We lost another sister!

Something I think about each time I walk out my door. Am outside alone at night especially when I am in the cities, or meet the girls at a bar I don't know. But I have it easy, each time I have had the good fortune to listen and learn from the stories of my brothers and sisters of color I knew which of us was the stronger, braver person and it wasn't me.

And they say we are the ones trapping them. Then how we are the ones dying? Oh that's right we are trapped in a "man's world". Where the fuck is the eject button?

We are rapidly entering a period of human history, well at least western human history where if you are not one of me, then you do not belong and we should shove you to the gutter.

We, as transfolk, have our own burdens. But we are simply a small part of a much larger target. Not only was Muhlaysia Booker a transwoman, but she was also black. Even though Dallas, TX would like to think it is a cosmopolitan city, it is really just a hick town. It is like much (most) of Texas where you must show your manliness every moment.

Hi Miki and Carolyn.

How depressing.... but I don't believe it involves 'the West' per se, Miki. I believe that at this time, it is, as far as the West is concerned an American degeneration of parts of it's society, descending into becoming more prejudiced again. One does wonder for why?

Because although Australia is still largely a macho society, it is improving. Western and Northern Europe, along with other Anglo nations are changing for the better and things are moving along generally in the West.

It is also a factor that the young woman and the three others reported there, were IC3, for in IC3 communities, bigotry towards transgender women is much more prevalent. Very sad. I also feel very sorry for any transgender women living in Texas too, I did not know Texas was like that.

Celia xx

I say western civilization because generally (and we all know what that means) once we get past the Middle East and its Islamic influence, it has been my experience that Southern Asia and Asia is much more tolerant of gender differences. Not completely, but more so than in the West.

I remember before my ship arrived in the Philippine Islands we had to attend a cultural orientation. One of the things we were told to avoid was the 'Bini Boys', crossdressing males and transwomen sex workers. This segment of the PI society was readily acknowledged and mostly accepted.

Oh, I am getting my head around your geography, coz of course that is West for Americans. But here that is known as the Far East, which I have much respect for. Japan, China, Philippines, S. Korea et al are wonderful civilisations and Japan is surprisingly LGBT tolerant today, as is the Philippines and Thailand. South Korea to a lesser degree. However, there are nations in the Far East that are not at all tolerant.

'The West' to us, at least in the UK, is North and Western Europe, North America and Greenland. I think that is generally the idea of the West here.

Of course Australia, NZ and other nations, including the Far Eastern nations, Philippines etc. are generally considered to come under a generic umbrella of having Western ideals, but they are not thought of here as being part of the 'West'....

Celia xx

In my experience this is not a western thing. It's an unfortunate aspect of human psychology similar to how those abused as kids can become abusers themselves. Oppression in those groups without little in the way of guidance to healthier coping mechanisms and solid support networks results in a sort of dark paying forward of oppression and near need to have a sort of UR male armor against the world. Women, gay men, and transwomen especially can become lightning rods to it all. It's unfortunate because it takes energy from fighting the real oppression we all face.

Hi Carolyn,

I agree with that, oppression of people in any form is but one distraction to national and universal problems that are important, politicians exploit any distractions for just one example. Citizens feeding upon bigotry, which can be found often in the press with transgender people, showing that bigotry against us to be the norm, whether intentionally or not, is a case in point.

I believe Miki was talking of the west's case because of what occurred was in the USA, rather than saying it was a wholly western thing though. Celia xx