like we didn't see this coming

[dilemma]

A few months ago, the Human Rights Campaign said they'd oppose a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that didn't include transpeople. A month ago, they said they would neither oppose nor support it, when they saw that they didn't have the ability to get the votes for include transpeople. And then, when the bill finally passed the House

Comments

[kakitaseigi]

I understand how you feel since the HRC counts you among their numbers and takes your money (donations, or do they get some sort of funding based on how many members they have, so the more members the better?).

However, if politically the bill was not going to pass with the inclusion of transpeople, isn't it sad, surely, that transpeople were left out, but ultimately better that the bill will pass and help the demographic groups that are included? Having the bill around will set a model and a standard that can include transpeople in the future, right?

I know I can't feel quite as passionate about it as you do because it's not my demographic, but surely it's better that some measures were taken than none at all. Unfortunately, as you and I both know, often in politics you have to compromise things out and don't end up getting everything you were shooting for initially but you still do some good in the end.

[kalligraphy]

Here is the problem. History has shown that incrementalism in cases like this doesn't work because the people who get theirs stop fighting and the people left behind, are left behind. Basically once I have mine, I don't care if you get yours is pretty much human nature. Several states have already passed protections for LGB people with a promise to come back and address the T problem latter. In those states, we are still waiting

[dilemma]

If the bill had any hope of becoming law, I would agree. It would be fantastic if all those friends of mine who are queer but not trans had protections. However, while it's likely to pass in the Senate, Bush has already promised a veto and there's nowhere near a veto override in support

[kalligraphy]

I canceled my membership and had them remove me from the HRC mailing address. Eff HRC, eff Joe Solmonese and eff the horse they rode in on. I can't make them go away, but I don't need to support them and I urge everyone else to do likewise.