Their rights aren't the issue. Everyone deserves their rights, freedoms and dignity.

The issue here is primarily that transgenderism has nothing to do with sexual orientation and thus doesn't fit with the LGB. There was a time when we stood in solidarity for equal rights, fair treatment and anti-discrimination. It was necessary and made sense. That time has largely passed and our issues have diverged and are no longer identical.

This is a good thing--it speaks of how far we've come and how much we've gained over the decades that we are able to go our own ways and fight for our own interests.

The 'drop the T' founding issues largely stem from homophobia and bigotry directed towards LGB people (conveniently ignoring straight people) for not having a sexual, romantic and emotional interest in transgendered people, and arguments attempting to erase our sexualities and sexual identities--claiming that they don't exist, that they're "preferences", even going so far as threats of harm against those who don't acquiesce.

There is also an attack on people who refuse to bow to the belief that trans people are actual men or actual women, and that trans people should fit into spaces unique to men and women, and spaces unique to gay men and lesbian women.

The current atmosphere is increasingly anti-science and pro-'feelings', which is enough to grate anyone who respects reality and fact-based evidence above personal, subjective motivations and experiences.

I don't think anyone here is or ever has been against trans people having their rights, freedoms and dignity respected. We simply acknowledge that transgendered people are transgendered, and that however trans people want to categorise themselves, they fundamentally remain transgendered first and foremost.

I think that ultimately the goal is to simply 'live and let live'--stop trying to coerce, guilt and manipulate people into relationships and sexualities that aren't theirs. Accept that being transgendered doesn't make you a 'man' or a 'woman' and that that's fine. You can dress however you want, modify your body however you want, behave however you want, call yourself whatever you want--but that doesn't make you something that you're not.

You will always find someone out there who wants to be with you. But however those people choose to identify, they aren't gay, bi or straight.

The biggest issue I've come across in all of this is that transgendered people struggle to accept themselves (no doubt due to their dysphoria) as they are. But however you wash it, you were born something you feel you're not--that makes you trans. You will always be trans.

In that regard, being trans isn't all that different from being gay, bi or straight, black, white or Asian--you'll never be what you're not, and that's something we all have to come to terms with. It's part of facing up to reality and coming terms with what is; growing up, learning to like yourself.

/rant