She's pissed? Again?

I usually just tend to cruise through the blogosphere, not calling much attention to the fact that I'm transgendered. But sometimes, things just boil over and I have to point to a couple of things that have recently occurred that REALLY piss me off (as opposed to my normal pissed off state) because I AM transgendered. I also happen to believe that they should be pissing off anyone who believes in equal rights for everyone, but maybe that's just me.

First, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that transsexuals have no civil rights. In a nutshell, Krystal Etsitty was transitioning from male to female, was taking female hormones, was presenting (and apparently passing) as a woman but had not yet had SRS. She was fired because of her employer's fear that they MIGHT be sued (they hadn't been) by employees born biologically female if it were discovered Etsitty still had male genitals. So essentially Ms. Etsitty was fired because of the shape of her genitals and that was OK. What's next? "I'm sorry, but your face doesn't look quite right and someone might sue us because they think you're too ugly to work with, so we're going to have to let you go."

Second, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) has languished in the US Congress for years. Initially, it did not include employment protections for transgendered individuals, but the current version does include such protections. The general consensus of opinion held that the bill had a good chance of passage. Now, however, it appears that the meager spine that Congress had grown with regard to ENDA is disappearing and transgender inclusion might just get dropped from ENDA again. I guess I shouldn't be surprised since the great Congressional Democratic majority has pretty much caved and failed to deliver on any of their other election promises. And Presidential candidates? Please, don't be silly - surely you don't think they're going to say anything that's not poll-supported and sound-bite palatable. What really rankles me, though is that one of the leading proponents fighting to remove transgender inclusion from ENDA are Democrats Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi - one of the two openly gay representatives and the Speaker of the House. Like black people who are homophobic and don't want civil rights extended to include gays, Frank is a gay man who is transphobic - and has proven that more than once. The fact is, though, that even if ENDA were to pass Congress in ANY form, there's about a 99% chance that Duhbya would veto it. So let's just see who can walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Thus far, though, there's been an awful lot of talking and very little walking.

I guess I'm just supposed to be happy with being able to watch the bus drive by instead of being thrown under it and content myself with the fact that at some point in the future I might be allowed to ride in the back. Gee, thanks. Oh, and did I mention that I'm angry?

[UPDATE - 28 Sep 07: They did it - Congress has removed transgender protections from ENDA! Updates and reactions can be viewed at Pam's House Blend.]