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BecomingTrans,BecomingDisabled

JasbirK.Puar

Transgenderrightsarethecivilrightsissueofourtime.SostatedVice
PresidentJoeBidenjustoneweekbeforetheNovember2012election.
MonthsearlierPresidentBarackObamahadpubliclydeclaredhissup
portforgaymarriage,sendingmainstreamLGBTorganizationsand
queerliberalsintoatizzy.Thoughanunexpectedcommentforanelec
tionseason,andnearlyinaudiblyrenderedduringaconversationwitha
concernedmotherofMissTransNewEngland,Bidensremark,1encoded
intherhetoricofrecognition,seemedlogicalfromanowwellestablished
civilrightserateleology:2firstthefolksofcolor,thenthehomosexuals,
nowthetransfolk.3
Whathappenstoconventionalunderstandingsofwomensrights
inthistelos?Moreover,thetransgenderquestionputsintocrisisthe
framingofwomensrightsashumanrightsbypushingfurthertherela
tionshipsbetweengendernormativityandaccesstorightsandcitizenship.
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Icouldnote,asmanyhave,thatfailinganintersectionalanalysisofthese
movements,weareindeedleftwithaverypartialportraitofwhobenefits
andhowfromthisaccordingofrights,nottomentiontheirtacticalinvo
cationwithinthisperiodofliberalismwhereby,asBethPovinelliargues,
potentialityhasbeendomesticated.4AsJinHaritawornandC.Riley
Snortonargue,Itisnecessarytointerrogatehowtheuneveninstitution
alizationofwomens,gay,andtranspoliticsproducesatransnormative
subject,whoseuniversaltrajectoryofcomingout/transition,visibility,rec
ognition,protection,andselfactualizationlargelyremainuninterrogated
initscomplicitiesandconvergenceswithbiomedical,neoliberal,racist,and
imperialistprojects.5Inrelationtothisuneveninstitutionalization,Hari
tawornandSnortongoontosaythattransofcolorpositionsarebarely
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conceivable.Theconundrumhere,aselsewhere,involvesmeasuringthe
politicalefficacyofarguingforinclusionwithinandforthesameterms
ofrecognitionthatrelyonsuchelisions.Thereisatensionbetweenthe
desiresfortransofcolorpositionstobecomeconceivableandtheirbare
inconceivabilitycritiquingandupendingthatwhichseemsconceivable.
Bidensremarksforeshadowthesteepcostfortheintelligibilityof
transgenderidentitywithinnationaldiscoursesandlegalframesofrecog
nition.Doeshisacknowledgmentoftransgenderrightssignaltheuptake
ofanewvariantofhomonationalismatrans(homo)nationalism?Or
istransgenderavariationofprocessesofcitizenshipandnationalism
throughnormativizationratherthanavariationofhomonationalism?In
eitherinstance,suchhailings,Iargue,generatenewfiguresofcitizen
shipthroughwhichthesuccessesofrightsdiscourseswillproducenew
biopoliticalfailurestransofcolor,foroneinstance.SusanStrykerand
ArenZ.Aizuracalltheproductionoftransgenderwhitenessaprocess
ofvalueextractionfrombodiesofcolorthatoccursbothnationallyand
transnationally.6Thinkingofthisracialdynamicasaprocessofvalue
extractionhighlightstheimpossibilityofarightsplatformthatincorpo
ratestheconceivabilityoftransofcolorpositions,sincethisinconceiv
abilityisapreconditiontotheemergenceoftherightsproject,notto
mentioncentraltoitsdeploymentandsuccessfulintegrationintonational
legibility.Addingbiopoliticalcapacitytotheportrait,Aizurawritesthat
thistranscitizenshipentailsfadingintothepopulation...butalso
theimperativetobeproperintheeyesofthestate:toreproduce,to
findproperemploymenttoreorientonesdifferentbodyintotheflowof
thenationalizedaspirationforpossessions,property[and]wealth.7This
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trans(homo)nationalismisthereforecapacitated,evendrivenby,notonly
theabjectionofbodiesunabletomeettheseproprietaryracialandgen
deredmandatesofbodilycomportmentbutalsotheconcomitantmarking
asdebilitatedofthoseabjectedbodies.Thedebilitatingandabjectingare
cosubstancingprocesses.
