In the recent article “Increased awareness of LGBTQ community is vital for Syracuse University campus,” Meg Zukin writes a less-than-accurate depiction as to why the LGBTQ community warrants support from the entire campus community.

As a queer woman of the SU campus community and advocate for social justice, I find this article problematic in a multitude of ways. The author’s use of progressive liberal trigger phrases that suggest an argument against a particular viewpoint is valid because you declared the opposing view trivial or trendy ignores the true issue at stake. This framework detracts from the root of systemic violence, which in fact our community subjected to direct violence as a result of this detraction.

The November 2013 hate crime — when posters put up for Trans* Day of Remembrance were torn, spit on and thrown about—that occurred right on our campus is a prime example of this ignorance and hate. I recognize Zukin’s tenacity and desire to speak up and say something about the bigotry and ignorance that occurs on our campus every day, and I resonate with her frustration.

However, I challenge the rhetorical uses of exceptionalizing the experiences of trans* identified people as a way in which to implore people to consider their role in accepting others. Yet, when the experiences of a marginalized group are exceptionalized in a way that encourages people outside that identity to disassociate as part of the problem, they will also feel they do not need to be a part of the solution.

The trans* community has all too often been cast out from the queer community. This exclusion can be seen as an extension of the hetero-patriarchal society we live in that embraces notions of heterosexual intimate relationships and traditional gender roles, which rejects all others that may vary in between, outside, or dominant ideologies altogether. The author mistakes trans* folks as transsexuals, and her interchanging of these words closely points to the troubling fact that her views do no present a progressive message. Rather, she is suggesting we get “out of our comfort zones” and embrace our oneness as a community. Before acceptance comes understanding and the process of learning and unlearning. Further marginalizing the marginalized while preaching the same progressive neoliberal idealism that continues to oppress our community will not bring about acceptance, and it surely will not bring justice.

Erin Carhart
Policy studies major