Legalize Trans*

While I respect your views and opinions, I think you are making gross assumptions about the intentions behind Legalize Trans* and its founders.

Legalize Trans* is simply a conversation starter about lack of inclusion in the greater LGBTQ community around a VARIETY of issues. When someone asks me about my shirt or the campaign, I use that time to start discourse about the many identities and issues not discussed by the white supremacist male dominated US “gay” agenda. Many don’t know the back story of “Legalize Gay”. The “Legalize” in “Legalize Gay” was recycled from “Legalize LA”, American Appeals commentary on immigration in LA. I was offended by Legalize Gay, but not because the T was not “tagged on” as you say, but because the same wording around immigration reform was simply “plugged in” to a slogan about gay marriage as if the two were not linked or in any way related.I was frustrated that AA thoughtlessly printed shirts without having investment (or a history of real commitment) to either community. So I thought I’d create my own campaign as  a tongue-in-cheek response to American Appeal’s lack of recognition of complex systems of oppression.

Moreover, I don’t think of wearing a LT shirt as “asking the government” to recognize trans identities. As a black transman from an immigrant family, I’ve never asked the government for anything, I know better. Legalize Trans* serves as my top surgery fundraiser, so it isn’t just “using consumption to promote social justice.” Like many trans* folks I find paying for hormones, doctors visits, and surgery very difficult. Thus, I encourage all of my trans* family (esp. my trans* family of color) to think of alternative ways to raise surgery funds instead of relying on predatory loan institutions or participating in potentially harmful/illegal behavior.

Lastly, people contacted us about internships. Graphic designers and a few bloggers were interested in getting college credit this summer, so we thought we would create a formal application process. I fail to see the wrong in creative folks using their skills to help spread the word.

The campaign is a parody. I don’t expect a t-shirt to radically shift the cissexist, racist, classist society we live in. I just thought it would be a cool way to start a conversation, make public commentary about the lack of inclusively of the dominant predominately white upper class gay movement and save up for my surgery. I have dedicated my life to radical intersectional social justice, so I welcome healthy conversation and criticism.


Much love,

Asher
Founder of Legalize Trans* and (Un)heard :Transmasculine People of Color Speak!

weexist-weresist:

pomonothomo:

you can read more about the campaign and the “intern” positions available here.

I understand that the campaign originated as a response to the exclusionary “legalize gay” shirts from American Apparel (honestly though, what did you expect from a company…

(Source: pomogranate, via progressivelyminded-deactivated)