Posted on 12/18/2008 12:41:15 PM PST by flowerplough
Question:
I recently was in a situation at work where a coworker made transphobic statements about a customer (out of earshot, thank God). He said things like, "That person isn't really a woman," and went on to mention how proud he was of himself for being able to "tell." What are the best ways to react to such comments? I'm a queer white woman who's out, and I wanted to engage my coworker in conversation as a peer so that our work relationship can continue to be positive, and so that we can have the kind of dialogue that eventually leads to greater understanding. At the same time, I also wanted to make it clear that what he said was unacceptable and that I won't stand for it.
Excerpt from answer:
Most people aren't bigots, sexists or homophobes--and if handled with generosity, will respond to kindly offered dialogue. A fellow Navy pilot who took the time to explain his experience as an African American as he helped me be our office's "minority officer recruiter" changed the trajectory of my life in the 1980s.
This doesn't mean that you're always going to have a "kumbaya" moment. My experience with the responses to this publication is that many people stubbornly hold onto their discriminatory views and take criticism as a personal attack, even when it's counterproductive. Take your incident, for example. Only a creep would make a comment like that--especially considering he was in a work environment with an out lesbian in his company.
(Excerpt) Read more at diversityinc.com ...
This is only the second Diversity Inc. thread I’ve run across on FR but I’m sure there is more to see on DI’s website.
I agree. There's enough political and economic crap to deal with without posts about queer wimmin.
“Homosexuals within the mental health field redefined society’s norms. As new gods, they recast the world in their own image. “
That’s exactly what they did, it used to be treated like the mental disorder that it really is. But the homosexuals took over and wrote it almost completly out of the guielines.
Now the insane are really running the asylum.
good luck with that :)
They are also trying to do the same with religion. While we should welcome sinners into church services, we should not celebrate their sins with pride parades or pretended that they are no longer sins.
What kind of political crap?
The election is over. Political parties hold no weight these days.
You said — “I will accept your gender role standards to the extent that you accept my right wing Christian standards.”
And that should mean that one (who is a Christian) will persist in “dialogue” (at least that has been “opened up” by the other side), to tell them the Gospel message of Jesus Christ of the Bible and what that means in terms of all sin that is in one’s life.
Now..., if they are truly interested in dialogue, they should continue listening to one’s presentation of the Gospel message, too..., wouldn’t they?
I show them my face.
When the shrieks and fainting dies down, I collect the dead, tend to the unconsious, and give therapy to the horrified.
You said — “The owner of the company I now work for asked me in my first phone interview if i was a n*gger. I never laughed so much in my life. OK, I have, but i laughed anyway. Hes a great guy, just a little old school, and harbors not one bit of bigoted attitude despitee his comments. Hes almost 80, and still sharp as a tack, when hes awake.”
LOL..., he must be from the South (and still in the South, somewhere) or else he wouldn’t be referring to a “n*gger*, as he puts it. It’s only in the South where that is still used by whites in normal conversation, and not necessarily in a mean way, actually...
You asked — “Why even post this crap here on FR? It defiles our site.”
Well, it’s “real life” for one thing and it exists out there and it can be situations that people on this board may come into contact with. But, as I said up above, it’s actually a *great opportunity* (if one says that) for one to give the person the Gospel message of Jesus Christ as the Bible presents Him to us — and engaging that person in a serious discussion about it.
As I said, above, one can find out quickly how serious they were about “dialogue”... LOL...
You said — “Homosexuals are permitted to share all facets of their lives with coworkers without prompting or rejection of such details but religious people should respect the rights of others and not preach their faith to coworkers.”
Anyone who says that they are open to dialogue (like above) then pretty much backs themselves into a corner to have to listen to someone seriously engage them on this topic (i.e., what you just mentioned...). That’s *wide open* for discussing that very thing. You wouldn’t have a chance otherwise...
You said — “Leave me alone. Freak.”
A Christian shouldn’t say that. Now, this doesn’t mean that one takes up with going places with them and being chummy off work. You might meet with them to discuss things about their lifestyle and what Christianity means in relation to that. That might be a meeting at a restaurant (you couldn’t do very much talking at work, obviously).
I wouldn’t necessarily bring them home to meet the family, though... LOL...
But, a Christian *should* engage in dialogue, especially as it has to do with the salvation that is offered by Jesus Christ, in the way and manner that the Bible tells us.
So very well put! Bravo!
How much money is spent by the companies that subscribe to this publication (HR departments) to put employees through “diversity training” (political re-education) to mark along to this drum beat?
How does this help the company’s bottom line? Is the money well spent to maximize profit and solicit the best candidates for a job?
If you challenge the notion that it is normal acceptable behavior, then you are being intolerant.
Political correctness stifles dissent. It does not tolerate debate.
Oh, I don't know about that.
The old Chevy PowerGlide (aka PowerSlide) was a pretty darned good tranny (for an automatic anyway). I still prefer a four-speed floor shift, though. :=)
I'm Transylphobic.
I'm scared of vampires.
I'm Transylphobic.
I'm scared of vampires.
The bigger question is, how can you lecture me when you’re biting me?
I'm afraid that I'll get brain cancer or slip a disc rocking out to beat music on a portable radio.
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