Inlightofthisnewbutnotentirelyunsurprisingassimilationofgen
derdifferencethroughnationalism,Iwanttocomplicatethepossibilities
ofaccomplishingsuchtransnormativizationbyforegroundingadiffer
enthistoricaltrajectory:onenothailedorcelebratedbynationalLGBT
groupsorthemedianorexplicitlytheorizedinmostqueerortranstheory.
Thisisthemovefromthe1990AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA)
tothepresentmomentoftranshailingbytheUSstate.8Historicallyand
contemporaneously,thenexusofdisabilityandtranshasbeenfraught,
especiallyfortransbodiesthatmayresistallianceswithpeoplewithdis
abilitiesinnosmallpartbecauseoflongstrugglesagainststigmatization
andpathologizationthatmaybereinvokedthroughsuchanaffiliation.
Butstigmatizationisonlypartofthereasonforthisthwartedconnection.
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Neoliberalmandatesregardingproductive,capacitatedbodiesentrainthe
transbodytorecreateanabledbodynotonlyintermsofgenderand
sexualitybutalsointermsofeconomicproductivityandtheeconomic
developmentofnationaleconomy.9Thus,transrelationtodisabilityis
notsimplyoneofphobicavoidanceofstigmaitisalsoabouttransbodies
beingrecruited,intandemwithmanyotherbodies,foramoregeneral
izedtransformationofcapacitatedbodiesintoviableneoliberalsubjects.
Giventhattransbodiesarereliantonmedicalcare,costlyphar
macologicalandtechnologicalinterventions,legalprotections,andpublic
accommodationsfromtheverysameinstitutionsandapparatusesthat
functionalizegendernormativitiesandcreatesystemicexclusions,how
dopeoplewhorelyonaccessingsignificantresourceswithinapolitical
economiccontextthatmakesthepossessiveindividualthebasisforrights
claims(includingtherighttomedicalcare)disrupttheverymodelson
whichtheydependinordertomaketheclaimsthat,inthecaseoftrans
people,enablethemtorealizethemselvesastransinthefirstplace?I
explorethisconundrumfortransbodiesthroughtheambivalentand
vexedrelationshiptodisabilityinthreeaspects:(a)thelegalapparatusof
theADA,whichsetsthesceneforacontradictorystatustodisabilityand
themaintenanceofgendernormativityasarequisitefordisabledstatus
(b)thefieldsofdisabilitystudiesandtransstudies,whichbothpivoton
certainexceptionalizedfiguresand(c)politicalorganizingprioritiesand
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strategiesthatpartakeintransnormativeformsnotonlyofpassingbutalso
ofwhatIcallpiecing,arecruitmentintoneoliberalformsoffragmenta
tionofthebodyforcapitalistprofit.Finally,Iofferaspeculativediffer
entlyimaginedaffiliationbetweendisabilityandtrans,becomingtrans,
whichseekstolinkdisability,trans,racial,andinterspeciesdiscoursesto
makeboundariesporousthroughtheoverwhelmingforceofontological
multiplicity,attunedtotheperpetualdifferentiationofvariationandthe
multiplicityofaffirmativebecomings.Whatkindsofassemblagesappear
thatmightrefusetoisolatetransasonekindofspecificorsingularvariant
ofdisabilityanddisabilityasonekindofsingularvariantoftrans?What
kindofpoliticalandscholarlyalliancesmightpotentiatewheneachtakes
upandacknowledgestheinhabitationsandthemoregeneralizedcondi
tionsoftheother,creatinggenealogiesthatreadbothasimplicatedwithin
thesameassemblagesofpower?Thefocushereisnotonepistemologi
calcorrectivesbutonontologicalirreducibilitiesthattransformthefan
tasyofdiscretenessofcategoriesnotthroughtheirdisruptionbut,rather,
throughtheirdissolutionviamultiplicity.Ratherthanproduceconceptual
interventionsthatmapontothepoliticalorproduceadifferentlypolitical
renderingofitsconceptualmoorings,reflectedinthedebateregarding
transnormativityandtransofcolorconceivability,Iwishtoofferagenera
tive,speculativereimagingofwhatcanbesignaledbythepolitical.

