Solaire of Astora said:
Well, that might be a big part of why I asked the question. I was kinda busy not existing in the 80s. I'm also not particularly familiar with the LGBT movements or history of that period, though I'm rather interested in both as someone who enjoys his history.
Apologies for the ignorance. ;_;
Well ... the 80s really saw the essentialism argument come to the fore. By eople like Terfs, and Gay Liberation Front, and other organizations. The reason why a LOT of trans hatred come from G&L camps (and I mean a LOT) comes from the 70s and 80s. Particularly the massive and public fall out caused by the New York AGENDA bills.
The AGENDA bills, put forward by various members of modern day LGBTIQ membership was being heavily promoted. A WHOLE lot of things had emerged, and there was a whole lot of gender and sexuality movements rising up. Stonewall, leading into the initial stages of various international Mardi Gras, etc. All marginalized groups, within the West were rasing up, getting angry, etc. Hence the meme; "it's like being gay in the 80s." In a time when general disobedience against authority was at an all time high (C Wat I did Thar?). There's a reason why the Wall came down in the 80s and not the 70s. Unlike the Beatles era to the end of Vietnamization, nobody was pretending mass consumerism of stupid outfits was anything but bourgeois and everyone stop giving a shit.
Unfortunately ... during the 80s, being gay seemed like credentials to weigh in on any political discussion, and when the transgender anti-discrimination issue had come up ... we had gay dialogues and lobbyists for gay AND trans protections on the AGENDA bills. Amidst the protests and the civil disobedience, and mass mobilization of gay and trans people to try to push home Gay and Trans protections in New York State. Now, the HRC and New York legislation had a bit of a backroom deal. Both the HRC and New York State officials agreed on striking trans protections off the list of demands in secret, and they would approve the bills.
So they tried to secretly screw over transgender rights, and transgender medicare bills via terf politics of people like Dr. Janice Raymond, that was stirring up divisions in the camp at (all too coincidentally ...) the same time this was going down. By the time trans supporter had realised what the HRC had done, the Gay Liberation Front rallied as many gay people to their banner screaming at transgender protesters that;
"You're just confused men and women. You're just confused homosexuals ... and fuck you for not supporting us just because you got your undeserved rights stricken from the list of demands." (Well ... not those exact words, but making a long story short).
So trans people were stuck. They had been betrayed by both leading G&L camps at the protest, and they had been betrayed by the HRC. And both staying behind at the protest, or leaving, would have effectively just been viewed as silencing by either homosexuals, New York legislature, or by the HRC. And just before you think this is a minor spat ... just remember. Transgender people still haven't gotten most of the rights they were asking for back in the 80s. Transgender people can still be LEGALLY abused and mistreated in hospitals in what can be seen as little better than state sanctioned torture or murder of individuals.
To name just ONE grievance homosexual groups at the protest allowed through willing duplicity to continue.
WHich is why I kind of tell such people trying to lump us together with 'normal'/'abnormal' or anything like that; "Go fuck yourself" (Politely, that is). Because I reckon half of them at least know what it means when you don't create clear schisms between political aims of individual groups within a political discourse. Gay lobbyists shouldn't have power over transgender rights lobbying unless by willing allowance of the transgender body politic. Otherwise you'll get more 80s style HRC bullshit.
It's also why the HRC should stop pretending it should be seen as an authority on transgender rights. It's like if you allowed the KKK to talk about the concerns of various ethnic minority groups.
We've achieved far more through trans activism than we have through L&G affiliated groups. Similarly too with bisexuals... bisexuals get fucked over by L&G camps also. Usually by the same people that tout the; "Born this Way" essentialist message who then try to fuck over trans people with the same message. When will people learn that genetics is not the be all and end all? WHole lot of nature and nurture in there ... not just one thing.
Even scientists don't go in for hard determinism when in terms of the human creature. And yet the message seems lost to the essentialist crowd. But hey, when did science stop people from saying stupid shit?
(Edit) Oh ... and if you think this shit won't happen again? It did in 2001, 2004, and 2007 G/ENDA bills ... fuck L&G lobbyists pretending to speak for us (and secretly throwing us under the bus), and an especially large and vigorous 'fuck you' to the HRC ^_^