Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope’s “defense” of womanhood by objecting to a trans woman speaking at Centralia College’s celebration of International Womens’ Day is laughable in the extreme.
Swope is not “protecting women.” He is protecting his own narrow, fearful idea of masculinity. The kind of courage it takes to be fully self-expressed and beautifully complex in gender is a kind of courage Swope can only dream of. My own daughter is trans, and I see the daily abuse heaped upon her by repressive bumpkins like Swope — but her spirit is strong and her dedication to expressing her femininity is real and powerful. I support her right to be safe and happy in being who she really is.
His contention that Centralia College is somehow diluting womanhood is a radical redefinition of the role of education. He apparently believes that higher education should be about indoctrination, not exploring both the hard and soft science that shows gender expression in all of nature is much more fluid than we have been led to believe. A college is the perfect place for this type of sensitive examination of a complex topic.
Finally, if Swope wants to exercise his “traditionally masculine” value of protection, why won’t he go after an actual convicted sexual predator seeking public influence? Oh, wait, he can’t — his political party has made that man its presidential nominee. Swope’s hypocrisy is simply jaw-dropping.
Laura Sweany
Onalaska
