tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post4062745027591125839..comments2024-03-20T06:44:28.606-05:00Comments on TransGriot: Canaries In The Memphis Civic Coal MineMonica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09702533200851174728noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-69462204475770120172008-12-28T00:00:00.000-06:002008-12-28T00:00:00.000-06:00'Errbody',That's the problem I have with this enti...'Errbody',<BR/>That's the problem I have with this entire incident. Nobody in the MSM bothered to ask the transpeople involved their side of the story.Monica Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09702533200851174728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-32576668161147544742008-12-27T20:02:00.000-06:002008-12-27T20:02:00.000-06:00As Chris mentioned, the McDonald's incident happen...As Chris mentioned, the McDonald's incident happened in November, 2007. This leaves plenty of time for followup, but after the arrests the case (and the individuals) seem to have fallen off the media's radar.<BR/><BR/>A troubling aspect of the media reports is that they all ignore the views of the transgender individuals. I suspect they were provoked, but we have no way of knowing their side of the story.<BR/><BR/>A related problem, obviously, is that we don't know how the individuals identified. Are they crossdressers as alleged? Or are they drag queens as alleged (sometimes in the same story). Or do they identify as women? Judging from their mug shots, I'd say there is good reason to think that two may identify as women. But none of the media outlets bothered to investigate.<BR/><BR/>And what really troubles me is the mocking attitude of a news source which I would expect to be friendly, the Memphis Flyer (alternative weekly). It's <A HREF="http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=36561" REL="nofollow"> first article</A>, features a ridiculous photo and equally ridiculous tone. Its <A HREF="http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A36630" REL="nofollow">second article</A> ends with the line "either way the mug shots are priceless. If you visit that second link, you will see there is nothing unusual in those photos.<BR/><BR/>I am disappointed that none of the media followed up the case, in terms of court decisions or in the perspective of the persons involved. It would have been nice for either of the two GLBT news sources to have tried to contact the transgender persons involved in the fracas, but neither source indicated that they tried.Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02727061812146053024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-40164046511854527432008-12-27T15:37:00.000-06:002008-12-27T15:37:00.000-06:00Wow. I live in Memphis; I didn't know I was in so...Wow. I live in Memphis; I didn't know I was in so much danger. Guess I'll have to inform my boss that I will no longer be working the 7:30 to midnight shift in South Memphis.<BR/><BR/>Seriously, though, the pattern that people are missing is that it's been mostly (if not entirely) black trans women who have to engage in sex work. In other words, the most vulnerable people here are at the highest risk of being victims of crimes like these, which speaks to the need for a secular progressive shelter system and an inclusive ENDA.<BR/><BR/>Also, that McDonalds incident happened over a year ago.<BR/><BR/>-Chris from TSTBe^10https://www.blogger.com/profile/08848633759349781467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-1476749743758063152008-12-27T15:30:00.000-06:002008-12-27T15:30:00.000-06:00I work in video. The more I read these stories, t...I work in video. The more I read these stories, the more I think it would be good for some of us to 'arm' ourselves with covert camera-recorders when we go out.<BR/><BR/>The equipment can be had for under $1000 (I know, I know, still a huge chunk of change to many of the poorest of us.) Google covert video.<BR/><BR/>Color camera concealed in [fashionable cameo choker/eyeglasses/button/etc.,]<BR/>==$450<BR/><BR/>MPEG4 digital video recorder the size of an iPhone, with 3+hr battery capacity (more, if you're an electronics geek,)<BR/>==$450<BR/><BR/>Viral video of some disgusting transbigot words or actions posted to video sharing sites,<BR/>==PRICELESS<BR/><BR/>It has its downsides -- Wearers can get "Kodak Courage" and do dumb $#!^ themselves or provoke a situation because they feel 'protected', it gets into huge privacy and civil rights issues...<BR/><BR/>But having a visceral record of acts of hate and bigotry will be invaluable in helping make the case for hate crimes and ENDA-like laws nationwide.<BR/><BR/>HazumuHazumu Osaragihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12830865823239787049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-69767735182572896682008-12-27T13:58:00.000-06:002008-12-27T13:58:00.000-06:00I'm not convinced that a boycott can be an effecti...I'm not convinced that a boycott can be an effective tool for the trans community.<BR/><BR/>-----<BR/>Trans 1: *gets shot*<BR/>Trans 2: *gets beaten*<BR/>Cop: "Doo dee dee doo... Writin' speeding tickets... doo doo doo!"<BR/>Trans 3: "I'm never coming to this town again!"<BR/>Chief of Police: "... just as planned."Diojeanne of Signuphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13165430154980722725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-77402151076333839452008-12-27T10:22:00.000-06:002008-12-27T10:22:00.000-06:00The whole story would have been the responsible th...The whole story would have been the responsible thing to do. What they did instead is a very bad joke. :(Véro Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02895169022031921712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-37751077911539267962008-12-27T03:15:00.000-06:002008-12-27T03:15:00.000-06:00I'd like to know the whole truth of what provoked ...I'd like to know the whole truth of what provoked the attack- I suspect a failure to serve, and perhaps some derogatory slurs, on the part of McD's. However, when people in our own community commit crimes, we do ourselves no good at all in defending their illegal actions, either. Sending employees to the hospital with signage and tire irons isn't permissable for anyone no matter how they dressed to do it. If true, they should be prosecuted as anyone else would be. And, yes, I wonder if incidents like this have escalated to the recent killings, probably police related, in Memphis.Polarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10680433936546882101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-68117945364822285792008-12-27T00:32:00.000-06:002008-12-27T00:32:00.000-06:00Lady V.A more valid question I would have asked is...Lady V.<BR/>A more valid question I would have asked is what did you say to the transpeople that pissed them off?Monica Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09702533200851174728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-1789732693562747192008-12-26T17:48:00.000-06:002008-12-26T17:48:00.000-06:00WTF? Sure would have been nice if they had given ...WTF? Sure would have been nice if they had given us a little context. I'm guessing this must have happened after one of the murders.<BR/><BR/>Poor reporting indeed.Véro Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02895169022031921712noreply@blogger.com