Transgender debate turned to personal attacks

Posted 5/5/16

When people are behind a keyboard, some evidently feel they have a sort of shield. There is a sense, however false, of anonymity, that because things aren’t said in person or out loud that they …

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Transgender debate turned to personal attacks

Posted

When people are behind a keyboard, some evidently feel they have a sort of shield. There is a sense, however false, of anonymity, that because things aren’t said in person or out loud that they somehow do not have repercussions.

Over the last few days a number of brazen individuals have berated and bullied a 15-year-old girl in her first year of high school all because she is doing what she has a legal right to.

As a transgender female, Ashlynn has every right under state law to use the changing room or bathroom she best identifies with. Up until Saturday, Ashlynn hadn’t experienced serious negativity or heard complaints from her fellow classmates. Despite this, the Warwick Watch opened debate on the issue in a very transphobic manner, supposedly deleting posts of support, facts, and legal proof.

Hidden behind a computer screen, even when faced with questions from Ashlynn, even when it was learned she is a minor, people continued to bully her online, asking personal questions.

That’s their right under the First Amendment, but it doesn’t make it right.

Just because we have the right to free speech, should it be used to spread falsehoods, hatred and ignorance?

The Internet does not wash away all sins.

Thankfully, Ashlynn has risen to the occasion and benefited from a surge of support. She is standing strong.

The truth is that in similar instances, there can be dire consequences.

Faced with such negativity, hatred, bigotry and ignorance, there have been cases of youth in the LGBTQ community taking their own lives.

In 2010, Tyler Clementi, a first-year student at Rutgers University, took his own life by jumping off the George Washington Bridge, after being “outed” by his roommate as gay with a live stream video and experiencing days of online torment. The two students found responsible were charged with counts of invasion of privacy. Although several years ago, Clementi’s suicide brought to light the atrocities many in the LGBTQ community face online in tandem with the discrimination in the public sphere. Even though those with comments claim they are solely expressing their “opinions,” there is no doubt there were plenty of posts that could emotionally devastate because they single out Ashlynn.

No matter where one stands on the issue of transgender rights, the fact remains the exchange on Warwick Watch has degenerated into despicable verbal attacks on a young girl. This is not discourse.

Comments

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  • Frank11

    It is quite upsetting that this issue has engendered such animosity and fear. There is nothing trivial about being transgender and coming to terms with this as a teen. it is not a fad or a way to spy on females or males for that matter. It isn't related to homosexuality, which by the way is not about preying on children, or what is truly distressing, pedophilia.

    I would encourage those who are so passionate about attacking this youth and/or those who invoke fear to read "Becoming Nicole," a story about a transgender child from Main and her journey to become female. It is inspiring and moving account how this child's family dealt with her issue and their own conflicted feelings as well as those in her school and community.

    Being transgender is not a choice. It's not about convenience. Those attacking this youth should be ashamed and strive to understand more about the complexity of human behavior rather than admonish that which they fear or don't understand!

    Frank Canino, Ph.D.

    Thursday, May 5, 2016 Report this

  • Ken B

    This is not a legal issue or a political issue. It is a privacy issue. Individuals should not have to explain or defend what they do in their private lives. People should mind one’s own business. In School individuals should be allowed to use the locker room or bathroom of their choice. To insure privacy urinals should be removed and bathroom stalls should be floor to ceiling with lockable doors. The entrance to a hallway bathroom should be a large opening with no door to allow the sink area to be visible from the hallway. Using a toilet is a private activity, washing one’s hands is not a private activity. In locker rooms, shower stalls should be larger with a lockable door. An area in the stall should be provided to allow individuals to bring in their clothes and dress up before they leave the shower stall.

    Friday, May 6, 2016 Report this

  • Stella

    Ken B maybe that can add the construction cost of bathrooms to deal with this issue to the estimated 200 million plus that SMMA reports the district needs to spend to bring the facilities up to code and keep them usable. I guess the three new sinks at Pilgrim does the trick. You can read all about this if you go to the district web site and click on SMMA then final report. As for the sinks, they are pictured in the District consolidation site. Looking at the numbers you could lay off all the teachers and still wouldn't put a dent in the cost. I am at a loss as to why we could build so many new school in the 50 and 60's and make Warwick a city young families wanted to move to. Our schools are like the bridges in the State, neglected for so long and now the bill has come due. It is time for the city leaders to begin a systematic approach to building new schools and selling the GOOD news to the residents. The upside is great schools = better home values and lower long term cost.

    Saturday, May 7, 2016 Report this