Hey Remy,

Your argument is so reminiscent of the 60's and 70's when people were saying, that "negroes" were just making it hard for themselves and that if they really wanted to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, that they could. However, all along, discrimination in all of the major institutions of learning, manufacturing, and engineering was running rampant. Everyone was aware of just how prevalent racism was, but they would still say these ridiculous things.

Today, we have the same situation with Transgenders. Everyone is aware that they're being discriminated against. Everyone is aware that this discrimination is pervasive. However, there's still this big question mark over their heads. Are they crazy? Are they mentally-ill? Do we really want to work and live with them? Do we want them actually coming into contact with our children? It's questions like these that I truly believe are retarding transgender inclusion and passing of ENDA.

So yes, we like to acknowledge and highlight the few successful extractions from the transgender community. However, as you must know, reality reflects a much dimmer picture from the transgender community. Most are on some type of governmental financial assitance. Many are high school drop-outs because they just couldn't take the harassment and gender pressure anymore. Many are high school drop-outs because they were kicked out of their homes as juveniles and were therefore, rendered homeless as teenagers. The same is true for many gay teens. Far too many transgenders make their living via sex-work and the adult entertainment industry.

The cards of life are heavily stacked against them. So love, to your argument, I say, poppycock!