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Pakistan Recognizes Third Gender - Transgendered Teen Gets Beat Down in McDonalds

Thu, 04/28/2011 - 09:00
Submitted by Carlin Ross

We live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.  We have the constitution...the Civil Rights Act...the ACLU.  Most Americans believe that we live in the most tolerant, progressive country in the world.  And that may be true unless your transgendered.

Last week the video of a Baltimore transgendered woman getting beat down at McDonalds went viral.  She had entered the women's room and a group of patrons decided to beat her senseless.  You can see her just laying on the ground unable to defend herself - she went into an epileptic seizure but they kept beating her until they heard police sirens.  Even more shocking was that the McDonald's employees did nothing to stop the fight or call police - no, they just took video of the attack and posted it out youtube.

Here's the irony.  The very same week that this helpless woman was attacked for using the restroom Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled that those Pakistanis who do not consider themselves to be either male or female should be allowed to choose an alternative sex when they apply for their national identity cards.  Now, transgendered individuals can apply for jobs, take part in government programs, and sue for discrimination.

Who would have thought that a Middle Eastern country would take such a bold step towards gender equality.  I think we can learn a great deal about tolerance and why it's so important that our government recognize a third sex - and let's throw in gay marriage while we're at it. By refusing to protect all of its citizens, our government is sending the message that violence against specific segments of the population is condoned. 

Equality is an all or nothing proposition. 
 

There's a new book out for parents of transgendered children Helping Your Transgender Teens: A Guide for Parents by Irwin Krieger, LCSW.  It's available only online through Amazon.

Sex, Politics & More Sex

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We are more backwards than we backwards than we boast

Thu, 04/28/2011 - 09:58
Trevor J (not verified)

We are what we DO not what we intend or like to believe of ourselves.
Therefore, we are more backwards than we take credit for.

Pakistan is not a

Thu, 04/28/2011 - 12:25
Reefer (not verified)

Pakistan is not a middle-eastern country.

I stand corrected.  It's a

Thu, 04/28/2011 - 12:34
Carlin Ross

I stand corrected.  It's a South Asian country.  It kind of gets lumped in with Iran and Afghanistan in my North American ego centrist mind...sorry

Other Gender

Thu, 04/28/2011 - 21:11
The Nerd (not verified)

I dream of being able to put my actual gender on my ID, because I haven't identified as man or woman for a while now.  We are so backwards.  I shouldn't have to dream of moving to Pakistan to finally be recognized.  At least Obama is meeting with transgender people this week to talk about the future of our rights.  Let's hope something will actually come of it.

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