Marriage equality vs. ‘Human Rights’ vs. trans rights

March 27, 2013

This past day or so has been a little painful and plenty draining for me.

Yesterday, many of the people I know from all over the spectrum were eagerly awaiting the possibility of the Supreme Court rendering a landmark decision, as it heard arguments for and against upholding California’s Proposition 8, the narrowly passed 2008 referendum that banned gay marriage in the state. (And coming up today, arguments over the so-called “Defense of Marriage” Act.)

What pained me — sometimes angered me — is the way they showed their support for marriage equality on Facebook.

A great many people had changed their profile photos to a pink “equal” sign on a red background, a stylization of the logo of the Human Rights Campaign — or, as I call it, the so-called “Human Rights” Campaign. And it wasn’t just friends of mine; it was also big-name people and organizations that have long flown their liberal flags: Moveon.org, Daily Kos, George Takei, Jon Stewart’s fan page.

I know everyone who posted the image meant well. I get that. It was a convenient symbol, easy to find on the Web, and to many people, it simply represents equal rights.

But in reality, it doesn’t. Not by a longshot.

It represents an organization that has a history of being against transgender rights — and throwing transpeople under the bus when it’s convenient. And in spreading this logo virally, many people have been unwittingly spreading lots of free and positive publicity for a bigoted organization that certainly doesn’t deserve it.

I was able to convince some friends to use one of the many other wonderful images of support out there: the old tried-and-true rainbow flags (which I used), interlocked same-sex symbols, hearts with equal signs inside, even someone who turned the “HR”C logo into the Black Flag logo. But some dug in their heels with me about the matter. Made me feel as if I was screaming into a vacuum, for nothing. Also made me wonder how much some people actually have been in my corner if they were that adamant about using the symbol, even after they knew it represents something that discriminates against me and some of you.

I’m just drained. In what has been a rough week for personal reasons — one in which I’ve pretty much given up hope on life itself — I didn’t need the pushback. Especially from people I know — and some I’ve supported. Then again, truth and reality are good things, right?