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I.DisabilityLawandTransDiscrimination

Thelegalhistorythatfollowsmattersbecauseitbothreflectsand
enshrinesacontradictoryrelationshipoftransbodiesthatresistapath
ologicalmedicalizedrenderingandyetneedtoaccessbenefitsthrough
themedicalindustrialcomplex.Theexplicitlinkagestothetransbody
asabodyeitherrendereddisabledor(perhapsand,giventheteleologi
calimplications)rehabilitatedfromdisabilityhavebeenpredominantly
routedthroughdebatesaboutgenderidentitydisorder(GID).Arriving
intheDSMIII(thirdeditionoftheAmericanPsychiatricAssociations
DiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisorders,publishedin1980,
ontheheelsofthe1974DSMIIdepathologizationofhomosexuality,
GIDwaseliminatedintheDSM5releasedinMay2013,nowreplaced
withgenderdysphoria.10Thesecomplexdebateshavefocusedlargelyona
seriesofexplicitinclusionsandexclusionsofGIDinrelationtotheDSM
andtheADA.TheinclusionofGIDin1980anditsfocusonchildhood
behaviorwerelargelyunderstoodasacompensatorymaneuverforthe
deletionofhomosexuality,thusinstatingsurveillancemechanismsthat
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wouldperhapspreventhomosexuality.11Incontrast,anotablepassage
intheADAdetailsthespecificexclusionofgenderidentitydisorders
notresultingfromphysicalimpairmentsasadisabilitycouchedinan
exclusionaryclausethatincludedtransvestitism,transsexualism,pedo
philia,exhibitionism,voyeurism,...othersexualdisorders,andcom
pletelyarbitraryconditionssuchascompulsivegambling,kleptomania,
pyromania,andsubstanceusedisordersinvolvingillegaldrugs.12This
clausewaslargelyunderstood(unlikethespecificexclusionofhomosexu
ality)asanentrenchmentofthepathologizationofGID.Thisdeliberate
inclusionofthetermsofexclusionisacrucialpieceofthestory,inpart
becausetodatetheADAisthemostextensivecivilrightslawtoaddress
bodilynorms.13
GiventheADAshodgepodgeofexcludedconditions,manyof
whichcarrygreatsocialstigmaand/orareperceivedascriminalactiv
ity,mostcommentatorsconcurwithL.CamilleHerbertssentimentthat
whileonemightarguefortheexclusionofcertainconditionsfromthe
definitionofdisabilityasjustifiedbynotwantingtopathologizecertain
individualsandconditions,thisdoesnotappeartohavebeenthemoti
vationofCongress.14TheprocessbywhichCongressarrivedatthese
exclusionsalsoappearsmarredbymoralpanicdiscoursesaboutdis
easedanddebilitatedbodies,discoursesthattheADAwasproducedin
parttoameliorate.FormersenatorJesseHelms(RNC),writesR.Nick
Gorton,raisedthespecterthatthelawwouldprovidedisabilityprotec
tionstonumerouspoliticallyunpopulargroups,concludingthatmost
peoplewhoareHIVpositivearedrugaddicts,homosexuals,bisexuals,

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pedophiles,orkleptomaniacs,amongothers,andthattheexclusionwas
enactedasadirectresultofHelmssefforts.15NotingthattheADA
unequivocallyendorsestheuseoftheDSMinrecognizingconditions
ofdisablement,KariHongarguesthatunderstandingwhyadozencon
ditionswereremovedbecomesanimportanttask,astheexclusionnot
onlydisqualifiescertainconditionsfromconsiderationasadisabilitybut
alsoisolate[s]particularconditionsfrommedicalauthority.Hongalso
pointsoutthatHelmssbifurcationofdisabilityintogood(wheelchairs)
andbad(transvestitism)categoriesechoesadisturbingmisuseofmedi
cine.16Ultimately,Congresscapitulatedandsacrificedtheseexcluded
groupsinexchangeforholdingontotheprotectionofanothervilified
minoritygroup:individualswithHIV.17Thismoveofcourseinsists
onproblematicbifurcations,perhapsstrategicallyso,betweenindividuals
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diagnosedwithGIDandindividualsdiagnosedwithHIV.
