll, a legal document that proves a change of name, on the back of an envelope (it’s legal no matter where you write it!) and then losing it when you want to show your bank … how tucking can go wrong … everything surrounding bathrooms …

This can all be funny.”

Lane's Top Surgery

welkingender:

My name is Lane Patriquin, I am a 22-year-old disabled nonbinary artist and activist living in Toronto.

I’ve been pursuing top surgery for 4 years, and have gone through the time-consuming process of being funded through OHIP. On May 20th, 2016 I was finally approved, and it was one of the happiest days of my life. I was all the more overjoyed when I learned that I had the option of going to a doctor in Mississauga.

I have been living with gender dysphoria for all of my self-aware life, which resulted in severe depression, self-harm and suicidality before I was able to realize my gender identity and come out at the age of 17. I also live with chronic pain which prevents me from being able to wear a binder, and so concealing my chest relies on hunching over most of the time. Maintaining such bad posture for so many years has exacerbated my pain, and prevented me from being able to commit myself to physiotherapy.

My physiotherapist has agreed that top surgery needs to be a medical priority for me for my overall physical health.

Dr. MacLean’s arrangement means that OHIP will pay him the standard rate for the surgery, and he will charge on top of that. The estimate I received was $2000.

With the travel expenses it would require, and the fact that I have been very disappointed with Dr. Brassard’s results for the type of surgery I plan to get, my family and I agreed that Montreal was not an option.

I chose to go through the OHIP route because I did not want to have to rely on crowd-funding or accepting money from others in order to fund my surgery, but it seems due to the nature of this arrangement and my current financial and health situation, that I will still wind up needing all the help I can get in affording this.

I am asking for $3000, to cover the estimated $2000 for my surgery, as well as travel, lodging and food while I have to stay in Mississauga. I consider this to be a conservative estimate, given that after all the expenses it may cost much more than that, but $3000 is what I’m comfortable setting as a goal.

I will be attempting to acquire some form of employment over the summer to contribute to this as well, but unfortunately due to my disabilities finding work I can do has always been difficult, I am not able to work very many hours when I do find work, and due to the nature of my schooling I will also have to be putting money towards my tuition and student loans at the same time. But I assure you I will also be contributing whatever funds I can towards this.

I have so much love and gratitude for the support I’ve received in my transition from my friends, family, and the trans, nonbinary and queer communities. Even if you can donate a dollar it would make a big difference towards helping me start living in the world as the person I know I am, and recover from chronic pain.

💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕

Hey guys! I feel weird posting about this on Life Outside The Binary since it’s kind of personal, but I’m in kind of a tight spot trying to afford my upcoming top surgery, so if you appreciate what I do here and have a dollar or two to spare I would really appreciate it! If not, reading and boosting also helps. thanks everyone <3

An Oregon Court Just Rules Nonbinary A Legal Gender

welkingender:

if you have people in your communities who make you feel unsafe or like you cannot criticize them, especially if they have risen to positions of assumed authority and leadership, question that.

people don’t make you feel uncomfortable for no reason. talk to other people in your community about them. you will likely find other people who feel the same. you may find the reason why you feel that way.

question people’s actions in an individual context. be critical of anyone who values ideological purity over kindness. be critical of how people use their identities to assume intellectual authority or silence others.

be critical of people who wield academia and intellectualism to gain power within our spaces. just because someone speaks eloquently or uses big words does not mean what they say is right.

abusers exist in every space. they exist within safe spaces. they exist within radical spaces. they exist within friend groups. they assume the language and behaviour of any group they are in and use it to their advantage. they will make you feel ignorant, they will make you feel like youre being oppressive if you question unsafe behaviour, they will make you feel “less radical” or less deserving of space. they will make you feel like your feelings and opinions and autonomy is unimportant.

be wary of this. please. i have started seeing this too much within trans/social justice/radical spaces.

if someone is making you feel uncomfortable, no matter who they are, even if you feel like you “dont have a good enough reason” to feel that way - talk to someone about it.

6 memoirs by LGBT Indigenous people

sofriel:

• Thunder Through My Veins, by Gregory Scofield (Metis)
  
• Bad Indians, by Deborah A. Miranda (Esselen/Chumash)
• Trauma Queen, by Lovemme Corazon (Mexican-American/Athabaskan)
• A Two-Spirit Journey, by Ma-Nee Chacaby (Ojibwe/Cree)
• Redefining Realness, by Janet Mock (African-American/Hawaiian)
• Maori Boy, by Witi Ihimaera (Maori)