August 24, 2007
A Bi-Transgender Fight
You know you've made it in San Francisco as a marginalized group when you start getting in fights with other marginalized groups -- so a local bisexual advocacy/social group is under fire for their policies excluding certain transgender persons.
Namely, the Chasing Amy Social Club (which you may remember from Gay Pride this year, complaining about the lack of bi visibility at the Pride Parade) has gotten called out by local literary doyenne and transgender activist Charlie Anders for refusing to allow her in the group, even though Anders is legally considered female and was an editor of the now-defunct bi zine Anything That Moves. Anders has been blogging about the topic for about a month now.
In response, Chasing Amy says it's true that they exclude transgender MTFs who have not had sex-change surgery (saying that there is a large amount of nudity or semi-nudity at their events), but that they exclude all types of people from membership, including:
women who smoke indoors, vegans offended by the presence of animal products, those with cat allergies, red wine drinkers, folks partaking of drugs during events, women under the age of 18, women seeking a singles hookup environment or sex club, and a variety of other things.
Chasing Amy's founder, Amy Larson, is upset that Anders has been blogging about this, and told the Bay Area Reporter that "I learned about what I considered two-faced behavior. I realized meeting with her was something I no longer felt inclined to do," and says that she is now thinking about retreating from public life as a result of all the recent negative attention she's gotten. Meanwhile, Larson other Chasing Amy members are now focusing on challenging a no-bisexuals policy at an over-40 lesbians group called "Ain't Dead Yet Kick-Azz Events (ADYKE)."
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Why does Amy exclude red wine drinkers?
Because red wine makes you grow a penis.
I wouldn't join any club that would exclude red wine drinkers. I also stand behind those with cat allergies.
There was a recent commotion re an all-male leather sex club in Chicago. They will not admit FTM trans,
even if they have a new and working luv thang.
The question is how the hell do they know what's an original one, or if it's an add on? DNA tests?
My favorite trans story is about a MTF who then decided she was a lesbian. Confusing even for me.
Off for a gallon jug of red Gallo. Bye.
Bottom surgery isn't as advanced as it should be - that's how you can tell.
Also, Male-to-Females are often lesbians. It's very common. I could speculate why, but I wouldn't want to generalize.
When I was a teenager I had a friend (girl) that used to peek into the windows of gay bars to watch men dance together. She wanted a sex change so that she could be a gay boy.
It all makes the world go round!!!!
"... thinking about retreating from public life..."
Yes, please. I can't believe how much public attention sexual deviants require.
Only in SF.
Again.
I really don't understand what's wrong with a social club for women that only admits women. If you have a penis, you're a dude.
As a bisexual woman myself, there's no end to the pervy dudes who find out you're bi and want to watch you get in on with you're gf.
The answer is no. And putting on a dress does not change the fact that you're a man. If you really want to be a chick, man-up and cut that shit off and then maybe we'll believe you. Figure out a way to get your period and you'll have my total respect.
I went to the Chasing Amy fund raiser at El Rio this last June in support for their Pride Float. After reading this article, I'm pissed I was ever there to support them.
If you want a social club that caters so specifically and with such discrimination, go for it, but don't play the queer card to get support - keep it in your no red wine, no meat smelling, cat free group.
Look, I'm siding with Amy. I feel that trans people have the right to be themselves, but I also have the right to say that I would feel very uncomfortable if a pre-op transwoman were in a club for bisexuals.
I'm just being honest: Some queer women love trans women and see no differences. Others, like me, are all "More power to you! Live your life!" but do not view trans women as being identical to women who were born women.
I'm not trying to be transphobic, just honest about my own feelings. In this instance it seems like perhaps the best thing is to have a bi/trans event where everyone's welcome. But really, the fuss about trans women not being invited to this club is being blown out of proportion. Start your own club! You can't expect the world to bend to you. On that note, I think the bi ladies should stop bitching about being excluded from the lez club.
Yep, only in SF.
Only in San Francisco? My, now we single out a city for being liberal, I wonder why? Is the thought of equality just too much or has it gone too far? Or is a dispute of any kind just too messy especially when it challenges one thinking and the nice safe world we all seek. Change with understanding could be what we all want in life, not being singled out for our differances.
So Amy starts her own club and does not have the right to include or exclude whoever the hell she pleases?! Where do you draw the line? Should the Mickey Mouse Club will be forced to open their doors to adult pedophiles? Will the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have to open up to BMW-driving yuppies wearing Polo?
So much for affirming diversity...the haters are unwittingly supporting Amy's stance on biphobia.
I'm shocked that this is even considered news. They're a private group, so why is anyone questioning what they can and cannot do, so long as it's not breaking the law? It always pains me that in the queer community, we attack our own, like a creature eating its own tail. After reading this group's website, it sounds like they aren't actively trying to hurt anyone. So why don't the Charlie Anders of the world put their sights on organizations that actively do harm to the lives of LGBT people, such as, say, the federal government, state governments, businesses that won't hire LGBT workers and landlords who won't rent to us? There are so many actual injustices happening in this world, why do we have to invent new ones? Or is it just easier to pick a fight with a local group that is privately run, because they don't have the money for lawyers to fight these types of smear campaigns? Seriously, I can't wait for the BAR to go back to publishing important stories, like where we're at with same-sex marriage legislation or who Fred Phelps is harrassing these days, rather than reporting on a local catfight!