"If that he/she doesn't shut its mouth, I'll shut if for him"

JackTaylorFan

"That's a tranny" - that's how they describe me in front of all the passengers on the 11:15am bus ride home. Passengers who wisely and politely keep their heads down and pretend nothing is happening. And 10 times out of 10 - not 9 - it's from members of the local Travelling Community. But you can't say that now. No, that's racist.

They comment on my appearance "look at the man hands on it!" "It's hair is nicer than mine", "If that he/she doesn't shut its mouth, I'll shut it for him!" - that's what some coarse sounding young woman shouts with venom down the bus to her two male friends as she continues to refer to me as something less than human. Like I am somehow impeding on their human rights.

These are the words spoken about me by members of the travelling community, time and time again. The latest incident, occurring this morning. Words spoken about me, not to me, because they don't speak directly to "it" - but about me as I/"it" try to mind my own business.

This is an issue that I have been repeatedly shouted down from talking about. That I've, ironically, been labelled a "bigot" by liberals for daring to broach the topic. Liberals who have no idea what it's actually like to be discriminated against, never mind on a regular basis. In these extremely idealistic liberal eyes: the people abusing me are the minority, the downtrodden, the victims of society - not me. No, how could I be. I speak well, and although not well-educated and am all the same literate. So no, I can't say that there is a problem in the travelling community with homophobia and transphobia - no dear God, no. I mean, just because it always happens to be travelers. No, I can't say that. And if I do speak out, the reply I most often receive: "Well, they just need education." Yeah, that's great and all, meanwhile I'm sitting by the window on a bus, shaking with fear for my physical safety - forget my sense of humanity and dignity, 'cause they were both thrown under the wheels a long time ago.


So what's to be done. **** all. We are back to "Educate them" again, are we? Whatever. I'm sick of hearing that. I'm sick of being intimidated, of being dehumanised and of feeling unsafe on and near public transport and just walking in my own home town. Where I grew up, and why I am known by these people.

All I can do is report this abuse to an LGBT Liaison Officer - again. I can't ask them to delve any further look into the matter; to officially warn these people. and forget about asking for charges to be brought against anyone. For it's all too obvious who would have "ratted" them out: The "tranny", of course.

So what do I do? Nothing. Have the incident recorded in a black book that does **** all in the long run? Another hate crime recorded for groups like TENI to wave around and hi-5 each other when they want to push another agenda through the Oireachtas.

Yeah, **** this...

To be honest, it does come across as though you are labeling all travellers in one group. If you were constantly being harassed on a bus from ballymun by a couple of degenerates, it wouldn't be fair to say all residents of Ballymun have an issue with intolerance.

Your issue is with these people, not with a community.

JackTaylorFan

Deleted User wrote: »

To be honest, it does come across as though you are labeling all travellers in one group. If you were constantly being harassed on a bus from ballymun by a couple of degenerates, it wouldn't be fair to say all residents of Ballymun have an issue with intolerance.

Your issue is with these people, not with a community.

Sorry, I respectfully disagree: This attitude is systemic in the traveling community.

baby and crumble

Jack, what's the point of this thread? I'm not happy to stand by and let someone tar a whole community with the one brush. Just like it's ignorant and against the charter for someone to come in here and say "all queers are paedophiles" it's not right to say "all travellers are transphobic". that is factually incorrect.

JackTaylorFan

baby and crumble wrote: »

Jack, what's the point of this thread? I'm not happy to stand by and let someone tar a whole community with the one brush. Just like it's ignorant and against the charter for someone to come in here and say "all queers are paedophiles" it's not right to say "all travellers are transphobic". that is factually incorrect.

The point of the thread is to highlight the institutionalised transphobia that is part of that community. It is also to highlight the **** I face on a daily basis. Now, you don't have to like what it is I have to say.. And you can disagree with me, and mitigate my lifetime of experience dealing with this community's horrendous attitude- to be politically correct, if that's what you wish. But I'm not gong to apologise for saying any of this. You are free, of course, to shut me down, delete this thread, and label me with whichever tag fits best. I don't care. And I don't care if you ban me at this stage, either.

baby and crumble

I'm closing this thread pending mod discussion. I'm not trying to stifle or dismiss anyone's personal experiences but tarring an entire community is not something I will personally stand over in a forum I mod.