Reconciling my beliefs (trans, liberal etc)

[PicklingGherkins]

Hi, I've been hanging around the feminism boards for a while but have never posted here before. I've always considered myself a live and let live "lefty liberal". Lately, I've read a lot on here and then subsequently from other sources about the proposed gender recognition bill (along with other trans related matters) and I don't feel that this bill is right and agree with many of the points raised about the erosion of women's rights and the misappropriation of women's experiences. The trouble is for the first time in my adult life, I feel like my views are going against the tide. Everyone else seems to be much more welcoming of this bill as a positive step to ending discrimination and all of a sudden I feel like the non-PC, racist nanna who's views are old-fashioned and wrong.

We've recently recognised a transgender Remembrance Day at work and the thought of people being killed or committing suicide because of being trans is awful. Everyone is a person with a right to happiness. My issue is I can't reconcile this with my feelings about the erosion of women's rights because of the current view that if you identify as a women you are one and everyone else needs to get over it (or they're discriminatory etc).

To stand up and say to the world that I disagree with this bill feels like I'm making some giant "Not In My Day" NIMBY declaration and it would genuinely be looked down upon by my employer and I suspect some of my friends. But I really, genuinely believe that I (we?) are right on this. Plus I do have one real life ally.

I'm sorry for the long post but I guess my question is, am I the only one to feel almost conflicted like this? I genuinely want to accept, welcome etc but I don't want my rights or experiences to be taken by men. How do you reconcile this?

I'm concerned about the idea that being liberal etc must automatically align with certain views
I think it's a big factor in GRA as well
What happened to just looking at developments and forming an opinion based on fact?

"Everyone else seems to be much more welcoming of this bill as a positive step to ending discrimination"
I would say the important word in that sentence is SEEMS.

The translobby has (until recently) been very effective at shutting down any voices that were less than 100% enthusiatically behind them. So with critics silenced, and people like yourself reluctant to ask questions for fear of bringing trouble to your door, and lots of people unaware/unconcerned; the only voices you've heard have been those welcoming the bill.

This has two effects:

1. You haven't heard the other side of the argument (which you may or may not agree with, you won't know until you hear it)
2. You have felt isolated in your thoughts, and this has led you to worry that you are wrong, because no-one else seems(!) to be thinking your way.

That sense of isolation tends to make people self-censor, adding to the lack of anything-less-than-enthusiastic-allyship being heard. It's a vicious circle of silencing.

So I would start to reconcile this by considering that the seeming welcome might not be as wholehearted as you are assuming. Accept things at face value a little less. Ask yourself if there could be more than one reason for someone's behaviour.

ferntwist

That link was grim. Sobering reading.

Could be that more of those in other groups are murdered than are trans simply because there are far fewer trans than belong to other groups.

Please don't try and use statistics to prove your view as factual unless you also supply a rationale to support your argument.

Zombie thread Michaela....

If it was me, I'd say nothing about the trans day of remembrance, let them get on with the farce (and it is a farce. Trans people are not being killed because they are trans in the UK.)

But I'd ask for a women's day of remembrance. If they say no, I'd be wanting to know why. There's no way a trans day of remembrance is defensible if you wan't have a woman's day of remembrance.

And if they will let you have a woman's day of remembrance, then use it to raise awareness of male violence. And to celebrate people like Jean Hatchett, Karen Ingela Smith and others campaigning to raise funds and awareness.

TDOR is a global event to commemorate murdered trans in that context, it has no border constraints or considerations.

Nationalism is abhorrent and never more so than when used in a body count fashion. Murder is murder, try not to use it to your advantage.

Hi Michaela

The calculations allow for that. That's what a murder rate is. It's measured against the specific population. Which for trans people, is an inexact estimate.

Ereshkigal - Whose calculations? Please quote the reputable sources from which you developed your summary?

Mich. it’s been done in previous threads...use the search facility

Zombie thread. There is a current thread. Please put your comments there, Michaela.