letters

cosmetic surgery editorial disrespectful to GLBT community

I am writing in response to the February 2010 issue of Outwords, entitled ‘Cosmetic Surgery for the Gay Man’.

Although I was disappointed with Peter Carlyle – Gordge’s unbalanced article, the tone of February’s editorial was much more disappointing. The inherent message in this editorial suggests that our already marginalized community abandon notions of diversity and conform to society’s, often unrealistic and harmful prescriptions of external beauty.

In my opinion, this perspective not only disregards the value of diversity, but serves to perpetuate harmful messages that contribute to real issues that face our community. You are absolutely right, appearance does matter, as does race, class, gender and sexual orientation.

But to abandon diversity and human rights efforts that so many have risked their lives for, is disrespectful, assumptive and untrusting of our community’s capacity to accept the many ways of being in this world.

As a counsellor at a local community health centre and member of this community, my aim is not to judge or minimize people’s experience around this issue, rather to invite a dialogue that considers a more well rounded perspective of issues facing individuals and our community as a whole.

– Cindy Fawcett, Counsellor, Klinic Community Health Centre, Winnipeg