from voz latina:

Both blogs have a history of mistreating and disrespecting trans women, and exploiting us for their own ends.
We tried reason. We tried engaging. We tried talking. We went off to r own spaces to heal.

Nothing worked.

It’s Always About Cis Women from catspaw

Not all women’s issues affect all women equally, or even, sometimes, at all. Issues can vary by class, race, sexuality, and so on. But feminism has recognised that just because an issue may only affect a small number of women it nonetheless is a feminist issue because it is a women’s issue. Feminism also has recognised that it is important to foreground the women for whom it is an issue and let them lead in dealing with the issue. Feminism has not always succeeded in this. Womanism came directly out of the failure of second-wave feminism to engage with its own racism, in refusing to see issues for women of colour as women’s issues. But, things have gotten better now that we’re in the third wave, right? Not so much for trans women. Two recent discussions at major feminist blogs demonstrate this.

bathroom panic its totally feminist from Questioning Transphobia

I just wanted to have a brief rant about summat, even though I’m snowed under by work.

This comment thread at Feministing?  Is the kind of stupid that burns.  The OP’s fine, but ffs.  This is the kind of thread that reminds me of why Feministing is not a safe space for trans people.

Cis people, here is a hint.  “Men in women’s bathrooms” is conservative code for trans women having the utter GALL to want to have a pee without being in fear of being arrested or assaulted.  Because it happens.  A lot.  And a whole bunch of you good nice feminist allies appear to be under the impression that cis women can’t harm trans women.  Ha.  Don’t make me laugh..  bitterly.  And as the Feministing thread shows clearly, the concern for trans women’s welfare–that is, the actual people being targetted by groups like Focus on the Family–is practically non-existent.  An entire thread of cis women’s navel gazing about whether or not they feel comfortable with trans people in the bathroom is just bloody presumptous.  Your right to comfort does not pre-empt the right of an entire community to go to the toilet.  And your rights to womanhood and not to be raped or assaulted do not precede mine, not when women like me have higher rates of these things.  No.

Boycotting or Engaging? Strategies for Success from Bint al Shamsa

I stopped reading Feministing a long time ago. That place has long been a cesspool of white privilege and body privilege. The two Valenti sisters are both assholes who have a long track record of poor treatment towards marginalized groups. I’m not surprised that anyone would want to boycott their site. I’ve been boycotting it and will continue to do so.

My feelings about Feministe are more complicated. I have asked to guest post there twice and I really appreciated the opportunity to do so. It was really great to be able to discuss disability rights issues with an audience of that size. As much as I wish it weren’t so, people with disabilities (PWD) just don’t get many chances to do that. That’s one reason why I feel less certain that boycotting Feministe is the best decision to make right now.