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by Toni Pizanie
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

One More Time

This weekend will mark the 6th annual New Orleans HRC Black Tie Dinner. Many of us who have attended for years will be finding other events to attend, other places to spend our $125.00. Although we applaud Louise McFarland and Jack Sullivan for being this year's awards recipients, we also applaud Stewart Butler, Jim Kellogg, Charlene Schneider and Skip Ward, past awards recipients who feel a need to boycott this year's dinner due to non-inclusion of Bisexuals and Transgenders in the HRC Mission Statement.

I really did not intend to write about the boycott again until I opened the Ambush mail box and found two opposing views on the subject. The first was a shocking letter from a professional man who does not seem to realize the importance of the issue. In fact, he does not seem to understand the issue itself. The second was a letter/article written by Crystal Little as president of the GGA to her bevy of members.

If you think we Lesbians and Gays are the only ones who suffer because human rights have been withheld from us, please seriously consider some of the quotes from Crystal's letter. She tells us that she has taken on the responsibility to work for Transgender rights for the young Transgenders who are still closeted and not for herself. Age and appearance have made finding a job difficult so she works for herself. She is comfortable with herself and her identity so call her what you will, she knows the truth.

Does she understand suffering or the feelings of one with a family? "I became aware of my difference at the ripe old age of 6 years old.... I would have been subjected to constant beating from my father. These I received anyway.... I grew up in this pain until I made my early teens... was rejected by friends because they always sensed something not quite BOY in my persona. Girls always looked upon me as a good friend and confidant, one of their own.

"I did the Navy thing and the society expected marriage routine to try proving that I was a good citizen, an acceptable man. Of course, I lost my wife and son... I was denied access to my son ...the judge said in view of my being who and what I was that it was better if the child not be exposed to my lifestyle. I struggled with denial and guilt for way too many years...I was hiding my dressing from people. Little did I know that everyone I met and knew saw through my protections. My son looked me up when he graduated from high school first in his class. He did not wish to meet the real me. So I lived by HIS wishes. In 1992, my son was off in the Army.... I decided I had had enough hiding. In 1993, I bought my own home and let Crystal loose. My son had married. I had a grandson. I lost my job because I had been seen as Crystal by a fellow employee on my way home from the Community Center.... I spent six months trying to find a new job.... I did not appear male enough, and there was my age. I informed all my brothers and sisters and son by letter about my coming out... This was unacceptable behavior... I was told I am sick. Gone...all my family, son, daughter-in-law, grandson - gone, unable to accept my role in life...said I could be cured but do not want to be.... I am having to give up my house because of employment problems the last two year...

"...after all this, I feel SURE and proud of myself, confident in what I do. And committed to working that these things will no longer have to be faced by anyone...be they Transgender, Gay, Lesbian.... Do you think I am not aware and sensitive to your fears, concerns and feelings?"

No one is asking for "special" class recognition and if you are a GLBT individual, the color of your skin or your country of origin is unimportant to this issue of gender identification and sexual orientation. It's like saying that you don't have a choice because you were born Gay but the person born Transgendered does have a choice. Double Standard!!

HRC is not being slandered or misused. Credit has been given where credit is due, and especially to the local HRC dinner committee. From HRC supporters, I have heard and read misinformation, sarcasm, ignorance of the facts and the same mean spirited verbiage used by the radical right toward Gays and Lesbians directed towards Bisexuals and Transgenders and those who support them from Gays and Lesbians. These abused individuals have supported HRC and Gay rights for years while living in a closet of fear created by the very people they are supporting. Their support was solicited by HRC both nationally and locally which makes HRC their organization also. Cause of the Double Standard!

This is not a new issue. It is an issue that has been swept under the HRC rug. For several years, Transgender persons have been begging for equal rights, have been ignored and have protested against the organizations that promise to help them yet don't include them. Since 1994, many HRC dinners have been picketed and HRC booths were picketed at 15 Pride events. Members of the GLBT community wanting to remove the wedge in our community should stand on moral and ethical ground and say ENOUGH. Let's act honorably. Remove the Double Standard!

If this is viewed as negative, it is because positive efforts have not worked in the five or more years that they have been attempted. Was Stonewall negative? Did it get you a foot in the door of "human rights"? It certainly did. This struggle that is taking place across the nation is the Stonewall for Bisexual and Transgender rights and HRC will eventually embrace this truth. For only an organization as great as HRC can unite the community that it is dividing.

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