In a recent op-ed for The New York Times' opinion section, written by a non-NYT staffer who I won't name (because I don't want to give them any exposure), readers were treated to a generous serving of transphobia. Under the guise of exploring both sides, the writer of the op-ed discusses G.G. v. Gloucester School Board, a case which questions whether or not Gavin Grimm, a 16-year-old transgender boy, may use the men’s room at his school. The author explores what a Supreme Court ruling on this case could mean for the locker room and how unfortunate it could be for cisgender people to have to concede some space for non-binary people in the world.
It goes from bad to worse, with the writer using phrases like "girl-born-a-girl" instead of cisgender, employing sex segregation as an excuse for trans exclusion is acceptable, promoting modesty as the highest value, and insidiously agreeing and validating the ideologies that suggest that trans individuals are dangerous in bathroom and locker room environments. It's a trash fire that I'd encourage people to read only for the sake of understanding its rebuttal.
Chase Strangio, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, powerfully responded to the NYT op-ed, in a Twitter thread that is pure, logical, gold. They take the subtle and outright bigotries of the piece and respond succinctly in each case. Here are some of the best moments:
\u201c1. The @nytopinion insists on framing ADF's crusade against trans kids as a legitimate balancing between privacy & equality. That is absurd.\u201d— Chase Strangio (@Chase Strangio) 1476624841
\u201c3. First, she talks about girls who are trans as having boys' bodies. This is wrong. Read this: https://t.co/aU5skwbG2D.\u201d— Chase Strangio (@Chase Strangio) 1476624841
\u201c4. Second, she talks about "stripping" in the locker room - deliberately recalling a coercive frame. The reality is locker rooms in schools\u201d— Chase Strangio (@Chase Strangio) 1476624841
\u201c5. Are not sites of forced nudity. And there are many ways to maintain & ensure privacy for those who want it. No one is forced to get naked\u201d— Chase Strangio (@Chase Strangio) 1476624841
\u201c10. The piece describes ADF - which has argued that trans-ness is a delusion & support trans kids is child abuse - this way:\u201d— Chase Strangio (@Chase Strangio) 1476624841
\u201c11. She does not cite ADF's long history of anti-trans & anti-LGBT work nor does she mention the odious arguments raised by ADF in court.\u201d— Chase Strangio (@Chase Strangio) 1476624841
\u201c12. Instead, she claims their arguments can't be dismissed as "intolerance".\u201d— Chase Strangio (@Chase Strangio) 1476624923
\u201c17. There are no trans voices in the piece, no mention of the many educators who find no problems with OCR's guidance...\u201d— Chase Strangio (@Chase Strangio) 1476625259
\u201c18. ...no statements from the medical groups, pediatric groups, psychological associations discussing the need for protecting trans students\u201d— Chase Strangio (@Chase Strangio) 1476625425
\u201c19. Just a one-sided anti-trans think piece under the guise of a "debate" between competing rights.\u201d— Chase Strangio (@Chase Strangio) 1476625468
\u201c21. It is so toxic that cis women leverage the painful struggles of trans young people to position themselves as experts on trans survival\u201d— Chase Strangio (@Chase Strangio) 1476625595
The thread got the attention of the author, who unsurprisingly was unable to genuinely dispute anything that was said. Let this be a note to transphobic writers out there. We see you and we're not going to let you slide anymore. If you drag our trans community members and feed the ideologies that attack and kill them, we will drag you in return and shut you down.
I think we can all agree with Chase's conclusion.
\u201c28. Hopefully we will give platform to actual experts - particularly the trans experts of our own lives. Until then...\u201d— Chase Strangio (@Chase Strangio) 1476625971
\u201c29. ...keep telling trans people they are loved, beautiful and perfect as they are. https://t.co/cFstzMFmeU\u201d— Chase Strangio (@Chase Strangio) 1476626000
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