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Off-color comments: I'm grateful that you wrote on this subject. Not many people write about this sort of topic ("Tranny-Gate," The Bird, Stephen Lemons, December 28). And while I do not know the individuals involved, I would like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I believe that Tom Anderson has an obligation to protect the other female customers of his club, Anderson's Fifth Estate, from harassment. And I understand that Michele De Lafreniere may or may not be guilty of harassment. But the reason I am writing is that I found your language very abrasive.
For future reference, it's jarring to readers when you publish comments like: "Thing about it is, Rosa Parks just wanted to sit down. But De Lafreniere, she can likely still do her business standing up." And: "By the way, this filthy finch did ask to see De Lafreniere's naughty bits, but she refused." And: "Asked by this inquiring egret if she or any of her club buddies still has a tallywacker, De Lafreniere hissed, 'It doesn't matter. It says on my driver's license I'm female.'"
These questions are inappropriate and only bring your writing down. Asking them is a horribly offensive thing to do, and she was right to refuse you. I would hope that you regret asking her and will refrain from doing so in the future.
Lily Grendollyn, Phoenix
Stubble and schlong don't belong: Very funny article in The Bird on the brouhaha at Anderson's Fifth Estate. I'm sorry, but is there no sanity left in the world? Of course a guy with stubble and a schlong can't hang out in the women's restroom at a nightclub. Women are just going to feel weird about that! And why shouldn't they? Imagine seeing some bruiser in a dress next to you at the lavatory; it would just be scary.
Why don't these freaks get it? They aren't really women (in the sense that they look like men, even if they are in drag and feel they are girls trapped in male bodies). Any club owner who didn't respond to complaints from women about this would soon find himself without female patrons, and would soon be out of business.
I'm all for people having the right to live as they please, but if you don't have a vagina, you don't belong in the ladies' room. Pure and simple.
Bonnie Hoff, Phoenix
You really know how to scare a girl, um, guy, um, I dunno?: I don't think I've ever felt so sick from reading a news article as I was after reading "Tranny-Gate." The way you can be callous and bigoted toward trans people — clearly not understanding that they are human beings and deserve the same respect as everyone else — is mind-boggling.
I feel that free speech is one thing, but I feel that targeting a group of people with a slanted news article is not protected free speech, it's hate speech.
I just wanted you to know that I find your bigotry twisted, and I found your understanding of trans people about as ignorant as Jerry Falwell's would be. You should be fired, you should be sued, and you should never be allowed to work in a position where you write news articles.
You're homophobic, and even if you were trying to be funny, I don't think your sense of humor is appropriate for a news forum. Go to a KKK meeting, where you might just fit in. Also, in finishing, if you ever wrote anything about me the way you did about that woman, I would push for criminal charges, as well as a lawsuit large enough to ensure that you never live anywhere but a cardboard box!
Name withheld by request
Clueless in Scottsdale: It's a crazy world out there when chicks with dicks think they are welcome in the women's restroom. Come on, Ms. De Lafreniere, catch a clue! Nobody wants to see your hairy behind in the ladies' loo at Anderson's or at any other women's facility at a prevailingly hetero nightspot.
Susan Pace, via the Internet
Too cute for words: Oh, Bird! Tweet, tweet, geezaz! Thanks for the "Tranny-Gate" update! Light is the best disinfectant, and you, dear, are my new Sun King!
I know these particular guys-in-drag well, and none of them act very ladylike. Shaving face for saving grace in the girl perch when the genetic girls are trying to glam for their man is too uncool! I know Miss De Lafreniere, and she means well. But my advice would be to try the cherry phosphates at the Sugar Bowl for a while and leave the straight Snobsdale meatpackers alone!
I proudly and purposely got myself banned from the group-grope of this bunch, because none of 'em are for real and only have selfish and prurient interests, namely chicken-hawking new chickadees (as men tend to do). The truth hurts, but justice is tweet! Everyone knows that giving one's own self to "serving the community" means doing good and charitable works for the less fortunate. These guys at Transgender Harmony are all about Me, Myself and Myrene!
Marilena-Siobhan Kenny
