People who think I need to get a sense of humour need to get a sense of mission

[lokifan]

CW for discussion of suicide

I’m. Ugh. I understand they mean it helpfully, but I wish people wouldn’t say “it's not personal” when talking about bigoted views. Maybe it’s not personal for those bigots, or the people who mean that kindly but as a reason I should be calmer about it all; but IT IS FOR ME. They want me, personally, to not have full rights over my body or as a citizen; it is my actual personal friends who would lose access to protection and life-saving healthcare. IT IS PERSONAL FOR ME.

This particular example was on the subject of mental health care, and queer people, and the 48% of trans people who have attempted suicide. And me thinking about the trans people I know and love, and/or like and respect, and totting up numbers. Thinking about the people I might have known and loved if they hadn’t killed themselves before I could.

IT IS PERSONAL.

Comments

[sherylyn]

It's personal for me, too. My daughter is gay, but even aside from her, I know so many people who are somewhere in the LGBTQ* community, and ... no. A thousand, million times NO, you're not allowed to discriminate against people, no matter what. I'm right there with you, in every way possible. <3

[lokifan]

<333

Right, that's exactly it. It might be "not personal" for the people expounding bigoted views, but it's personal for the people affected, and their families - so why do the bigots get priority when we frame these things?

[sherylyn]

I so completely agree! The bigots should never be a priority, and it blows my mind that they think they have that "right." :-P (It shouldn't, in the sense that it doesn't surprise me, but geeeez, the "going backwards" mentality just drives me batty!)

[ruinsplume]

Kudos to your title, and to your speaking truth to power. Keep it up.

[lokifan]

:) Thank you!

[secretsolitaire]

Amen.

[lokifan]

:) *apparently can get an amen*

[lynnenne]

I can't even believe that anyone would try to make that argument. Of COURSE it's personal! Trying to take away basic human rights is the same as taking away personhood.

[lokifan]

SRSLY. I think they're trying to help, but it's such a stark focus on the ~feeeeelings of people trying to oppress us and not on the effect on e.g. women seeking abortions or people in same-gender relationships trying to get married etc etc.

[alafaye]

Amen.

[lokifan]

<333