Thus,KevinBarryargues,theADAisamoralcode,andpeople
withGIDitsmoralcastaways.Headds,GIDsitsattheuneasycross
roadsofpathologyanddifference,18anuneasycrossroadsthatcontinues
tomanifest(especiallynowasGIDhasbeeneliminatedintheDSMV).19
AdrienneL.Hiegelelaboratesthispointatlength,withparticularempha
sisonhowthisexclusionrecodesthelaborcapacitiesofthetranssexual
body.Insegmentingoffsexualbehaviordisordersandgenderidentity
disordersfromtheADAsdefinitionofdisability,theActcarvesout
anewclassofuntouchables....Byleavingopenaspaceofpermissive
employerdiscrimination,theActidentifiesthesexualdeviantasthenew
pariah,usingthelegalmachineryofthestatetomarkasoutsidersthose
whosenoncompliantbodyrendersthemunfitforfullintegrationintoa
workingcommunity.20
Inessence,theADAredefinesstandardsofbodilycapacityand
debilitythroughthereproductionofgendernormativityasintegraltothe
productivepotentialofthedisabledbody.Further,thedisaggregation,
andthusthepotentialdeflation,ofpoliticalandsocialalliancesbetween
homosexuality,transsexuality,andtheindividualwithHIVisnecessary
tothesolidificationofthisgendernormativitythatissolicitedinexchange
fortheconversionofdisabilityfromasociallymalignedandexcluded
statustoaversionofliberalacknowledgment,inclusion,andincorpora
tion.ThemodernseedsofwhatNicoleMarkoticandRobertMcRuercall
cripnationalismthehailingofsomedisabilitiesassociallyproduc
tivefornationaleconomiesandideologiestofurthermarginalizeother
disabilitiesareevidenthere,asthetoleranceofthedifferenceofdis
abilityisnegotiatedthroughthediscipliningofthebodyalongother
normativeregistersofsameness,inthiscasegenderandsexuality.21And
further,whatSharonSnyderandDavidMitchelltermablenationalism
thatis,theableistcontoursofnationalinclusionandregistersofpro

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ductivityironicallyunderwritestheADAevenastheADAservesas
groundbreakinglegislationtochallengeit.SnyderandMitchelldescribe
ablenationalismastheimplicitassumptionthatminimumlevelsofcor
poreal,intellectual,andsensorycapacity,inconjunctionwithsubjective
aspectsofaestheticappearance,arerequiredofcitizensseekingtoaccess
thefullbenefitsofcitizenship.22Inreorganizingthetermsofdisability,
ablenationalismredirectsthepathosandstigmaofdisabilityontodifferent
registersofbodilydevianceanddefectiveness,inthisparticularinstance
thatofgendernonnormativity.Inthatsense,cripnationalismgoeshand
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inhandwithablenationalismindeed,ablenationalismisitsprogenitor.
