help/feedback

[below-the-belt.livejournal.com]

x-posted to genderqueer

folks:
i've just joined this group in philly [where i live] that deals with perpetrators of sexual assault in the punk community. i'm genderqueer/trans, and everyone else is non-trans men [as far as i know]. when i joined the group, i had to agree on points of unity, none of which addressed trans issues - the assumptions was that sexual assault is overwhelmingly men assaulting women, cut and dry. simple. and a statement to the effect that 'all oppressions are interconnected.' i needed something more specifically addressing trans issues and queers [and folks perceived as trans or queer] being targets of sexual assault and gender-based assault. one suggestion for a point of unity to address this concern is as follows [written by a non-trans man who's a friend of mine]:

We strive to be inclusive and supportive of transgender folks, queer folks, and all those may be targets of gender- and sexuality-based violence. We reject the idea that survivors of sexual assault are always women, and assaulters are always men.

can i get some help making this sound more positive rather than angry and reactionary, fully inclusive, and is anything missing?

thanks loads. all suggestions will be taken seriously [except if you write J/K - a little humor won't be turned away either, this is stressing me out].

-yonah [of Philly Stands Up]
p.s. they all have really good intentions, just not a lot of experience/understanding about it.