California Conservative

AP reports: “A clash between police and patrons of an all-night diner here 40 years ago was once a forgotten footnote in history. For members of the transgender community, though, it was the start of their slow march toward widespread acceptance.”

And for special-interest liberal causes, the media continues its march towards hyperbole.

“Trans has become part of polite society,” said historian and transgender activist Susan Stryker, who spent years investigating the riot and making it into a documentary called “Screaming Queens.”

“You can’t be openly anti-trans the way you could before,” she said.

“Transgender” is an umbrella term that came into common usage a decade ago and covers cross-dressers, transsexuals and others whose outward appearance doesn’t match their gender at birth.

And the percentage of population to make this worthy of national news coverage remains insignificant. But this isn’t about news — it’s about the media promoting an agenda. To be clear: our position isn’t one of being “anti-transgender.” It’s purely a matter of disagreeing with the notion of establishing more “protected” classes of people. After all, in San Francisco, the rare conservative remains the only real “unprotected minority.” It’s life. We all must deal with it.

While not every city is ready to celebrate their contributions,
San Francisco — which in 2001 extended its health insurance to cover sex reassignment surgeries for municipal employees — is no longer alone in left field. Across the nation, one of America’s most maligned minority groups is quickly winning rights and recognition it began to demand only recently.

In the last two years, New Mexico, Illinois and California have updated their anti-discrimination laws to protect transgender home buyers and renters; colleges in Vermont and Iowa have dedicated “gender neutral” dorm rooms; and corporations have adopted policies for helping employees stay on the job during sex changes.

Don’t ask, don’t tell.

“But gender identity still raises thorny questions for gay activists. For example, should women who were born as men be admitted to lesbian events?”

Alas, these are among the unique challenges facing today homosexual activist. Wouldn’t it be easier just to live life, instead of marching and making noise?

Observing the range of lawyers, entertainers and openly transgender professionals who were on hand as the sidewalk plaque marking 1966’s Compton’s Cafeteria riot was installed, Stryker was struck by how much had changed in the last 40 years.

“Back then, you couldn’t be out as trans without huge costs,” she said. “To see all these people honoring a bunch of drag queens who rioted against the cops is amazing.”

Yes, indeed.

RELATED: Activism starts at an early age…
Out, In The Classroom: Homosexuality 101
The “Transgeneration”

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 29th, 2006 at 7:04 am and is filed under Activism, Culture, Law, Liberals, San Francisco, Special Interests. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.