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New York has been hit
with many tragedies that have made headlines for the past couple of years. December 17th, 2002
a sad event happened, and most of the world never even knew. Trans-inclusion was not amended
into SONDA (Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act), and the prospects of any
trans-inclusive legislation passing in the near future are slim.
T-Party hosted two sides of the issue with guests Pauline Park of http://www.nyagra.tripod.com and
Chelsea Goodwin of http://www.nyagra.org.
On Tuesday the 17th, I interviewed Pauline Park. Park droned on and on with a long winded
essay on wanting a trans-inclusive SONDA, but expressed that she would not protest the passage
of the non-inclusive legislation. She came off as aloof and even, at times, mean. When I asked
Park what she thought of the “work” that Sylvia Rivera did for the community, Park
coldly stated that Rivera “had her fans and supporters.” Instead of an obligatory
comment on Rivera’s obvious accomplishments, Park declined comment.
I went on to ask Park if she would be willing to form alliances or work with STAR (Street
Transgender Action Revolutionaries), or any other gender activist group in NY. Again, Park
rebuffed the notion.
By the way, can someone tell me what is up with the “official NYAGRA website” being
a tripod address? That doesn’t have much of an “official” ring to it, yet Park
assured us the official website for NYAGRA was the tripod address. I checked at directnic.com
and it said that NYAGRA.com was available for thirty dollars for two years.
On Thursday following the vote on SONDA, I took to the internet airwaves to interview Chelsea
Goodwin. From the very outset, Goodwin seemed very irritable and ready to spit nails from my
intro. I introduced Goodwin as representing NYAGRA, and she thoroughly took me to task about
this incorrect assumption. I had assumed that since she responded to my email to
nyagra@nyagra.org , she was representing NYAGRA.
From that moment on, Goodwin set out preaching a sermon that “the Lord made us who we
are” and talked about us being like “Angels” sent by God during this time of
“apocalyptic talk.” Goodwin sounded so emotionally worked up; I wondered if our
interview had physically tired her out.
The ensuing discussion seemed almost like a testimony of faith which would have been inspiring
in any other setting. However, in the context of talking about SONDA, it seemed almost
surreal, like I had fallen asleep during our conversation and woke up in the middle of
another. When asked what the plan was in reaction to the passage of SONDA, she stated that we
need to “organize a march to the statehouse on Dr Martin Luther King’s
birthday” and continue to work on legislation under the name of GINDA (Gender Identity
Non-Discrimination Act). While her sermon was chock full of pie in the sky optimism, I found
little concrete direction from Goodwin.
Goodwin and Park both refused to talk about NYAGRA and the split both are presenting to the
community as though we don't see a glaring crack. If you aren’t familiar with the rift,
last year the group broke into two separate groups under much drama. Insinuations of theft and
embezzlement within NYAGRA have been lofted in the air. Both groups claimed the name NYAGRA
and existed as separate groups but refuse to talk about it publicly. I’ve heard through
the grapevine that the Goodwin faction of NYAGRA is now being called the New York Transgender
Coalition. Lord, where in God’s name will this end? If the largest and most powerful
transactivist group in New York State cannot unify their own community, much less themselves,
why would anyone think they could unify the GLB community into supporting transgender
inclusion?
Goodwin and Park both stated that they would be working with ESPA (Empire State Pride Agenda)
in getting further trans legislation passed. Why not insist that skinheads support affirmative
action? Matt Foreman, Executive Director of ESPA, support of us is lukewarm at best. His
“support” of the transgender community shows in his public discussion of
trans-inclusion. "No one's denying that transgendered people need protection. We're
certainly not, [But] this is about winning rights for people as quickly as we can." He
said it was too late to change the bill and “The notion that you just suddenly and
quickly and easily insert a whole new protected category, and that the State Senate that has
clearly been reluctant to act on this would just accept it blindly, is beyond naïve," He
knew that transgender activists have been lobbying for transgender inclusion in SONDA for some
time, but he has portrayed this as a last minute “Hail Mary” from the trans
community. Why are we depending on someone who supports us in word but not action? Why
don’t we introduce legislation and work through people that do support us like Senator
Tom Duane? Duane has already assured the community that he would work for trans-inclusive
legislation. Isn’t it about time we stop bitching about what others aren’t doing for
us, and start doing for ourselves?
It's obvious to me that there is not a strong consensus building activist leader or
organization in the state of New York. As I look at the results of the December 17th vote, one
thing is glaringly obvious. Unity and leadership is needed in the New York trans community.
I’ve read statements made in the press from NYAGRA representatives Andrea Sears, Pauline
Park, Hawk Stone, and Chelsea Goodwin. WHO IS NYAGRA??? All this confusion reminded me of the
old game show where two fakes people where mixed in with a real one and you had to guess who
the real person was. My question to the NY Trans community is will the real NYAGRA please
stand up?
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