From http://www.transphobia.org/2012/04/17/gay-males-control-us-huffington-post-gay-voices/

It makes me a bit uncomfortable to have to write about this topic, but it is needed. I praise the Huffington Post for realizing that we all need our voices heard, but I take issue with how they went about it. How can such a noble thing end up being so incredibly offensive and oppressive?

The Huffington Post is the largest liberal blog on the planet so when they put everyone in the lesbian, bisexual and trans communities under the “Gay Umbrella”, they are disregarding our own needs and telling the world that it is okay to do so. It is okay to ignore using the proper labels to describe us.

Noah Michelson

Editor, HuffPost Gay Voices

Welcome to HuffPost Gay Voices

Posted: 09/28/11 01:00 AM ET

In this article, Noah discusses naming the new LGBT section. He addresses the question ”Why did you decide to call it Gay Voices (and why not LGBT Voices or Queer Voices or…)?”

What’s more, with a specific vertical dedicated to the queer “community” (I use the term “community” loosely and for lack of a better one, as I don’t want to ignore the diversity of those who identify and/or empathize within and without the boundaries and barriers implied by terms like “lesbian,” “gay,” “bisexual” and “transgender,” nor do I want to gloss over the internal struggles, disputes and different ways of seeing and approaching problems and solutions that we as individuals and coalitions have)

“I don’t want to ignore the diversity of those who identify and/or empathize within and without the boundaries and barriers implied by terms like “lesbian,” “gay,” “bisexual” and “transgender” and then goes on to ignore this diversity because it doesn’t taste right.

When it came time to name the vertical, we considered a bunch of possibilities, including HuffPost Pride, HuffPost LGBT Voices and HuffPost Queer Voices. “Pride” felt wrong to me, as I want the vertical to be capable of critical (and I mean that in every sense of the word) as well as celebratory discourse (and if I’m being totally honest, it also felt just a tad too early-’90s). “LGBT Voices” is a little clinical and, to me, still not as instantly recognizable or evocative as Gay Voices (especially in mainstream circles).

As we can see here, the T is once again erased because it just tastes bad. It is too clinical to include us as one of the voices. Let us sweep you under this gay rug. Instead of helping the world understand LGBT, lets just call it Gay, okay? It is easier for us Gay Males.

When you visit Gay Voices, you will see the links below, just underneath the main menu.

GAY VOICES TRANSGENDER BISEXUAL LESBIAN GAY MARRIAGE DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL VOICE TO VOICE POLL POSITION

Do you notice that there is not a sub-section called Gay? You know, men who are gay? They have Lesbian there but no mention of gay men. This is because Gay Voices = Gay Men section. And the rest is the Other sub-categories. Noah, please tell me I shouldn’t feel oppressed and offended by this. And then explain to me why. This erasure can cause real harm to us as we try to tell the world why we need certain rights that you don’t need. Transgender and Transsexual people have to educate people on a daily basis that trans has nothing to do with homosexuality. The Huffington Post is making it more difficult for our communities.

I fully concede the term may not be one everyone feels comfortable claiming or wants to be associated with (especially when it comes to issues of gender rather than sexuality), but after realizing that there was never going to be the perfect term for us to use, we felt that “gay” packs the most instantaneous punch and immediately identifies the content on this vertical as dealing with these types of issues and events. I also feel that there is still — even in 2011 — something inherently radical about saying the words “I’m gay” out loud, whether for the very first time or any time (as most of “us” know that coming out doesn’t happen once — “we” are forced to do it over and over and over again). With so many people still in the closet (especially in the media and other places offering prominent visibility), I like seeing that defiant, unnerving little word blazing so happily on The Huffington Post.

Noah, I am a transsexual woman. Are you saying that I should be screaming “I’m gay”? While you may not accept it, this is very transphobic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transphobia

Whether intentional or not, transphobia can have severe consequences for the target of the negative attitude. Many trans people also experience homophobia from people who associate their gender identity with homosexuality. Attacking someone on the basis of a perception of their gender identity rather the perception of their sexual orientation is known as “trans bashing“, as opposed to “gay bashing“.

I know it wasn’t the intention of Noah and the Huffington Post to offend the trans community but that is exactly what the end result was.

Reclaiming offensive words

That being said, while you’re reading Gay Voices, you might come across other terms that you find uncomfortable, shocking or offensive. Words like “fag,” “dyke” and “tranny” will appear from time to time in blog postings, as many people see the value in “reclaiming” language that has been and/or continues to be used against queer people.

Noah, if you want to reclaim “fag”, go right ahead but can you please leave it to lesbians and trans people to reclaim or reject dyke or tranny?  You have proven to me that having control of my own voice isn’t beneficial to my liberation. Gay men should not be telling trans people or lesbians what they should reclaim or not. The general consensus is that the word tranny is offensive and should never be reclaimed.

