OK, Now I'm Upset - Women-Only Pharmacy Won't Serve Transgender Women
The Georgia Straight had an article today revealing that the women-only pharmacy Lu's--the one I just blogged about here--will not allow transgender women to be customers.
According to the Straight, Caryn Duncan, the executive director of the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective (VWHC)--which runs Lu's--had this to say about excluding transgender women on the basis of their physiology:
-
“We are an organization that has for almost 40 years supported women around their battle with breast cancer or unwanted pregnancy or delivering a baby with a midwife, [and] celebrating or dealing with menopause,” Duncan said. “It’s about bleeding—or wanting to bleed or not bleed. It’s about being a woman, and the physiology of being a woman.”
Wow. I was honestly speechless when I read that. Isn't the VWHC suppose to be (kinda) feminist? How could the head of a (supposedly progressive?) women's organization make such appalling statements about defining womanhood? I mean, in addition to being horribly offensive to transgender women, does Ms. Duncan think women who've had hysterectomies are not women? (Or does that count as "not wanting to bleed"?)
Ms. Duncan goes on to explain that she believes that the "massive groundswell of support for our pharmacy and for our work is evidence that what we do is supported in the broader community.” To which I have to say: I supported (past tense) your endeavor until I found out today that you are discriminating against a group of women you don't think are womanly enough!
I just lost a lot of respect for the VWHC. How unbelievably hypocritical to want to empower (some) women while openly discriminating against others.
I take back my earlier endorsement of Lu's. I'm writing an angry email to VWHC instead.
Women--including trans women--should stand together. I thought that was the whole point.
UPDATED July 10: I had a talk with my partner about this post; he felt my language was too harsh and reactionary and that I was too quick to dismiss the good work of both the VWHC and Lu's Pharmacy for Women. While my opinion remains as stated, I do respect the VWHC's long history of helping women. I just don't personally feel that that excuses current discrimination.
What do you think? Please share your thoughts on the whole situation; I'd love to hear from you.
Comments
Its discrimination and a male version would never be allowed.
I am posting here an email I have sent to the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective about the exclusion of trans women.
…
I am so saddened to hear that transgendered women are not welcome at Lu’s. There are many systems of oppression, as I am sure all at the Women’s Health Collective would agree. One of the systems I recognise – trans oppression – is intimately wrapped up with sexism and heterosexism. Those of us whose gender identity matches the one that was assigned us at birth have a form of privilege, notwithstanding all the other ways in which we might be marginalized. There is a long history of organizations that exist to serve marginalized groups choosing to exclude those members of their groups who face multiple types of marginalization. Feminist organizations that exclude women with disabilities, or queer women, anti-racist organizations that fail to address the experiences of women, groups addressing class inequity that fail to acknowledge colonialism and racism…and so on and so on… It sometimes seems that we who are committed to social justice never learn. We weaken ourselves in this way. It is long past time to choose a different path.
Trans women are not privileged members of society. When we exclude trans women we are not protecting women’s space, we are protecting gender privileged space. There is nothing noble in reinforcing any form of marginalization. It causes pain, and it does so to no good end. Consider this – two forms of oppression I am sure you recognise and condemn – sexism and heterosexism – both encourage and promote hatred of trans people. In siding with trans oppression, you are working in solidarity with the very forces that harm, not just trans women, but all women, and all those whose sexual orientation is not heterosexual. Take a moment to look around at who is there with you in excluding trans women – the anti-choice movement is there, as are sexist and homophobic bigots of all stripes…are you sure that is the company you want to keep? Please, rethink what you are doing.
Sincerely,
Kalamity Hildebrandt
Thank you for sharing your letter, Kalamity. You did a wonderful job articulating why Lu’s should include trans women. I especially liked the part where you point out that social justice movements have a (sad) history of being blind to their own exclusions and collusions.
I sent a protest email to the VWHC, too; I never got any response. (Not even an automatic “we got your email” message.) If you get any response to this letter, I hope you’ll come back to share it.
Your language wasn’t too harsh. Your language was perfectly appropriate for this group’s disgustingly cissexist actions and supremely hypocritical stance on trans women.
I’m glad that you’re fighting the good fight with us.
Thanks recursiveparadox.
If you have any updates about the situation, please include them here!