The problem with comparing Rachel Dolezal to any trans person indy100 indy100 Indy100 logoNewsletter sign upRegister/Sign inTop 100NewsViralPoliticsCelebritiesScience & TechVideoWishlistWishlistBooksFashion & BeautyFood & DrinkHome & GardenKidsSports & FitnessTechTravel & OutdoorsMoreScience & techVideoConversationsSportIdentitiesLifestyleShowbizTVSearchxNews

The problem with comparing Rachel Dolezal to any trans person

Bethan McKernanJun 13, 2015 Rachel Dolezal almost broke the internet this week after it emerged the 37-year-old civil rights activist and National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) chapter leader was apparently misrepresenting herself as black. Dolezal's Caucasian parents told a local news station in Spokane, Washington that their daughter's heritage is actually Czech, Swedish and German. In response, she told a local news channel on Friday: “I would say that if I was asked I would definitely say that yes I do consider myself to be black.” The news has prompted some people to suggest that Dolezal's belief that she is black is the same thing as people who say they were born in one gender and believe they should be the other. Those people are wrong. Dolezal is clearly committed to the struggles of the black community. But instead of being an ally to the cause, she appropriated a black identity, which is insulting to the discrimination and marginalisation non-white people face because of the facts of their birth. Dolezal can assume her white privilege again anytime she feels like it because she's just misrepresenting her identity. Transgender people do the opposite: they are honest about their identity even though it usually comes attached with a lot of stigma. As Caitlyn Jenner put it in Vanity Fair: "I'm not doing this to be interesting. I'm doing this to live." More: This civil rights leader has been accused by her family of falsely claiming she is blackKeep reading...Show less

US actors Reynolds and McElhenney to be honoured by people of Wales

How will the next prime minister and Tory leader be chosen

Ellis-Bextor to get the party started at new show for Edinburgh s Hogmanay

Please log in or register to upvote this article

Top 100

Woman baffled after several co-workers complained about outfit

tiktokviralworktiktok5m

How likely is it that Boris Johnson could be prime minister again

Boris Johnsonboris johnsontory leadership contesttory leadership racetory leaderTory leadershiptory leadershipConservativesconservative partyConservative Partyconservative leadership raceconservativesBoris Johnson23h

The Rocky career of Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnsonthe rockblack adamwweDwayne Johnson21h

Man endures ' 29 hour flight' with screaming kids for the entire trip

flightplanechildflightOct 12, 2022

Lorraine Kelly hits out at Madonna' s ' boiled egg' face

madonnamadonnalorraine kellygmbshowbizplastic surgeryOct 11, 2022

Elon Musk is actually selling a ' Burnt Hair' fragrance

elon muskthe boring companyperfumeelon muskburnt hairOct 12, 2022

Jon Stewart slams Arkansas attorney general for her ' anti-trans law'

lgbt+transgenderlgbt+jon stewartapple tvarkansasus newsnewsOct 11, 2022

Just Stop Oil protester praised for ' great' explanation of soup stunt

just stop oilvan goghprotestclimate activistsjust stop oilOct 19, 2022

Couple spark debate for ' scandalous' wedding cake topper

wedding cakeOct 12, 2022

Love Island star shows extent of how far influencers edit photos

Love IslandOct 11, 2022

Steven Seagal describes Putin as one of ' greatest world leaders'

steven seagalOct 10, 2022

Lizzo wears empowering shirt after being fat-shamed by Kanye West

lizzoOct 10, 2022

A lettuce just outlasted Liz Truss' stint as prime minister

Liz TrussOct 20, 2022

Newsnight guest says ' you can' t treat mortgages like prime ministers'

Liz TrussOct 20, 2022The Conversation (0)