Join the Conversation on Gender Politics

Truthdig covers politics on many fronts, not only in regard to electoral contests, parties and the perpetual struggle over resources and power in government. We also examine politics as they relate to gender, culture, race, identity, class, consumerism, food … the list goes on.

Gender politics have made headlines in the U.S. in recent years, stoked by right-wing attempts to turn debates over transgender rights into wedge-issue fodder. These developments have been followed by Truthdig columnists and writers including Sonali Kolhatkar, Larry Gross, Kasia Anderson, Emma Niles and Channing G. Joseph.

Two prominent transgender activists, Lewis Wallace and Misty Snow, were featured in conversation with Truthdig Editor in Chief Robert Scheer on episodes of “Scheer Intelligence,” his podcast for KCRW, that were posted here and here on Truthdig.

Most recently, Truthdig columnist Chris Hedges wrote about how the gender politics of some radical feminists directly challenged the inclusion of transgender people in feminist circles and efforts. That piece, which also included substantial input from Misty Snow, drew strong responses from readers—as well as from Lewis Wallace, whom Hedges had contacted for the story.

Wallace weighed in via Twitter following the piece’s publication:

Example: I devoted time out of my busy schedule to try to convince @Truthdig not to publish this article last week https://t.co/E6PWSvaq9P

— Lewis Wallace (@LewisPants) July 10, 2017

Why? Because, though it contains a response from a trans person, the basis for the article is transmisogynistic and inaccurate

— Lewis Wallace (@LewisPants) July 10, 2017

I believe it’s actively damaging to put this kind of stuff out. I said so gently, more than once, to the author. Now if they get dragged…

— Lewis Wallace (@LewisPants) July 10, 2017

They can’t say they weren’t warned! Again, to my earlier point: our communities are tired. Representation is a huge issue for us.

— Lewis Wallace (@LewisPants) July 10, 2017

We’d like to continue this discussion in a productive and engaged way on this site. In that spirit, we are opening the floor to Truthdig readers who would like to contribute developed responses of their own. If you would like to join the conversation and submit a respectful, reasoned piece, email it to [email protected]. Truthdig editors will choose which responses to publish. We look forward to our readers joining the dialogue.