A reader writes: “First off, let me say I despise violence, drama, etc. My nerves can’t handle it, and being bipolar, it’s a huge trigger for depression, etc. Sadly, however, bigots even within our family are a reality.
“I have been on HRT (hormone replacement therapy) since 2001. And have had bilateral orchiectomy (testicle removal). If I could afford SRS, I would have it years ago. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is all I get, however, and that ain’t a whole lot.
“So now my question: There have been times, and last week, where so-called bio women threaten me or even assault me. Then when I stand up for myself, there is almost always a man who steps in and says, ‘No, you’re a dude. You’re not going to touch a woman.’
“Are they right? Or do I have the right to assert that ‘Hey, I am too a woman and can defend myself against another woman like any other woman?’”
I’m sorry that you have had to deal with this. Assault is a hugely emotional and triggering topic, so I am going to preface this reply with a very big “in my opinion.” So here goes:
IN MY OPINION, a person who is being assaulted has the right to defend him- or herself, regardless of that person’s gender or the gender of the assailant.
That said, the way I see it is that there are two goals when a person is being assaulted: to stay alive and to escape the situation with as little bodily harm as possible. Given those two goals, the first and best response to a threat or an attack is to leave the situation, if that is possible.
If the assault is a threat, a shove, or even a punch in the mouth, if you can get away, you need to do so. Walk, run, whatever you need to do to leave the situation. Staying in the situation, or responding verbally or physically, can escalate it, leading to further assault and more danger. (more…)
‘Don’t Call Us, and We Won’t Call You’ – Law Enforcement and the Trans Community
Posted in Commentary, News, tagged crime, discrimination, legal, trans women, transphobia on June 7, 2012 | 26 Comments »
The police representatives present were from a newly formed “diversity”-type unit that was created to work specifically with marginalized communities, including LGBT communities, and to investigate possible hate crimes or crimes that appeared to specifically target members of these particular communities.
The officers and detectives in attendance were friendly, attentive, and open to suggestion and criticism. They listened carefully as community members, primarily trans women, expressed their safety fears and detailed their experiences with police, some of which were not too pleasant.
The police assured the attendees that they were there for us and that they would take our complaints seriously. But, they said, “You have to call us. We can’t help you if you don’t call.”
And they’re right about that. The police can’t help if they’re not called. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
The primary targets of hate crimes in our community, from destruction of property to verbal threats, and from physical and sexual assault to murder, are trans women – and, more specifically, trans women of color. And although there are enough case files to fill a library, we need only look to the case of CeCe McDonald to discover why trans women of color, or any trans woman, might be hesitant to call the police about threats or even assault.
Everyone probably knows by now that McDonald is a black trans woman who was verbally and physically assaulted, along with her companions, by white attackers. In the melee that followed, including McDonald’s attempts to defend herself, one of the attackers was killed.
McDonald was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, and she recently accepted a plea agreement that reduced her charge to second-degree manslaughter – and resulted in a sentence of almost four years in prison. As of now, it appears that McDonald will serve her sentence in a men’s facility, where she will once again be at high risk of physical and sexual assault – all because she tried to defend herself against a brutal attack. (more…)
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