From: yorton@turtle11.rtsg.mot.com (James J. Yorton)
Subject: NOTICE - Details of the March on Washington
Reply-To: yorton@rtsg.mot.com
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 15:31:34 GMT

I just finished reading the editorial for this issue (Dec 10)
of Chicago's Windy City Times, entitled "A Disaster in the
Making", and I'm rather distraught over it.  It's on page 13.
For the most part, I agree with WCT's editorial.

It details the demands of the March on Washington 1993,
and discusses the ramifications.  It takes issue with the
"transgender" clause of the march.  WCT reports that according
to MOW officials, transgender is defined to refer to
"transvestites" and "transsexuals".

The MOW goes further than demanding rights for gays, lesbians,
and bisexuals.  It includes transgender people.  This is where
I have a problem with it.  First of all, let me say that I
don't condone discrimination against *anyone*, including
transgender people.  Having said that, I have a problem with
having a "transgender" clause included with sexual orientation.
The question isn't whether transgender people shouldn't be
discriminated against.  It's what does transgender have to do
with a person's sexual orientation?  Nothing.  You can be
gay or straight and be a transvestite or transsexual.

For years, the religious right, Pat Buchanan, Jesse Helms,
Lou Sheldon, etc.  have been saying, as an example,
that a lesbigay civil rights bill would allow a transvestite who
is a school teacher to come to school in drag.  Well
guess what?  This time they'd be right.  And this will come
back to haunt us for years to come.  They'll be constantly
referring to it.  And we'll have no defense.

The MOW is asking for a transgender clause to  be included
in the Federal Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Bill.  Each year
this Bill gets a record number of co-sponsers in the house and
senate.  Each year it comes closer to introducing it for debate.
If a transgender clause (transvestites & transsexuals) is
included in this Bill, it will *never* pass.  You can kiss it
good-bye.  Do you think Bill Clinton will support something
like this?  Again, the issue is what does transgender have
to do with sexual orientation?  Nothing.

How about the ban on gays in the military?  Hopefully this
ban will fall before the MOW in April.  Can you imagine what
it's going to be like to attempt to overturn the ban *after*
the MOW and the religious right puts their 2 cents in?  It's
difficult enough already.

The MOW is also asking for transgender rights in adopting children.
To begin with, this issue is a hot potato for gays alone.
Can you imagine the rhetoric that will be generated if a transgender
clause, which includes transvestites adopting children, is included too?

There are 7 main issues.  Four of the seven include transgender
issues.  That's HALF!  Furthermore, there are 50-some other items,
which include, among other things, bilingual education and
prisoner's rights.  So if you're marching on that day, you'll be
marching for bilingual education and prisoner's rights.  Remember
that.

As I said before, I do not condone discrimination on *anyone*,
including transgender people.  But a platform like this could
set the lesbigay movement very far back.  Hint:  Think of
Colorado and Oregon.  Think the bigots won't refer to
the MOW platform in the future?  Guess again.  It's perfect fodder
for them.

Along with two friends, I have already purchased plane tickets
and made hotel reservations for the MOW.  Hopefully MOW
officials will modify the platform (again).  If they don't,
I will not be going.  It does not represent me.  I think that,
in their quest for being all-inclusive, the MOW officials
have gone overboard big-time on this one.

For those of you who are going, you'd better do some research,
read the fine print, and make damn well sure you know what
you're marching for.  You have to ask yourself: What do
transgender issues, bilingual education, prisoner's rights, among
other things, have to do with sexual orientation and a MOW for
lesbigay civil rights?  MOW officials say the platform represents
the feeling of most in the gay community.  I find that hard to
believe.

If you can, get yourself a copy of Chicago's Windy City Times,
December 10.


For your information, here is a list of the 7 demands.
If anyone has a list of the 55 other items, I'd like to see them.

:           Action Statement Preamble --- The Platform
:
:
:The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender movement recognizes
:that our quest for social justice fundamentally links us to the
:struggles against racism and sexism, class bias, economic injustice
:and religious intolerance.  We must realize, if one of us is
:oppressed, we all are oppressed.  The diversity of our movement
:requires and compels us to stand in opposition to all forms of
:           Action Statement Preamble --- The Platform
:
:The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender movement recognizes
:that our quest for social justice fundamentally links us to the
:struggles against racism and sexism, class bias, economic injustice
:and religious intolerance.  We must realize, if one of us is
:oppressed, we all are oppressed.  The diversity of our movement
:requires and compels us to stand in opposition to all forms of
:oppression that diminish the quality of life for all people.  We
:will be viligant in our determination to rid our movement and our
:society of all forms of oppression and exploitation, so that all
:of us can develop to our full human potential without regard to
:race, religion, sexual orientation/identification, identity,
:gender expresssion, ability, age or class.
:
:                     The March Demands
:
:1.  We demand passage of a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
:Civil Rights Bill and an end to discrimination by State and Federal
:governments including the military; repeal of all sodomy laws and
:other laws that criminalize private sexual expression between
:consenting adults.
:
:2.  We demand massive increases in funding AIDS education, research,
:and patient care; universal access to health care including
:alternative therapies; and an end to sexism in medical research
:and health care.
:
:3.  We demand legislation to prevent discrimination against lesbians,
:gays, bisexuals and transgender people in the areas of family diversity,
:custody, adoption and foster care and that the definition of family
:includes the full diversity of all family structures.
:
:4.  We demand full and equal inclusion of lesbians, gays, bisexuals
:and transgender people in the educational system, and inclusion of
:lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies in multicultural
:curricula.
:
:5.  We demand the right to reproductive freedom and choice, to control
:our own bodies, and an end to sexist discrimination.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
 What does this have to do with a MOW for lesbigay civil rights?
 
:
:6.  We demand an end to racial and ethnic discrimination in all forms.
:    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
 What does this have to do with a MOW for lesbigay civil rights?
 
:7.  We demand an end to discrimination and violent oppression based on
:actual or perceived sexual orientation/identification, race, religion,
:identity, sex and gender expression, disability, age, class, and
:AIDS/HIV infection.
:


(Oh yeah, another muffin bites the dust.  Hi.  :-)

--------------------------------------+---------------------------------------
Jim Yorton                            | 
Motorola Inc., General Systems Sector |
Cellular Infrastructure Group         | Internet:  yorton@rtsg.mot.com
Arlington Heights, IL                 |