Posted on 12/16/2004 12:10:14 PM PST by freespirited
Amanda Simpson was recognized last week by the YWCA as one of a dozen local Women on the Move.
That's more than a personal accomplishment for the 43-year-old senior principal systems engineer at Raytheon Missile Systems. It's also a personal victory, since Simpson is a transgendered woman who very publicly allowed the media to recount her transition from Mitchell Simpson four years ago.
"To say that I was absolutely thrilled is a bit of an understatement," Simpson said. She was selected from a pool of 89 finalists for the award, which gives the nod to women who are committed to the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women.
When Simpson was introduced at the awards banquet, the audience heard about her accomplishments at Raytheon, her recent bid for the state House of Representatives and her volunteer work in the community. She was also singled out as "an example of courage" for being open about her transition and becoming a nationally known speaker on gender issues in employment - openness worth recognizing when anonymity can be easier.
Linda Breck, director of leadership development for the YWCA, met Simpson at YWCA leadership conferences and planning committees. "She is very professional. She's certainly committed to the mission of the YWCA," Breck said. "She's very reliable and has great ideas. But she's really being recognized for her activism in the community and for taking a leadership role."
Kent Burbank, executive director of Wingspan, the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community resource center, said he gives the YWCA credit for issuing the award. It came on the heels of the "moral values" debate launched following the national elections, when voters in 11 states banned gay marriage at the polls.
Simpson's award, he said, makes a larger statement. "It's a wonderful achievement for her personally, but it's also an important thing for the transgender community that a transgendered woman be recognized as a woman," Burbank said.
But, as Simpson can attest, while she went public to help erase the stigma that can follow gender transitions, it isn't always easy having an adjective following her everywhere - something this very story is perpetuating.
"To some extent, yes, I wish when someone mentioned that I was the first transgendered person to win a (state) primary in the United States, I wish that wasn't true. I wish I didn't have to be the trailblazer. Someday, I won't have to be, because it will be completely accepted, but until then, I can't let harassment and biases continue unchallenged.
"Why should I not do things that I'm interested in?" Simpson continued. "Should I not get involved in politics or not work with nonprofits because of my past? And the answer to that is 'No' - I'm going to pursue things that interest me."
Simpson said she is noticing more tolerance. She won a similar award from Raytheon three years ago, and there was some grumbling then, she said, since it came so soon after her transition. But with the exception of some news accounts during her legislative campaign, Simpson said, the focus of the race was on important issues - health care, education, the economy - and not her transgenderism.
Ultimately, even though she had limited funding as a Democrat running against two popular incumbents in a district with a Republican advantage, she still collected 21 percent of the vote - a respectable showing since she trailed the second-place winner, an incumbent, by only seven percentage points.
"I'm not in people's faces. I'm challenging discrimination by saying, 'This is who I am and this is what I do.' All I ask is to be accepted for my qualities and judged on that basis."
Baseless name calling only shows everyone here how immature you are.
By the way, aren't you jumping that gun here, you didn't starting me a fraud until after I poked all those holes in your statements, and even then I stated how I was not a fraud by pointing out to you that I never stated I was an expert.
Of course if you want to dig yourself into a hole, I am not going to stop you.
I agree with you. Male or female goes to the chromosome level and is determined by the body, not the brain. No amount of surgery or hormones or dressing up will change a man into a woman or a woman into a man.
About a year ago I was referred to a specialist who was a man dressed as a woman. His business card said "Ed aka Heather". I was insulted that he expected me to treat him like a woman and I haven't returned to that office. Not only that, but his office is part of a shopping mall and I refuse now to use the public restroom in the mall for fear of meeting him there (yes, I'm a woman, chromosomes and all). I'm not afraid of this man but seeing him in the ladies' room at the mall, I would feel duty-bound to make a public statement that a man was in the restroom and all women should act accordingly. So, to avoid such a moral dilemma (and avoid possible arrest for "discriminating") I avoid the restroom. Too bad, the company that employs him has lost my business and the mall is losing some, too.
And to Paul C. Jesup, no matter how many times you repeat a lie, adults will still call it a lie.
Research I have no doubt would indicate that all of us are born terribly flawed from what are Original Designer chose for us to be. These operations are unethical and unnecessary. I believe with all my heart that this is wrong and time will tell how damaging these surgeries are on the individuals and their families.
Holy Matriarchy; she's only been a woman for four months and already she's leading the pack.
I thought they hollowed out the whole sheath, popped it inside and made artificial labia, did I miss something?
Yes, that is definitely more accurate. You forgot to mention the mental state of the licensed surgeon who performed this Satanic ritual.
Actually no. The studies showed there is a physical differences between men and women in the deeper parts of the brain. Also in those parts of the brains of those who are transsexuals lead choose to the gender they stated they are intheir brains. And as a side note the BSTc study had some interesting signs about homosexuality that were completely different than transsexuals, or normal men or women.
from what are Original Designer chose for us to be. These operations are unethical and unnecessary.
That is flawed cicular logic in 'that if you are born that way, you be forced to stay that way'.
And if you truly followed that you would prevent plastic surgery on children born with a clef lips and let children die from having a been born with a hole literally in their heart.
Instead, it is farcical in the hypocrisy you have on this issue in that those like you say: 'Oh yes, we will let you fix this, but we won’t let you fix that.'
I believe with all my heart that this is wrong and time will tell how damaging these surgeries are on the individuals and their families.
In reality from the journals I have read online (from both transsexuals and their family members), the surgery itself has little or no effect on their family.
I mean how often is a family member going to check what's in a relatives pants.
Now a person living in the opposite gender than what they were raised does have a effect, both negative and positive, depending on the family member. But by the time the surgery is done, which is a average of two to five years from the start seeing therapist to get hormones, the spouse (wife or husband, girlfriend or boyfriend) has either accepted the person or has long since left.
You really need to look this stuff up online, it is quite interesting.
Perhaps no longer, but the YMCA and YWCA at one time was the acronym for Young Men/Women Christian Associations. Perhaps their organization is just very tolerant but I imagine its founders must be turning over in their graves...
http://www.ymca.int/history/whats_ymca.htm
First off, would you want to share a foxhole with this alien?
Second, how is this freak's contribution to missile technology going to save our conjunctions?
Ah, Brave New World...
in the bad old days you had to pay money at the carnival freak-show to see this sort of thing!
And if you truly followed that you would prevent plastic surgery on children born with a clef lips and let children die from having a been born with a hole literally in their heart.
You had to set up the straw man (or else close your piehole) because no one else here would ever argue from the point of view you have taken. Your arguments are typical of all who advocate the perverse and sinful. You take something like civil rights for all regardless of color, race or religion and extend it to a perversion of human sexuality. It is utterly dishonest and an affront to all people of good will.
*snrk!*
Actually yes. Take a look at a picture of her in post 5, she isn't that bad looking.
Second, how is this freak's contribution to missile technology going to save our conjunctions?
The article says she is the senior principal systems engineer at Raytheon Missile Systems.
Call me crazy, but that sounds wrong. And quite painful.
Actually no strawman. I know of people who have used the same justification to prevent children born with clef lips to get plastic surgery to correct their lips.
And there are religious groups that do not believe in surgery, so neither of my examples are strawmen.
You may want to look around on the floor, Jesup, it sounds like the cheese just slipped off your cracker. If you're a heterosexual male and you think a guy in a wig and heels is attractive, then you need help.
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