Transgendered To Gather To Protest SEPTA, Be Generally Sassy
For years, the transgendered population in Philly have been tormented. We are not speaking of the callous bigotry they encounter on the street or in the workplace. We are also not speaking of the depression and confusion the transgendered often endure as young adults. No, we are speaking today of something that possibly cuts to the core more than all of these things: The torment provided by the “M” and “F” stickers affixed to SEPTA transpasses. The transgendered in Philly have been on SEPTA for a few years now to somehow rectify the existential/gender conundrum provided by these admittedly useless and wasteful stickers, but recently, talks between Riders Against Gender Exclusion (RAGE) and SEPTA have broken down. RAGE feels like SEPTA may not be serious about ever removing the stickers (much less discipline SEPTA workers guilty of gender discrimination), so in protest, transgender and gender-non-conforming riders will gather at The Clothespin at 15th and Market St., Tuesday March 30th, at 4:45pm. And of course, there will be drag performances. “Due to a lack of action on promises made by SEPTA, RAGE will hold a public drag show at a busy SEPTA station at rush hour,” said a press release issued today by RAGE, “to highlight SEPTA’s lack of response to complaints documented by RAGE of discrimination, confiscated passes, and verbal and physical harassment when trying to use SEPTA TransPasses marked with Male or Female gender stickers. There will be drag performances (including dancing SEPTA General Manager Joe Casey impersonators) and spoken-word performance.” Being both supporters of alternative lifestyles and impassioned advocates for the absurd, Philebrity wholeheartedly supports this cause and its attendant protest actions, and we also swear to you, the reader, that we have made none of this shit up.
March 25th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Fucking Stupid.
The stickers are there to prevent a hetero couple from sharing a weekly/monthly pass. Yes it’s not super strictly enforced but it’s one manner in which SEPTA can avert revenue loss so they may, in turn, pay their employees well enough to avoid a strike every 3 years or – gob forbid – institute a smart card system. With a decrepit system like SEPTA, every little bit counts. Ideally they could print a sticker with the pass holder’s name – but that would probably cost a LOT more money.
No one is trying to oppress you with strict adherence to Defending SEPTA makes me very angry. This infuriates me:
“SEPTA is currently spending tax- and fare-payer money to defend the policy against a complaint filed with the Human Rights Commission. ”
Big bad SEPTA is wasting teh taxpayer money to defend themselves from frivolous legal action, therefore, you should support our frivolous legal action. [head asplode].
March 25th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
2nd paragraph should read “strict adherence to gender norms. Defending…”
March 25th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
If anyone should protest, it should be straight people. Gay couple get to share their passes! Fscking stupid, indeed.
March 25th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
@rainbow: equality for everyone is always bound to be inconvenient for some. i don’t see why SEPTA can’t come up with a way to stay in business without discriminating against people.
March 25th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
But what will come of all the stickers?! Think of all that waste! This is going to be a nightmare for SEPTA’s “green” campaign and is sure to effect the global warming problem. Seriously, what are they gonna do with those stickers?! I mean sure the “M” can be used for “medium” when labeling clothing at the GAP but “F”? I guess they can use it for extra larges standing for “fat failures” but that might cause some controversy of it’s own.
Thanks SEPTA for ruining our planet for future generations.
March 25th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
If RAGE proposes anything other than the simple “eliminat[ion of] the use of gender stickers immediately,” then I’m all ears (presumably, so is SEPTA). Otherwise, I don’t see the point of possible significant revenue loss (at the Taxpayer’s expense) to appease a significantly small segment of the ridership. Do we not all have a gender on our licenses or ID cards? If there is any question can it not be settled immediately?
If SEPTA drivers make any comments with regard gender or orientation that is intentionally disparaging, then that is an issue that must be addressed immediately and with severe repercussions.
I just don’t see the point. I also think it’s silly for RAGE to cite instances of folks being questioned on the validity of their pass while simultaneously claiming that “Using gender stickers does not prevent pass sharing.”
March 25th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
While I appreciate the reasoning behind the stickers, they definitely result in discrimination against transgendered riders, which I have heard about from friends and even witnessed.
I don’t think a change in the stickers is really an answer, but there is a temporary work-around – transgendered people (or anyone else being challenged) should simply sign their passes on the back. I can’t imagine you’d be turned away from a bus if you have some kind of ID that matches the name on your pass.
(Yes, I realize that this is still discriminatory, since someone presenting transgendered might still have a photo ID of their original gender name/photo, but you have to start somewhere.)
March 26th, 2010 at 11:49 am
“asplode”
Heehee. I like it.