Bitch please….
Today I got the earth shattering news!
Bethany whatsherface…that Soul Surfer person, won’t compete in surf comps because of trans inclusion.
She is now joining the long list of second class sporting talents that either have no clue how transition works, how sporting bodies set their standards for competition or have some religious convictions that preclude her from the 21st century.
Apart from a dark bit of humour about Blåhaj being a trans icon, this is really not interesting.
I don’t quite know who to blame here? The news media? Bigots? I just don’t know who to blame for this bit of useless information crossing my path.
Here is the thing, we are speaking about trans people and their inclusion in society. While Bethany and that Lamprechs meathead from Boksburg err sorry New Zealand may whine incessantly about trans inclusion. The fact is, it’s not actually a debate. When you look at the wider picture of what we are actually talking about. Much like civil rights for people of colour, non discrimination rights for the LGBTQ community and marriage equality for interracial and same sex couples, it’s a question of rights not democracy or debate.
We all, or at least should, know about apartheid and South Africa. In 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison and a government of national unity was formed. Then in 1994 the franchise was granted to all South Africans and the first truly democratic elections were held.
There is a small and very shameful detail that is missing from that extremely simplified timeline for the fall of apartheid. That was the 1992 referendum on the continuation of apartheid. The then government of South Africa thought they had better run the idea of dropping racial segregation by the white population first. The referendum ended with a 68% in favour of scrapping apartheid vs 32% against.
Only white people were allowed to vote.
Many white people will proudly say that it was a show of the good will and desire for a true democracy in South Africa that drove that vote. Those that voted “Yes” may even say they did the right thing in voting with their conscience.
I have never spoken to a black person about that referendum. I don’t know how black people in South Africa feel about that referendum. However apartheid was immoral and a human rights abuse. The concept of asking one population group permission to dismantle a human rights abuse is immoral. Only someone who does not understand what human rights are would see that vote as valid in any way. The fact is, no person gets to decide what rights are appropriate for any population group. The opinion of white people on apartheid in South Africa was and still is irrelevant. The fact is, black people were denied their rightful place in society. Asking white citizens how they felt about desegregation was an insult to the dignity of every black South African.
So when I see articles about a pro surfer who demanded sympathy and celebration when she rose above her terrible injury, attempt to deny the rightful place of trans people in society. I think she looks an awful lot like those assholes who voted “no” in that referendum and thought they had the right to do so.
I am simply unimpressed and uninterested in whatever religion or belief or ideology they hold. It’s a whiny little brat crying because they have to share.
So much like my handling of white South Africans who still harken back to apartheid whom I have blocked on Facebook. I wish I could block a news feed that includes the constant drivel of bigots.
Bethany should ask those South Africans who moved to Australia and New Zealand in the nineties for advice. Perhaps they have some insights on what to do when faced with a changing landscape that suddenly accommodates the previously oppressed. Tracey Lamprechs may even have some valuable insights.
