The following article was found in an archive of the Bay Area Reporter, Volume 29, Number 46 published in November 1999. Written by Katie Szymanski, it is a summary of discussions held during the Creating Change conference in 1999 particularly about language surrounding sexuality and gender transition.Conference challenges language, identity
by Katie Szymanski
Are you still a lesbian when your female lover transitions? Why is the h-word (heterosexual) not used in discussions that allegedly include straight-identified transgender people? Would a great fluidity of gender eliminate the need for labels entirely? There were no concrete answers to these questions, posed during various gender and identity workshops at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's (NGLTF) 12th annual Creating Change conference in Oakland last weekend. But most in attendance agreed that our vocabulary still does not accomodate the different identities within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movement.
On Thursday, November 11, everything from assimilation to classism was blamed for the desire to put people into "little boxes" that don't always fit. The daylong workshop — billed as the "Sex and Gender Liberation Institute" — explored various genders and erotic identities in an attempt to challenge what we refer to as LGBT dialogue and politics.
Some said that subconsciously modeling our lives after traditional heterosexuality was behind the need to find some sort of fixed identifier. As a result, all of our identities may not be welcomed if they somehow contradict or mirror heterosexuality, as one person described.
"I am gay and transgender, but at many LGBT forums I am told not to identify as both," he said, "because it is too complex."
Like many heterosexuals, it seems, many in the LGBT community cannot grasp the concept that gender and sexuality are not one in the same. And while the transgender label has allowed more of an insight, it still does not speak for every transgender person.
Rosalyne Blumenstein, a transgender woman who spoke at the workshop, emphasized that heterosexuality was often left out of the conversation as well.
"Hang-ups I did not have when I got involved in the movement have become a part of my daily life," said Blumenstein, noting the "gay" blanket that covers most of the dialogue. "To be identified as something that is not part of my identity is confusing and oppressive. There needs to be a place for us heterosexuals."
Other participants said that the queer background from which the conversation made assumptions excluded those from environments where identifying is a luxury or not desirable at all. As a result, there needs to be a space in the movement for those who cannot or do not identify as LGBT but sleep with someone of the same sex or live differently gendered from how they were born.
"Not everyone wants to be queer," said one participant. "But even those who don't identify as 'us' deserve a place in this conversation."
On Saturday, November 13, the theme continued with "Butch/FTM Dialogue: The Relationships." While the workshop itself focused on what happens when a butch woman decides to transition from female to male (FTM), the issues raised were very much about identity and how language still fails in this area.
Speakers such as Loree Cook-Daniels drew attention to the fact that even LGBT people could be unwelcoming when a dyke couple suddenly becomes "traditional." Cook-Daniels acknowledged that she and her male partner Marcelle — who was a lesbian when the two began their relationship — now enjoy a privilege they are somewhat uncomfortable with; for instance, their son, as far as classmates and teachers are concerned, has a mommy and a daddy and by all accounts is from a traditional home. But the couple also stressed that their transition was not easy in their circles within the LGBT community.
"I have been told I am now an ally," said Cook-Daniels, "but no longer a lesbian."
Cook-Daniels said that some partners of FTMs adopt a non-lesbian label to show support for their lover and acknowledge his manhood, while others may adopt a bisexual label based on acknowledging that if they are attracted to this man, they could potentially be attracted to others. Still others remain identified as lesbian. All of these identities need to be honored, regardless of who the person loves.
"I assert my right to self-identify," said Cook-Daniels. "I have spent 20-some years as a lesbian, have made major achievements for lesbians, and have paid a price as a lesbian. I do not feel anyone has a right to say that honoring a commitment to a partner means I give up my right to lesbianism."
In this case, according to Cook-Daniels, language has already made a step toward accomodation, in women who identify as "transsensual" — lesbian woman whose primary attraction is toward butch women or FTMs.
"The new term provides a space where one does not have to give up the lesbian identity," said Cook-Daniels.
Will language grow to accomodate all of the identities in the queer community, or will some identities remain nameless, even among insiders? The point of creating an inclusive language is to have representative conversations. And while some in the LGBT community may know better than to make narrow assumptions based on a label, expanding the vocabulary can only benefit us and those who still need to educate.
Bay Area Reporter © 1999
