Nice Creep of the Week article on Maggie Gallagher (Nov. 13). Being someone that identifies as trans and does a lot of trans and intersex education I run into a lot of "Biology is destiny" folks. It was nice to see that you included Gould's response, "Biology is far more open-minded than we ever give it credit for." I think the more people who understand that message the better!
{ITAL Knoll Larkin
Ferndale, Mich.}
Way to be completely condescending and whiny about an unconventional and effective protest. ("Radical gay group's church protest questioned by community members," Nov. 13) When churches like this are pushing an ideology that justifies murderous hatred and oppression in our communities, we don't have the luxury to just leave them alone. They won't leave us alone, and until they do, we need to keep bashing back. Grow a spine and get into the streets!
{ITAL m(A)tt
Queers Without Borders
Glastonbury, Conn.}
In response to "Radical gay group's church protest questioned by community members," (Nov. 13) these people are no pink panthers or Black Panthers! I think these are menacing youth who deliberately want to b!tch slap the system. Whats the deal with no statewide organization addressing this issue? Are we so envious of the freedom of chaos and mass hysteria that terrorizing can cause? I am sorry, from Andy's message, this group doesnt give a rat's ass about social issues like marriage, AIDS epidemic, tolerance, or education. It sounds like a gang of hoodlums. I like to think gay rights movement is a lot more then whom we just plug our outlets to. I like to think we have social justice behind us. Though really with all these random rallies, scare tactics, and put downs it really shows how unorganized the gay rights movement has become in Michigan. We need a hero fast, and need to do a lot of cleanup.
{ITAL Frank Vaca
Potterville, Mich.}
This week we remember the transgender victims of hate. I am outraged at theses atrocities.
As I'm writing this around this wonderful globe 29 individuals have been killed since last Nov. 20. There has also been one ally that was killed trying to save some of his fellow parishioners. Last summer Greg McKendy, who it turns out has a transgender foster child.
Since this is the year for Prop. 8 and many other propositions from other states, it seems with the hate that the religious right spews, there have been more hate crimes.
When will this needless killing end? We need to remember those who have gone before us. We must not let society forget them. We need to stand up for ourselves and be counted as members of the human race. I would urge everyone who is reading this to go to the Web site www.transgenderdor.org and remember these human beings, burn their names into your memory.
How many more must die? In ten years alone from 1998 to 2008, 245 people have been murdered. Many of them cut down in their prime. Many have not been able to live (up to) their potential simply because they are transgender.
So many of us are unemployed or underemployed, and because of this many turn to the streets to make a living. This is a very dangerous profession. How many turn to substance abuse just to live and be able to be themselves. There was Lawrence King who was 15 years old and killed in front of his classmates in California. He liked to wear women's clothes. Our own local girl Ashley Sweeny was found in a vacant field on the eastside of Detroit.
I keep asking myself why do people need to kill other people just because a person is TLGB. This Friday in Grosse Point, Mr. Phelps is coming to town to picket the production of the Laramie Project. Here is a man of the cloth who runs a church dictated by hate for the TLGB community. He even has a Web site dedicated to his "G-D hates Fags". What happened to love thy neighbor as thyself? Isn't that part of the ten commandments that was given to Moses on Mt. Sinai.? I hope to see many of you at our candllight vigil Friday Nov. 21. at Metropolitan Community Church in Ferndale at 7 p.m..
{ITAL Michelle Fox-Phillips
Ferndale, Mich.}
