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April 11, 2008
Where Was GLAAD?
Rhiannon

Perhaps I am a bit late to the story of Thomas Beatie, but I wanted to express my opinion on the topic. I personally find it foul that GLAAD has not stepped up to defend the man. I mean isn't that their job? Here I was thinking that transgender fell under the umbrella of their mission statement. Perhaps they are busy looking for a fight they can actually win? But I thought that it is not so much about winning the fight the first round but winning the proverbial war. Here I go thinking and maybe that is what's wrong. I read the article that Mr. Beatie and I saw a story about someone who wanted to have a family with the woman he loves and the bull they had to go through to do it. Honestly I can understand why people don't like the idea -- it's new, it's different, and most people are scared of that kind of thing. But the story isn't that far off of what is more acceptable. If he had chosen to live life as a woman, it would not even be an issue. They would be just another lesbian couple having children. The story wouldn't even be worthy of Joe Scarborough's attention.

Now the fact of the matter is that I may not have even agreed with them about what they said to him or about him but I would have at least respected they are coming to the aid of a member of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgender community, as they are supposed to do. All it took for them to hound Eminem was the use of the word "faggot." Mind you, I don't care for the word, and for the record I doubt it was (as weird as this sounds) actually used to reference gay people. I come from an area where that is used as a general offensive term. However. even if it was I would rather (even though I am a woman) be called something along those lines than "disgusting" or be talked about like I am some kind of wretched thing! It was the by far most juvenile display I have ever seen in my life. If it was me they were talking about I would be livid. If they were talking about Ellen like that, GLAAD would hit the roof. Now tell me why is it that this big powerful group can't even defend one man, his choices, his child, or his family? They do it for everyone else; it boggles my mind to think of how this is different.