HRC debate Feb. 14, 2008

There was a debate in Charlotte Thursday evening, Feb 14, 2008:

"MEDIA ADVISORY:
Human Rights Campaign to Participate in GLBT Faith Debate
HRC Religion and Faith Director to speak on equality and acceptance
WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, will participate in a dialogue on the Bible, faith and the experience of GLBT Christians and their families. The debate, “A Christian Response to Homosexuality," will include Harry Knox, director of HRC’s Religion and Faith Program, and Dr. Michael Brown, director of the Coalition of Conscience. Knox will bring a message of hope to people of faith and their families by speaking about God's love for all of us in a setting traditionally hostile to GLBT people."


My friend, Roberta and I attended the debate. Actually, it was more a dialogue which was respectfully done and well organized.

The transgender community was not heavily discussed. When it was, it was mostly by Dr. Michael Brown of The Coalition for Conscience. He referred to Gender Identity Disorder, which was of no surprise. If the opportunity had arisen, I would have pointed out that many of us do not consider ourselves trapped, or suffering from a disorder. People have to admit to 'gender identity disorder' to meet the WPATH Standards of Care in order to qualify for hormone therapy and surgery. But I digress. You will note they do not directly allude to the transgender community in their media advisory.

Harry Knox, the HRC representative apologized at the end for not discussing his transgender brothers and sisters more than he did. I don't think they were expecting transgender people to even be there. I'm sure no minds were changed, but a round of applause was offered at the end to the fact these issues were discussed peacefully and respectfully.

Something did happen that took me by surprise. When I worked the NCTGUNITY booth at Pride Charlotte last August, I had the opportunity to dialogue with two ladies of differing opinions than most people there. I won't refer to them as protestors because they were too nice. That has a negative connotation which does not apply to them. The really cool thing, they were at the debate that evening and recognized me. They made their way over to say hi. We had a nice chat and hugged before they left. I gave them my card with the hope we can keep in touch. If they read this post, they know how much I respect them, and that respect is sincere.

I've often thought of the following points; education can take many forms. Most times, it's simply living our lives and being proud of ourselves. We can also make more headway by treating others like we wish to be treated. It's merely a case of keeping human dignity first and foremost in our minds.

Additionally, during Pride Day, most of the people inside the venue also did not fully understand transgender issues. The fact that even our own community doesn't quite get us is at the core of the ENDA controversy. More on that later.

Sometimes I think there are people traveling life's journey parallel to ours. We occasionally come into each others' lives for a reason. In the case of my meeting these two ladies, perhaps it was to show each of us that we have more commonalities than we do differences. We were all there for one reason, we are Christians.

One last observation, walking back to our car, I remarked to Roberta that when I was a kid, I picked up the newspaper one morning and read about a gender variant person who was arrested for wearing clothing of the opposite sex in public...... ..on the very spot we were standing. I understand we have a long ways to go, but we absolutely.. .... positively come a long way since those days. Some of us remember it very personally.


It's happened again. A transgender youth was killed for no other reason than who she is. Read about it here She is one more person to honor next November 20th on The Transgender Day of Remembrance. She is one more person who will be added to Gwen Smith's Remembering Our Dead.

So the madness continues. This story has gotten very little press compared to other crimes in recent days. The divisiveness within the community and personal agendas must take a back seat to the fact that another life will not reach it's full potential.