Women born women

[rzep]

The Vancouver Women's Health Collective just opened a new pharmacy on West Hastings called "Lu's: a pharmacy for women". I was pretty happy to see it, as the collective has been shut down for a while.

Then, I read that the pharmacy will exclude health care services for trans women, only catering to women born as women. I did a bit of research as

Comments

[tweak23]

Wonderfully worded letter. Emphatic, assertive and intelligent, like what I would expect from you. Those comments on the Province page are absolutely soul-crushing. The world needs to suck my silicone dick.

[centerlightpop]

I agree, I agree, I agree.

Your letter is very well worded.

I also agree with your last statement... I've never been one to think that, because men and women are equal, they can't have gender-exclusive spaces or groups. Of course some are more appropriate than others, but yeah.

[themythicalman]

What I have to say has pretty much already been said, but I'll say it anyway.

Awesome letter. It is so refreshing to see somebody who knows how to use the English language to both clearly and eloquently get their point across. The last three paragraphs in particular were solid gold.

And then, I clicked on your link to The Province.

I knew it was going to be bad - it *is* The Province, after all; simple news for simple folks, that sort of mentality - but I did it anyway. That'll teach me. I cannot even find the words to accurately describe how frustrating/annoying/depressing that was. And the sad thing is, I don't think there's even any point trying to engage these people in any kind of semi-intelligent debate or dialogue, because most people would rather cling to their "facts" or beliefs than admit that they were wrong.

[rzep]

I don't know, I think calling it "simple news for simple folks" sounds like another kind of mentality too - you know? I wouldn't be so quick to pass judgement on the intelligence of others based on some internet comments.

The thing we have to remember with the internet is that the anonymity of it gives license to way more douchebag comments than we would normally get. I hate to think that this is bubbling below the service of all people, and tend to be more optimistic, that a few raging assholes tend to take over in these kinds of online discussions.

But I guess I just bristle at any broad brush strokes like saying "these people" aren't even worth the time to try and talk to. I don't engage in online commenting much but I would absolutely try to state my case reasonably to someone in person.

[themythicalman]

I see what you mean about the "simple" comments. Mea culpa. I just find that the reader responses to any kinds of social issues tend to be reactionary in nature, without showing that they understand the complexities behind the issue. Then again, that could simply be the choice of the editor(s) and/or moderator(s) when it comes to publishing readers' comments

[rzep]

Yeah you're right on that count, and a friend of mine who's opinion I respect a great deal said that the province is basically a glorified tabloid now... I see her point!

I wonder how much moderation they have on the comments for things like the province or CBC? It doesn't seem like they have any?