Comments on: How dare you mistrust our rich white gay men?

By: Feministe » I guess there was a point to that stupid LGBT acronym after all

Feministe » I guess there was a point to that stupid LGBT acronym after all — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:21:29 +0000

[...] policy — are something most Americans support, at least according to recent polls done about ENDA. And yes, most Americans even support protection against discrimination for trans people; many [...]

By: Lisa Harney

Lisa Harney — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:17:17 +0000

I’d be tempted to argue for the exclusion of bigots from women’s rooms, but that would be crass and unfair.

I do think trans women should use women’s rooms because using a men’s room is a) fucking dangerous and b) would out any of us who did it, making it doubly dangerous.

By: Suzzane Lachlan

Suzzane Lachlan — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:17:25 +0000

“And frankly, I don’t see why people should have the right to freak out at particular people’s bodies in big communal-type showers.”

I don’t think that males show be allowed in women’s rooms.

By: MauraHennessey

MauraHennessey — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:12:03 +0000

Trans issues are not the only ones getting derailed by the leadership, though they are certainly a major issue. Lesbian Health issues are lost in the shuffle with only lip service paid to them. Where is a push for a Lesbian Women’s Health Outreach? Or for education to the medical community about us. Our two major killers as far as cancer are both curable is caught in the early statges yet they ravage us. Where si a push for gardasil availability for younger Lesbians? For Mamkographies or Pap Smears?

And trans shealth initiatives–well, they are non-existent.

Meanwhile, the gay press excoriated NYC for considering the outlawing of the remaining bathhouses.

It certainly looks to me like the work of an entitles gay male patriarchy.

By: louise

louise — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:26:41 +0000

Agreed; excellent post. I just can’t understand why Barney Frank didn’t see how disingenuous his stance was or the ironies involved in supporting ENDA.

By: Nia

Nia — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:25:43 +0000

Just wanted to say that this post was awesome (and really informational.) Keep doing what you’re doing. Please.

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:25:18 +0000

I agree that Bacon’s calling-out of rich white gay professional males is a little overtargeted at just the very tip-top of gay pyramid, since after all not everyone advocating this noxious “me first” point of view is white or male (see Jasmyne Cannick’s editorial linked above) and some of the white gay professional guys are quite staunchly opposed to HRC’s tactics (see Steven Goldstein, above).

So maybe “Gay Patriarchy” is slightly better.

But I humbly submit that “Gaytriarchy” is even more slightly better than that.

By: Sarah in Chicago

Sarah in Chicago — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:19:43 +0000

For a long time I had an HRC sticker on the door of my office at school, though I had reservations, I supported them because they had clout … and after all, I definitely am their demographic, being white, from an upper-middle-class background, a professional, and a cisgendered lesbian of conventional femme presentation. Denying that I’m not would just be hypocritical of me.

However, when HRC came out in favour of kicking my trans friends to the curb in regards to ENDA, I drew the line. The sticker came down, I wrote a piece on my blog and another blog expressing my anger over the decision, and I sent a similarly worded letter to HRC, explaining they would get no more money from me ever again. And given that I live in the most queer neighbourhood in Chicago, I’ve also had the occasion to say such to people soliciting for donations for HRC by my fav neighbourhood cafe.

Anyway, this is lieu of saying that this was an excellent article, and I do think we really need to keep speaking about it, should we let the heat off and have HRC think they can just get away with things.

By: Christine Simone

Christine Simone — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:41:00 +0000

Generally speaking I think the “Rich White Gay Males” May not be the best term. I prefer Gay Patriarchy largely because it strikes at the heart of the issue. Gay men who act in the same oppressive and dismissive fashion as patriarchal straight men, including views on women, be they trans or lesbian. Having a me first attitude even when these gender conforming gay men are the least likely to face explicit discrimination. I could also go on about the misogynistic attitudes.

While there are rich gay white males who are misogynistic and patriarchs, not all rich gay white males are this way. Thats why Gay Patriarchy may be a significantly more accurate term, since they take on patriarchal attitudes and behaviors.

By: Christine Simone

Christine Simone — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:29:20 +0000

I am not saying its endemic, in fact outside of the HRC, LGBT paper editorial bubble its not.