Identity intersection

This is the comment I left today on Jamie Lee Hamilton’s blog posting GLBT COMMUNITY CRACKS DEEPEN :

This article by you is racist. Period. And it makes me wonder what you thought of Xtra West’s article on Queers of Colour.

I don’t automatically expect someone who is white to understand how these words, as strung together, are racist. Just as I wouldn’t expect someone who is not Trans to automatically understand the subtleties of the covert, or systemic discrimination that are experienced by that group of people. In both cases, people with no experience and unsophisticated understandings can learn, and thereby become valuable allies.
The history of a “culture” or a community or a piece of land or a religion, etc, do not necessarily have anything to do with the way individuals conduct their lives. And ONE individual in an organization does not mean that EVERYONE in an organization believes the exact same thing.

Be VERY careful Jamie when you draw lines in the sand around who is an ally and who is not. I am a HUGE supporter of TransFolk, however I come out STRONGLY against what you have written here and am content to look you in the eye and call your tirade RACIST. And to be clear, I am calling your writing, and not you racist. Why? ‘Cause I don’t know enough about your racial politic. All I have are these words to judge by.

Would I stand beside you in relation to Trans rights? YES. Would I stand beside you for Homelessness rigths? YES. Would I stand beside you around rights for sex trade (survival or otherwise) workers? YES. But with this article, you have shown that you appear to be unable to be MY ally on a subject which impacts me every day.

When I walk down the street it is a political act. Not as a queer, which can be hidden easily enough, but for what I can not hide, which is my race.

There are many sides to who I am that I advocate for at different times. And I have come to learn that an ally in one context may not be an ally in another. I certainly acknowledge that I have more energy for some of the fights on my plate than for others. And I know that I have fights on my plate which are in direct conflict with each other.

You seem to suggest that a person who is queer is queer FIRST. That there are no other parts to who they are that can at times move more strongly to the front. I find this troubling.

A hallmark of sophistication is the ability to not only see connections, but also to see how things are discreet. You have done a mix and match which does NOTHING to build understanding or build community.

It’s kind of a chicken and egg thing really. Do I support my race before I support my sexual orientation? Or visa versa? Or do I just speak out PERIOD based on the CONTEXT of what is at hand? If I came to know of a homophobic disabled person who was denied access to a service or job… I would have no problem stepping the fuck UP. It doesn’t mean I’m gonna put up with their homophobia. And we don’t even have to discuss it. What we need to do is the work around access. Period.

Careful Jamie. Careful, careful, careful. Unless you are prepared to wear the label of racist, I suggest caution. And for what is now public, perhaps some research, consultation and some second thought.