WhilethesedetailsaboutthepassageoftheADAareobviouslynotwith
outimplicationsregardingracialandclassdifference,thespecificdetails
oftheexclusionaryclausemightgesturetowardthemultifacetedreasons
that,asSnyderandMitchellobserve,queer,transsexual,andintersexed
peopled...existatthemarginsofdisabilitydiscourse.23
ItisnotsimplythattheADAexcludesGIDand,byextension,trans
fromrecognitionaspotentiallydisablingbut,rather,thattranssexuality
andlikelythoseversionsoftranssexualitythataredeemedalsoimprop
erlyracedandclassedisunderstoodastoodisabledtoberehabilitated
intocitizenship,ornotproperlyenoughdisabledtoberecodedforlabor
productivity.Further,theADAarbitratesthedistinctionsbetweenhomo
sexualityandtranssexualityalongpreciselythesepathologizedlines.
ContrarytowhatHiegelclaims,thesexualdeviantishardlythenew
pariah.Rather,thereisanewsexualdeviantintown,demarcatedfrom
anearlierone.Indeed,theenthusiasticembracingoftheADAbysome
gayandlesbianactivistsandpolicymakersfortheexclusionofhomo
sexualityasasexualbehaviordisorderdidnotgounnoticedbytrans
activistswhofeltdifferentlyabouttheADA.24Proclivitiestowardqueer
ableismarethereforepredicatedintheADAsparsinghomosexualityfrom
othersexualdisorders,aswellasinthehistoriesofpoliticalorganizing.
ZachStrassburgerdescribestheprocessofhomonationalismbynoting
thatasthegayandlesbianrightsmovementgainedsteam,thetrans
gendermovementgrewmoreinclusivetocoverthoseleftbehindbythe
gayandlesbianmovementsfocusonitsmostmainstreammembersand
politicallypromisingplaintiffs.25Giventhepoliticalhistoryofparsing
transfromqueerthroughthemaintenanceofgendernormativity,can
disabilityfunctionproactivelyandproductively,asaconversionortrans
lationofthestigmathroughwhichtranscandemarcateitsdistancefrom
aspectsofLGBTorganizingthatareincreasinglynormative?26
Iofferthisbriefhistoricaloverviewtolayoutthestakesforthe
debatebetweendemedicalizingtransbodies(favoringtheuseofgender
discriminationlawtoadjudicateequalityclaims)andsuccessfullyusing
disabilitylawtoaccesscrucialmedicalcare.Whatisevidentfromthese
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discussionsisthattransidentity,straddlingthedividebetweenthebio
medicalmodelandthesocialmodelofdisability,challengesthepostula
tionthatdisabilitystudiesispostbinary,especiallygiventhatvociferous
debatesabouttheutilityofthemedicalmodelintransjurisprudenceper
sist.Strassburger,whoarguesforanexpandedvisionofdisabilitybased
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onthesocialmodelthatcouldbeappliedfortransrights,notesnone
thelessthatthemedicalmodeloftranshasoftenbeenmoresuccessful
thansexandgenderdiscriminationandsexualorientationprotection,and
thatthetransgenderrightsmovementinitsemphasisondemedicalization
(despitereluctantlyadmittingthesuccessofmedicalstrategy)ignoresthe
pragmaticaspectsoflitigation.Further,Strassburgernotesthehistorical
effectsofstigma,writingthatdemedicalizationwouldmirrorthegay
rightsmovementsverysuccessfuleffortstoframegaynessasgoodrather
thanadisease.27
Forothers,thedebatebetweenmedicalizationanddemedicaliza
tionforestallsabroaderconversationaboutaccesstopropermedicalcare,
onethathasbeenforegroundedbyfeministstrugglesoverreproductive
rights,forexample.28Proponentsoftheuseofdisabilitylawfurthernote
thatdifficultaccesstomedicalcareisnotacompletegivenforalldisen
franchisedpopulations.Forexample,AlvinLeearguesthattheunique
aspectsofincarcerationandprisonhealthcarejustifyandindeedcompel
theuseofthemedicalmodelwhenadvocatingfortransprisonersrightto
sexreassignmentsurgery.29Leenotesthattheusualbiasagainstlower
incomepopulationsintheuseofthemedicalmodeldoesnotapplytothe
righttocareprisoncontext,wheremedicalevidenceisthebestway
todemonstrateseriousandnecessaryratherthanelectivehealthcare,
giventhegeneralprinciplethatindividuallibertiesshouldberestricted
inprison.30OtherlegalpractitionerssuchasJeannieJ.ChungandDean
