Ghosts in the Rainbow
The Erasure of LGBT Reality by the "LGBTQ+"
"Can a woman have a penis?" I don't think so, but you'd never know that from the rhetoric being amplified by some of today's leading LGBTQ+ organisations. When groups like Stonewall and the Human Rights Campaign assert that "men can have vaginas and women can have penises," they not only distort LGBT realities but also undermine the authenticity of our existence. This erasure extends beyond mere words—it strikes at the heart of what it means to be homosexual or transsexual, co-opting our struggles for a narrative that prioritises inclusivity over truth.
The Co-Opting of Homosexual Identity
The claim that "lesbians can have penises" is not just a controversial statement; it's an erasure of the very essence of homosexuality. Being a lesbian means being attracted to women, not to penises. This rhetoric, propagated under the guise of inclusivity, dilutes the unique challenges and identities of homosexuals. Coming-out stories are not just about declaring one’s orientation; they are about navigating a world that often meets the LGB with hostility and violence. By redefining LGB identity, these organisations negate the profound struggles many of us have faced to be accepted for who we are.
The Trivialisation of Transsexual Reality
Similarly, the assertion that "you don’t need to have or have had dysphoria to be trans" trivialises the intense and often debilitating experience of transsexuals. Dysphoria is not a trend or a passing discomfort — it is a deep-seated conflict between one’s physical body and self-concept. It — desperation for relief — is what drives transsexual people to seek medical interventions. By erasing the necessity of dysphoria from the "trans" narrative, these organisations overlook the core of our experiences and the reality of our struggles.
Identity Politics vs. Lived Realities
The focus on identity politics has created a cacophony where the loudest, most provocative voices drown out the quiet truths of discrimination, violence, and systemic inequality that many LGBT people face daily. Our pain becomes a backdrop in a self-serving performance that celebrates superficial diversity over authentic understanding. Transsexuality is not a fashion statement—it’s a necessity for survival, for a semblance of peace in a life of internal conflict. Yet, the movement that claims to advocate for us prioritises visibility over vulnerability, performance over genuine support and nuanced understanding.
The Overreach of the Queer Movement
The queer movement’s emphasis on nonconformity and rebellion leaves little room for those whose lives are marked by a quieter, more painful struggle for acceptance. In its rush to redefine words and expand definitions, it overlooks the deep-seated prejudices and dangers that still exist. The celebration of "queerness" and the usurping of every norm and boundary comes at the cost of ignoring the very real, ongoing battles for safety, acceptance, and love that the actual LGBT still endures.
Reclaiming Our Narratives
We are told to celebrate our identities, but how can we when the fundamental truths of our lives are ignored? We need to reclaim our narratives, to speak openly about the realities we face, and to demand a movement that acknowledges and addresses the dark shadows of being LGBT. Only by doing so can we truly say we are moving forward. Until then, homosexuals, bisexuals, and transsexuals will remain ghosts in the rainbow, our voices drowned out by the very chorus that claims to sing for us.
Tired Transsexual is the pen name of a male-to-female transsexual who lives in the U.K. Her Twitter account is @tiredtransmed.
Yes!