The only reason I should be considered Gay is because I am bisexual, not that I am transsexual. Again, your cause is noble but the way it is presented is offensive and oppressive.

from http://www.transphobia.org/2012/04/13/huffington-post-and-the-word-trnny/

The Huffington Post seems to actually not understand that the word T*anny is offensive. Just like the word F*ggot is offensive to homosexuals.

Mara Keisling, who is a Huffington Post blogger and the Founding Executive Director for the National Center for Transgender Equality, wrote an article about the word and that using it, IS offensive.

Most people in America now know how it hurts for a white person to use the n-word. But now we have lots of words that some group or another has told us we shouldn’t use: “lame,” “illegal” “immigrant,” “retarded,” “faggot,” “dyke,” “tranny.” Some people complain that we have too many such words and that it’s “political correctness run amok.” Some people use these proscribed words as merit badges, emblematic of independence or rebellion.

This article was Posted: 03/ 6/2012 9:17 am.

Just days later we see the following headline.

Urban Outfitters ‘Tranny’ Greeting Card Slammed As Transphobic
Posted: 03/19/2012 3:16 pm Updated: 03/19/2012 3:21 pm 

The use of the word Tr*nny in this headline was absolutely unnecessary. This word is used to provide a shock value so that people will read the article. It would be just as effective using a headline such as “Urban Outfitters Transphobic Greeting Card”. Or, just replacing Tranny with Tr*nny would be an acknowledgement, by the author, that this word is offensive.

HuffPost Gay Voices [not trans voices] has reached out to Urban Outfitters’ Media Relations department for comment, and is awaiting reply at the time of this writing.

Thanks for reaching out to them but seriously? You are going to use an offensive and transphobic headline and then claim you are going to contact them about THEIR transphobia?

Then Ellie Krupnick published a story with the headline  BryanBoy: I’m ‘Pro-Tranny’ But Don’t Want Them In Miss Universe. Posted: 04/11/2012 6:14 pm Updated: 04/11/2012 6:14 pm

Also less than pleasing might be the use of the word “tranny.” Anyone who watches “Project Runway” knows it gets tossed around the fashion world every now and then, but the term is seen as derogatory by many in and outside the LGBT community.

BryanBoy’s comment has not caused mass outrage or condemnation, but it certainly caught our eye. Do you find it offensive?

YES! HuffPO! It IS offensive! It should not be used in a headline of a story. Then the gall of the author to ask people if they think it is offensive. Trans people are totally outnumbered here and what offends us should never be put to a vote. IT IS OFFENSIVE…IT IS OFFENSIVE..IT IS OFFENSIVE.

Stop using such dehumanizing words to describe us.

From http://www.transphobia.org/2012/04/13/huffington-post-gay-voices-and-transphobia/

To start off with, I want to applaud the Huffington Post for creating a section that deals with LGBTTQ issues.This is something that was desperately needed. However, I must slam them for how they went about it. It is painfully obvious that they didn’t include transgender, transsexuals or lesbians in the discussions when creating the concept. If they did, they certainly didn’t listen to them.

About six months ago, The Huffington Post created a section called “Gay Voices“.

Yes, Transgender/Transsexual and Lesbians are put underneath the “Gay Umbrella”. Who is the “Gay Umbrella”? Gay males. We see “Lesbian” underneath the umbrella but we don’t see men. So, first is “Gay Men” and then the rest. This should be offensive to transgender/transsexual and all lesbians. TG/TS should be very upset with this as it gives the public a false definition of what TS/TG is. It has nothing to do with being gay or not and this is something that we fight every single day. STOP ERASING US! Most TS/TG people are straight.

While the Huffington Post seems to have their heart in the right place, they are actually doing real harm to us. The largest liberal blog on the planet is telling the world that we are all gay. We are the same thing. This is absurd and incredibly offensive. This is actually transphobic as it denies us our very own identity.

I will be publishing more articles to expose the transphobia in a place where LGBTTQ people should feel safe.

From Ashley Love at TransForming Media

GLAAD Says The Huffington Post is “Reinforcing Gay Stereotypes”, But What About GLAAD Reinforcing Misrepresentation of Transsexual Medical Condition?!

GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) is protesting The Huffington Post for “reinforcing gay stereotypes”, but what about GLAAD reinforcing misrepresentation concerning the transsexual medical condition?

GLAAD makes a lot of people with transsexualism SAAD and MAAD due to GLAAD’s BAAD miseducation about transsexual issues.

“Do unto others what thee shall have done unto you”

Read more…