An Open Letter to Gender Rights Activists

In late 2000 and early 2001, controversy erupted within the transgender community around the new strategic direction for GenderPAC announced by Riki Anne Wilchins, GenderPAC’s executive director.  In response, 22 activists signed an open letter to the community in January 2001.  For more information on that controversy, read the open letter. Jan. 3, 2001 Dear Friends and Colleagues: We are writing to you to express our concern about the current crisis in transgender politics. We think it is time to start a broadly based dialogue to examine productive responses to this situation. The new century brings with it considerable opportunity and promise for the transgender community, particularly in view of the organizing taking place on the state and local level. The formation of the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA) in June 1998 and the recent launch of the Gender Rights Advocacy Association of New Jersey (GRAANJ) represent a significant advance for the transgender political communities in the Northeast. Existing transgender groups like [...]