Spadearecuriousaboutthesuccessofsocialmodelsofdisabilityintrans
genderlitigation.Spade,forexample,hascarefullyelaboratedhisambiva
lenceabouttheuseofdisabilitylawandthemedicalmodeinrelationto
hisfirmsocialjusticecommitmenttothedemedicalizationoftrans,argu
ingforamultistrategyapproach.31
II.TransExceptionalism:PassingandPiecing

Inadditiontotherobustdebatesaboutjurisprudenceontransanddis
ability,transgenderstudiesanddisabilitystudiesareoftenthoughtofas
comingintobeingintheearly1990sintheUSacademy,aperiodization
thatreflectsashiftinpracticesofrecognition,economicutility,andsocial
visibilitythatobscurespriorscholarship.Intermsoftrans,forexample,
StrykerandAizuranotethattoasserttheemergenceoftransgenderstud
iesasafieldonlyinthe1990srestsonasetofassumptionsthatpermita

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differentiationbetweenonekindofworkontransgenderphenomenaand
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another,fortherehadofcoursebeenagreatdealofacademic,scholarly,
andscientificworkonvariousformsofgendervariancelongbeforethe
1990s.Amongthevarioushistoricalchangestheylistassignificantto
thisemergencearenewpoliticalalliancesforgedduringtheAIDScrisis,
whichbroughtsexualandgenderidentitypoliticsintoadifferentsortof
engagementwiththebiomedicalandpharmaceuticalestablishments.32
Thisemergenceofdisabilityandtransidentityasintersectional
coordinatesrequiredexceptionalizingboththetransbodyandthedis
abledbodytoconvertthedebilityofanonnormativebodyintoaform
ofsocialandculturalcapacity,whetherlocatedinstaterecognition,
identitypolitics,marketeconomies,themedicalindustrialcomplex,aca
demicknowledgeproduction,subjectpositioning,orallofthese.Asa
result,bothfieldsofstudytransstudiesanddisabilitystudiessuffer
fromadominationofwhitenessandcontendwiththenormativization
oftheacceptableandrecognizablesubject.Thedisabledsubjectisoften
abodywithaphysicalimpairmentthewheelchairhasbecomethe
internationalsymbolforpeoplewithdisabilities.Intransidentity,the
morerecentlyemergenttrajectoryoffemaletomale(FTM)enlivenedby
accesstohormones,surgicalprocedures,andbodilyprostheseshascen
tralizedawhitetransmansubject.Whilethedisabledsubjecthasneeded
toreclaimformsofdebilitytoexceptionalizethetransgressionandsur
vivorshipofthatdisability,thetransnormativesubjectviewsthebodyas
endlesslyavailableforhormonalandsurgicalmanipulationandbecom
ing,abodyproducingtowardableistnorms.Further,transgenderdoes
noteasilysignalwithinconventionalnotionsofdisabilitybecauseitis
notamotor,sensory,psychiatric,orcognitiveimpairmentorachronic
illness.33
Thedisabledbodycanrevalueitslack,butthetransnormativebody
mightdesiretorehabilitateitselftoastatusofnondisabled.EliClare,a
transmanwithcerebralpalsy,hasgeneratedperhapsthemostmaterial
onthespecificepistemologicalpredicamentsofthedisabledtranssub
jectorthetransdisabledsubject,providingmuchneededintersectional
analysis.34Clarewritesoftheubiquityofthissentiment:Ioftenhear
transpeoplemostfrequentlyfolkswhoareusing,orwanttousemedi
caltechnologytoreshapetheirbodiesnametheirtransnessadisability,
abirthdefect.35HereClareemphasizesthetransinterestinacurefor
thedefect,aformulationthathasbeenpoliticallyproblematizedindis
abilityrightsplatforms,reinforcesableistnorms,andalienatespotential
convivialities:Toclaimourbodiesasdefective,andtopairdefectwith
cure...disregardstheexperiencesofmanydisabledpeople.36Disability
hereisnotonlythenarrativeprosthesis37throughwhichthetransbody
willovercomeandthusresolveitsdebilitybutalsotherawmaterialout
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ofwhichothersociallydisempoweredcommunitiesmakethemselvesvis
ible.38Seenthroughthismechanismofresourceextraction,disabilityis
thedisavowedmaterialityofatransembodimentthatabstractsandthus
effacesthismaterialityfromitsselfproduction.
