Comments on: Dan Savage, Part Dos http://www.peacebang.com/2006/02/18/dan-savage-part-dos/ The manic mind of the minister -- Auntie Mame Meets Cotton Mather Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:58:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Rev. Sean http://www.peacebang.com/2006/02/18/dan-savage-part-dos/#comment-1400 Rev. Sean Wed, 22 Feb 2006 22:31:39 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2006/02/18/dan-savage-part-dos/#comment-1400 Ok, why do books about transgender issues have such bad titles? I hate to recommend them, but...<br/><br/>Dean Katula, ed.<br/>The Phallus Palace<br/>Alyson Books; <br/>ISBN: 1555836542<br/><br/>Carol Queen and Lawrence Schimel, eds. PoMoSexuals: Challenging Assumptions about Gender and Sexuality. San Francisco: Cleis Press, 1997.<br/>ISBN 1-57344-074-4<br/><br/>Richard Ekins and David King, eds., Blending Genders: Social Aspects of Cross-dressing and Sex-changing, Routledge, London, 1996.<br/>ISBN 0-415-11552-3 Ok, why do books about transgender issues have such bad titles? I hate to recommend them, but…

Dean Katula, ed.
The Phallus Palace
Alyson Books;
ISBN: 1555836542

Carol Queen and Lawrence Schimel, eds. PoMoSexuals: Challenging Assumptions about Gender and Sexuality. San Francisco: Cleis Press, 1997.
ISBN 1-57344-074-4

Richard Ekins and David King, eds., Blending Genders: Social Aspects of Cross-dressing and Sex-changing, Routledge, London, 1996.
ISBN 0-415-11552-3

]]> By: Chalicechick http://www.peacebang.com/2006/02/18/dan-savage-part-dos/#comment-1399 Chalicechick Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:27:45 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2006/02/18/dan-savage-part-dos/#comment-1399 ((He also said that their are no transgender people, just people who end up male or female--no room for anything outside or between the binary.)))<br/><br/>One out of a thousand only end up that way because at birth the doctor makes a decision and "digs a hole or builds a pole" as it is sometimes inelegantly put.<br/><br/>Yes, I'm sure most of y'all know this. <br/><br/>If you didn't, I'd recommend Natalie Angier's "Woman: An intimate geography."<br/><br/>Actually, Natalie Angier would be an asskicking GA speaker. (Not intended as an answer to the question directed at Sean.)<br/><br/>CC ((He also said that their are no transgender people, just people who end up male or female–no room for anything outside or between the binary.)))

One out of a thousand only end up that way because at birth the doctor makes a decision and “digs a hole or builds a pole” as it is sometimes inelegantly put.

Yes, I’m sure most of y’all know this.

If you didn’t, I’d recommend Natalie Angier’s “Woman: An intimate geography.”

Actually, Natalie Angier would be an asskicking GA speaker. (Not intended as an answer to the question directed at Sean.)

CC

]]> By: PeaceBang http://www.peacebang.com/2006/02/18/dan-savage-part-dos/#comment-1398 PeaceBang Sun, 19 Feb 2006 14:32:52 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2006/02/18/dan-savage-part-dos/#comment-1398 My friend Raven Caldera is a transsexual pagan. I consider him a pioneer in so many ways, and most of what I know about tran issues (not a lot, I'm sorry to say), I learned from him and his partner, Bella, also a transsexual. You can check out some of Raven's writings and other links at http://www.cauldronfarm.com/writing/activist.html. My friend Raven Caldera is a transsexual pagan. I consider him a pioneer in so many ways, and most of what I know about tran issues (not a lot, I’m sorry to say), I learned from him and his partner, Bella, also a transsexual. You can check out some of Raven’s writings and other links at http://www.cauldronfarm.com/writing/activist.html.

]]> By: PeaceBang http://www.peacebang.com/2006/02/18/dan-savage-part-dos/#comment-1397 PeaceBang Sun, 19 Feb 2006 12:43:35 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2006/02/18/dan-savage-part-dos/#comment-1397 Thanks for the "deep background," Sean. <br/>Who are some of the writers or theorists on g/l/b/t issues you would recommend to us? Obviously Mr. Savage is not only limited, but ignorant in ways I wasn't aware of.<br/>My library is actually woefully thin and dated in the sexuality section. Hope you'll make some recommendations. Thanks for the “deep background,” Sean.
Who are some of the writers or theorists on g/l/b/t issues you would recommend to us? Obviously Mr. Savage is not only limited, but ignorant in ways I wasn’t aware of.
My library is actually woefully thin and dated in the sexuality section. Hope you’ll make some recommendations.

]]> By: Rev. Sean http://www.peacebang.com/2006/02/18/dan-savage-part-dos/#comment-1396 Rev. Sean Sun, 19 Feb 2006 03:11:33 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2006/02/18/dan-savage-part-dos/#comment-1396 Clearly, I was responding to a different situation, though I do remember this as well. What I remember is someone stepping up to the mike and asking him essentially, "Did you really mean to say that bisexuals and transgender people don't exist?" His response was to describe that sexuality is all about behavior, so people are straight when they sleep with the opposite sex and gay when they sleep with the same sex. <br/><br/>He also said that their are no transgender people, just people who end up male or female--no room for anything outside or between the binary. (Kind of like saying there are no biracial people, just people who either "act black" or "act white.")<br/><br/>Again, my issue is not so much with Dan Savage or his opinions. My issue is that he was invited to espouse his opinions by the office that is supposed to be an advocate for people like me. I think he, at best, confused people on these issues. At worst, he may have convinced some that they did not need to take bisexual or transgender people very seriously.<br/><br/>Again, I realize this is my issue and off your point, but it at least explains why I responded as I did. Clearly, I was responding to a different situation, though I do remember this as well. What I remember is someone stepping up to the mike and asking him essentially, “Did you really mean to say that bisexuals and transgender people don’t exist?” His response was to describe that sexuality is all about behavior, so people are straight when they sleep with the opposite sex and gay when they sleep with the same sex.

He also said that their are no transgender people, just people who end up male or female–no room for anything outside or between the binary. (Kind of like saying there are no biracial people, just people who either “act black” or “act white.”)

Again, my issue is not so much with Dan Savage or his opinions. My issue is that he was invited to espouse his opinions by the office that is supposed to be an advocate for people like me. I think he, at best, confused people on these issues. At worst, he may have convinced some that they did not need to take bisexual or transgender people very seriously.

Again, I realize this is my issue and off your point, but it at least explains why I responded as I did.

]]> By: Peregrinato http://www.peacebang.com/2006/02/18/dan-savage-part-dos/#comment-1395 Peregrinato Sat, 18 Feb 2006 23:30:30 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2006/02/18/dan-savage-part-dos/#comment-1395 Wonderful assessment, in my read. It neither demonizes nor lionizes Savage or the situation. I think what people sometimes forget is that he is a columnist, and not an expert; a rise in popularity or celebrity does not mean a rise in expertise. Generally, with Dan Savage or anyone in that category, I'd have to say, <i>caveat emptor.</i> Wonderful assessment, in my read. It neither demonizes nor lionizes Savage or the situation. I think what people sometimes forget is that he is a columnist, and not an expert; a rise in popularity or celebrity does not mean a rise in expertise. Generally, with Dan Savage or anyone in that category, I’d have to say, caveat emptor.

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