[angersock]

I, erm, appreciate your attitude.

That said, what is so special about you folks? Business-wise, I mean?

I don't care if my website is hosted by queer folks. I don't care if my payments are processed by dwarves. I don't even care if my favorite news sites are generated by python scripts.

I care that they work, I care that they help me do my thing, and I care that they're cheaper for the value they provide than competitors.

Why do you believe that transpeople need to focus on anything other than being the best at what they do (and that is running a business, hacking code, design or engineering--not being transpeople)?

[figglesonrails]

Yeah, going to have to agree here. Right now, you seem focused on accentuating the differences between "us" and "them" in an area where it doesn't matter at all. You should be pushing towards an ideal world where things like LGBT pride parades aren't necessary because the differences are inconsequential.

EDIT: It isn't to say there is exists no discrimination, but if you're running an e-business, the question of sexuality or gender identity does not come into play whatsoever, nor should it ever. I'm not sure how someone would be able to find out either of these to even discriminate against you unless you took the time to specifically advertise them. How you choose to invest the money you make as a business person (e.g. help other transfolk) is purely a personal concern.

[zem]

think of it as affirmative action for transgendered people. this cartoon explains the need for affirmative action more tellingly than i could: http://www.biculturalmom.com/2012/02/10/white-privilege-anti...

[angersock]

First, I'm pretty sure that comparing the plight of the differently-gendered to that of slaves is somewhat absurd.

Second, your comic is open to interpretation:

In the first panel, the white and black are at the same level, with the black enchained. In the last panel, the white is up one level and the black is free.

So, clearly, the sum situation has improved for both parties. Where's the problem?

[zem]

why is it absurd? it's comparing the plight of the transgendered to the plight of racial minorities; the whole point of affirmative action is to provide a helping hand to groups that face ubiquitous and often invisible-to-the-majority difficulties, to level their personal playing fields a bit.

as for the comic, the point of it is that inheriting a situation where, thanks to historical swings, things are easy for your demographic, and then complaining that more disadvantaged groups are asking for a hand when you made it on your own, is both wrongheaded and sadly common.

[dguaraglia]

The problem is that to go from point A to point B, the white had to enslave the black to use them as scaffold. As far as I remember black slaves didn't just volunteer to come to America and do the hard work, did they?

[callahad]

There's a layer of indirection that I don't think people are considering: The OP is wanting to build an incubator for transpeople. The startups it funds will likely pass your test and focus on being the best at what they do.

The only difference is that they had an additional funding avenue due to their founders' identities.

The real question is why that additional avenue should be available at all, and I think there are at least two good reasons:

1. Allison has compelling social motivation, meaning that she doesn't need to maximize her financial return to achieve her goals, so long as the investments are sustainably profitable.

2. If there's an institutional bias against funding transpeople, her willingness to provide funding may work to her financial benefit.

I have my reservations, but they're not related to the target audience.

[angersock]

The problem I see is that I can either get the service from the best of the set of transpeople, or from the set of people who offer the service (of which the former is a subset).

I'm unsure that choosing gender identity as a defining factor is going to help anyone market themselves as the best--especially when there are significant social biases in place.

[intellection]

Some people want to market to specific groups for good reasons. Is it possible some great services and ideas can come from smaller groups? Maybe even better service, better designed for a specialized, smaller group?

Demonstrated in our thread is intense negativity, lack of recognition and anti-support towards some people's gender identity -- and even a resistance towards writing about it.

If significant social biases exists, and alternative support networks remove social biases, is it potentially helpful?

If great technological people can be identified within specific groups better than before, why resist?