So as many know already I am TS
What does that mean?
TS- transsexual- is a type of transgendered person. Like a subset of a larger group. If you say Human as the larger group one subset would be woman, a further subset would be transsexual woman, further subset might be Caucasian transsexual woman.
OK so that is one way of looking at me, right?
But there are others as well - Bisexual - Engineering Technician - and so on.
Lets talk about being a Engineering Technician for a bit. I work in the construction industry, and I am sure that were I to come out as trans one of two things would happen.
Case A: I come out and then I am harassed into leaving. this is actually the better of the two cases. Hopefully I would find gainful employment elsewhere. I t would also help to have a war chest to pay for other needs during the time between jobs.
Case B: I come out and then am killed for being trans. I know a stretch , right? Still it is the construction industry and accidents do happen.
So here am I , hanging on with both hands, praying for some way to be shown to me that I haven't seen. I don't say this to garner sympathy, but in order to enlighten.
Because there are a lot of trans women(& men too), who are smart, beautiful( handsome), and talented that cant find jobs that match their training. Who end up in the slum areas. who end up prostituting and being killed or getting some hideous disease and, because they have no choice, passing it on.
So we come to ENDA (Employment Non Discrimination Act.) ENDA is not the be all end all of this situation, but it would sure help. Although it might be noted that Diane Schroer won her case without ENDA. I believe that ENDA could allow for some transsexuals to keep their jobs. Which would help not only them, but also allow them to contribute to society to their full potential. Instead of being a drag on the economy. Or being forced into illegal and dangerous situations.
In some ways the current social and legal situation is a bludgeon being used to rape and kill my sisters and brothers.
Employment is key, and its not that we are untrained or incompetent, it is prejudice and hatred.
In some ways I find it really frustrating. We all need rights, its only basic human rights that we are asking for , nothing "special" about it.
These things are what I think about, why I am where I am. I do not feel like I am safe in my current position, at least not safe enough to transition.
1 comment:
It's funny how people can change their opinions about someone once they find out one thing about them that doesn't meet their criteria of "ok" or "acceptable". They are still the same person...I could see if they said "Oh by the way I put baby's heads on pointed sticks as a hobby or I ate the neighbors for supper the other night"....I might be hesitant then...but otherwise I don't understand going from friendly to hateful like so many can do. I detest seafood but I don't dislike anyone who does like it or heaven forbid...a fisherman. I know that's a drastic difference in examples but to me they equal in how I feel about people. I might be taken aback learning something about someone that I didn't expect but in no way would I want to hurt anyone for being different.
I can only imagine what you go thru marie and the fears you have just trying to find yourself. It's not fair and I wish there was some easy solution. It makes me cry to think that you and so many others do deal with this on a daily basis. You are one of the nicest people I have ever met and it baffles me that anyone would want to do you harm, especially not even knowing you...but then there are people that are only happy when they are hurting others, no matter what.
Ok, I'm done rambling and not making sense.
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