Thread by @rdqb80

Our Foremothers and Forefathers Knew What Was Up - A Thread.

Statement against Transvestism

from Drag Magazine, “A Magazine about the Transvestite” or “The International Transvestite Quarterly”, vol. 5, no. 18, pp. 36, 37, 39, 42 & 47.

1975

We support the rights of all individuals as long as the individual rights do not harm others. However, we do strongly protest the inclusion of transvestite spokespeople and entertainers at gay rallies and demonstrations for the following reasons:

1) As lesbians, we cannot view transvestism or “drag queens” other than as a parody and ridicule of women, a projection and carryover into gay life of heterosexual male contempt and his sexist, supremacist attitudes.

2) Lesbian feminists have gained support for the gay movement from heterosexual sisters in the feminist movement. These women, while supporting gay rights, are offended by the ridicule directed at them by men assuming the costume parodies of heterosexuality.

The risk is increasing that the feminist movement will not publicly support our rallies and demonstrations.

3) As gay men, our sexual orientation and affectional preference is towards other men. Our goals, hopes, and loves are not represented by men playing at being women.

4) We must realize that the transvestite is a victim of heterosexual society. These men and women were taught that the only way to relate to one’s own sex is through the disguise and roles of the opposite sex.

Transvestism is a backhanded affirmation of the “right order” of heterosexuality, at the expense and negation of the positive, alternative lifestyle of self-affirming gay men and lesbians.

5) Transvestism oppresses gay men by perpetuating society’s stereotypes of us. These are the portrayals we see in movies, on news reports, and in magazines. Our oppression must end within our own gay community before we can expect it to end in the minds of others.

6) Both heterosexuals and homosexuals are known to practice transvestism. For this reason, it is not specifically a gay concern or priority. Therefore it should not be promoted at rallies and demonstrations.

We make a stronger distinction regarding transsexuals. They do not even identify with gay liberation, but adopt heterosexual roles, attitudes, and lifestyles completely. They are the first, themselves, to stress that they are not gay.

7) Transvestism is a remnant of the ghetto and the first symbol of gay oppression. We, in the gay movement, are in the process of self-definition and self-acceptance. Transvestism negates both, by first imposing exterior definition...

...and secondly, by masking us from our real selves and others. When we come out the closets, we must leave the trappings of the closet behind! Gay pride begins with self-acceptance as real, natural people, without the sham of a “drag” mask.

We strongly protest the inclusion of transvestite spokespeople and entertainers at gay rallies and demonstrations.

Lesbian Rising Collective
& Gay Men’s Alliance
Hunter College
695 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10021

I bet that if you ask anyone at Hunter College now, they will probably scream: “Transphobe! TERF! Trans women are women! Sex is a spectrum! Stop kink shaming!” Ha! - End Thread.