Why atheists should care about transgender issues: A conversation with Kayley Whalen

[rug]

Activist Kayley Whalen, announcing a D.C. Rollergirls bout. Photo by Pablo Raw, courtesy of Whalen.

Chris Stedman | May 10, 2014

The atheist community has been struggling with sexism for years. Next week, a number of atheists will gather to address this at the third Women in Secularism conference, sponsored by the Center for Inquiry.

Among those planning to attend is Kayley Whalen, an atheist and queer transgender woman who currently works for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Formerly a development associate at the American Humanist Association, Whalen is an activist and writer who has made waves promoting trans acceptance as a member of the D.C. Rollergirls.

I spoke with Whalen about her journey to acceptance, how atheists can be trans allies and advocates, sexism and harassment in the atheist movement, and her work as an atheist, interfaith, and LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) activist.

Chris Stedman: Can you share your story?

http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2014/05/10/why-atheists-should-care-about-transgender-issues-a-conversation-with-kayley-whalen/

http://www.womeninsecularism.org/

[intaglio]

1. Given, there are a group of atheists and Skeptics who are ignorant and vocal about all gender issues

It should also be acknowledged that there are much larger groups of atheists and Skeptics challenging these know nothings whenever and wherever they can.

Now what about the people of faith who are just as vile in their gender beliefs, when was the last time you heard a moderate Christian calling out a fundamentalist?

It seems to me that certain of the faithful expect a higher standard of commitment from atheists than they expect from the faithful

[cbayer]

2. There are lots of people of faith calling out fundamentalists.

You might want to start paying closer attention, because it's posted about frequently right here in this group.

You could start with Dan Savage's "Not all like that" campaign.

http://notalllikethat.org/press/

My expectations are the same whatever community is addressing these issues and I am glad to know that atheist groups are doing this, though I haven't read much about it. I would be most interested in seeing those articles posted here.

In fact, when articles about misogyny and sexism within the atheist community are posted here, they are often met with denial and resistance.

At any rate, this is a very brave and articulate woman and I have nothing but deep respect for her.

[intaglio]

3. I refer you to Pharyngula and Friendly Atheist n/t

[cbayer]

4. I read both of those and they are, indeed, frequently posted here.

I'm not saying there aren't any atheists challenging this. This woman alone speaks loudly and clearly.

I'm just challenging your baseless statement that it's not coming from the religious left.

It is indeed.

Now, let's recognize that we are all on the same team and give each other some credit, whaddayasay?

[MellowDem]

5. I always wonder what the evidence is...

that the atheist community (whatever that is) has been struggling with sexism for years.

Atheism has no bearing on sexism, so it seems like a strange way to go about targeting it.

All I can think is that there are ideological groups out there who happen also to be mainly atheist who want to move all atheists to the left. While I want the same to happen, I'm not quite sure what atheism has to do with any of it.

Atheists are already among the most progressive members of society on a range of issues, and that has nothing to do with their atheism either. Correlation does not equal causation.

It would be about as useful as to say left handed people have been struggling with sexism for years.

[cbayer]

6. Are you going to dismiss this woman's experience and reports out of hand?

Gee, white, male, straight guy. I wonder why people complain that the actual sexism experienced within the atheists community is dismissed and denied.

If there were a growing movement of organized left handers that was dominated by white, straight men, there would very likely be an issue of sexism to deal with. That's just a fact.

For a group of progressive individual to not recognize and address that is disappointing, but not surprising.

But that's what happens when you have childhood indoctrination, cognitive dissonance and intellectual dishonesty.

[MellowDem]

7. Stop your strawman bullshit...

Nowhere did I dismiss her claims. I'm trying to understand what the "atheist community" is, because it seems like a bullshit term.

If there WAS a growing movement of left handed men that were sexist, wouldn't it be fucking stupid to say "left handed people have a sexism problem", especially if, being left handed is actually a disadvantage and a persecuted minority? It would. Wouldn't it make sense to say that the particular group of left handed people was sexist? It would. What the fuck would being left handed have to do with stopping sexism?

The only reason "atheism" has a sexism problem is because of the privilege religion has in our society. It's the only reason the term "atheist" even exists, the extreme privilege of religion. Religion is the "default" and all atheists are just one group. That's such a prejudiced and privileged way of thinking, and your defense of it and obnoxious projection of it are great examples that's the case.

[cleanhippie]

8. As you can see, your spot-on and factual rebuttal chased her away.

Which is par for the course.