Recently I
was linked to a video that I wish to share with you. I felt I should share it
for two main reasons. One is that it features a complete abuse of human rights
and the internet should be blowing all kinds of whistles about the topic. The
other is more personal. Up until recently I had no idea what transgendered
meant. My only vague ideas on the topic surrounded those who dressed in clothes
deemed appropriate for the opposite sex. My eyes and mind have since been opened
but only through exposure did this happen. So I present this video such that
others may begin to be exposed as well. The video, shot in front of the Swedish
parliament, features a transgendered person explaining some related laws of his
country. When I heard it I nearly retched. So without further ado:
I didn’t
think I’d ever have to state this but forced sterilization is atrocious, akin
to lobotomies which we have long given up. We have no right to invade the
bodies of our fellow humans for any reason outside of aiding them. Such a
drastic, and permanent, change could very well have long term negative on mental
health as well as the more obvious effect of preventing the individual from
having a biological family. Most first world countries have given up the practice
of sterilization mostly due its ties to eugenics. Eugenics may be seen, in
short summary, as selective breeding (or related practices) for the weeding out
of unwanted traits or peoples. Most countries got the hint that this was wrong
after world war two.
I want to
stress the importance of proper representation here as well. Not only is it in
the individual’s best interest to be treated in a manner according to who they
are (I think this goes without saying) but in the countries best interest as
well. For a government to make informed decisions they need to know who their
citizens are. Any law that would prevent the flow of accurate data to a
government inhibits proper decision making.
The good
news is this: the majority of representatives in the Swedish government seem to
agree that the law is outdated and needs to be tossed. The bad news is that it
is somehow being blocked by a small conservative party. I will admit I do not
know how they are blocking it, unfamiliar with their system as I am. There is
something you can do however. Visit http://www.allout.org/en/actions/stop_forced_sterilization
and sign the petition. A little international pressure might help persuade the
government to change.
I do not
understand the bigotry towards transgender individuals. Homophobia relies on
the Bible for support and racism can at least be partially attributed to
differing cultural values but there seems be nothing to stand on for
transphobia (I believe this is the correct term). When I first met a transgendered man I was
worried that I would offend them accidentally due to my lack of knowledge on
the subject. I can only remark now that my fears were unfounded. I found it
remarkably easy to switch which pronouns I use and my mental schema for gender
has now switched to allow for much more then our society’s out of date
male-female dichotomy. So, to all the cis-gendered (or gener-normative) people
reading this I hope you have opened your minds a little. To any transgendered
person who read this I only ask that if you are offended by anything I say
please tell me and understand that it is due to ignorance of the matter and not
bigotry.
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