Speaker discusses 'radical' gender issues

What is gender? Riki Anne Wilchins, author of Read My Lips: Sexual Subversion and the End of Gender, tried to prove to an audience last week that there could not be any definitive answer to this seemingly simple question. Heather Starr, program coordinator for the Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Center, said she invited Wilchins to share her "radical" views as part of Bisexual Gay Lesbian Transgender Awareness Days. The speech was held Thursday night at the Annenberg School for Communication. Wilchins is the executive director of the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition, or GenderPAC, a non-profit group composed of people dedicated to a broad-based, inclusive national movement for gender and racial equality. Speaking to about 15 people, Wilchins encouraged society to move away from identifying people through gender, race or sexual orientation. "People don't live these simple existences," Wilchins said. "They are complex beings that cannot be defined by such narrow terms." In dealing with gender and identity, Wilchins weaved theory and personal experience into her discussion on the problems that result when people are simply pigeonholed into gender or sexual identity categories. Wilchins also addressed the question of transexuals' proper place in the gay and lesbian communities. "Gender is not a 'trans' thing," she said. "It crosses [all sexual] boundaries." Laws have been established to deal with lesbian and gay sexual orientations, Wilchins explained. These laws, however, do not encompass transgendered sexuality, she added. Wilchins also emphasized the need for a national movement devoted to ridding society of defining people by their gender and sexuality. "Gender crimes are committed every three or four minutes in this country," Wilchins said. "People lose their jobs due to gender unconformity." GenderPAC is an entirely "post-identity" organization, she added. "We can define our own goals and move toward pursuing those goals," Wilchins said. "We are searching for a way of doing politics which is as complex as our own identities." Wilchins said GenderPAC views the complexity of identity as a strength rather than a weakness, and advocates strong laws to deal with such concerns. The group has been involved in lobbying to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Bill, which would ensure that no one is identified by or discriminated against because of their sexual identity or gender. The group also met with Attorney General Janet Reno to discuss gender-based hate crimes. "We need a new shape of politics to ask people to use the complexity of their own real lives to make connections instead of separation, to build bridges instead of burning them," Wilchins said. After listening to Wilchins speak, Starr described Wilchins' words as "really important in bridging a lot of different communities by opening peoples' eyes to a new understanding of gender variance."