TobyBeauchampaddstotheconversationaboutcurethenotionof
concealmentvialegal(identitydocuments)andmedicalintervention,stat
ing:Concealinggenderdevianceisaboutmuchmorethansimplyerasing
transgenderstatus.Italsonecessitatesalteringonesgenderpresentationto
conformtowhite,middleclass,ablebodied,heterosexualunderstandings
ofnormativegender.39Thecure,then,revolvesaroundrehabilitationto
multiplesocialnorms.Beauchampfurthernotesthatofcoursethepro
cessofdiagnosisandtreatmentinevitablyreinforcesthisrehabilitation:
Medicalsurveillancefocusesfirstonindividualslegibilityastransgen
der,andthen,followingmedicalinterventions,ontheirabilitytoconceal
anytransstatusordeviance.40Whileaccesstoadequateandsensitive
healthcarefortranspeoplecanbeadauntingifnotforeclosedprocess,
emergentconversationsontransgenderhealthcanalsofunctiontoreas
sertneoliberalnormsofbodilycapacityanddebility.41Thetransnormative
subjectmightcategoricallyrejectthepotentialidentificationandalliance
withdisability,despitethetwosharinganintensiverelationtomedicaliza
tion,andperhapsbecauseofthedesireforrehabilitationandanattendant
indebtednesstomedicalization.Clareaversthatwhilethedisabilityrights
movementfiercelyresiststhemedicalizationofbodiestorefusethecol
lapsingofthebodyintomeremedicalcondition,inhisestimationwe
haventquestionedthefundamentalrelationshipbetweentranspeopleand
theveryideaofdiagnosis.Manyofusarestillinvestedinthewayswere
medicalized.42
Eveninpoliticallyprogressivenarrationsoftransgenderembodi
ment,forexample,anunwittingableismandthespecterofdisabilityas
intrinsicdisenfranchisementoftenlingerasbyproductsoftheenchant
mentwiththetransformativecapacitiesofbodies.Forexample,Eva
HaywardstakeontheCrippletogglesaverytenuouslinebetweenthe
Crippleasametaphorofregenerationandthecripplingeffectsofampu
tation.43Likewise,BaileyKier,describinganinstanceoffishesabilityto
transsexinresponsetotoxicendocrinedisruptingchemicals(EDCs),
wondersifsuchtransformationsareatechnologybeyondourgrasp,
disregardingtheunevenbiopoliticaldistributionofsuchtoxinsthatren
derhisdesiresforaglobalembracing[of]oursharedtranssexvio
lentlyidealistic:EDCsarepartofthefood,productiveandre/productive
chainofnonhumanandhumanlifeandwewillneedtodeviseways,just
likefish,toadapttotheirinfluence.44
Iwouldthusarguethatthereisathirdelementherethatproduces
disabilityasthedisavowedmaterialcosubstanceoftransbodies.While
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thereareunderstandabledesirestoavoidstigmaand,astheADAdemon
strates,ademandforbodieswithdisabilitiestointegrateintoacapitalist
economyasproductivebodies,thethirdfactorinvolvesaspirationalforms
oftransexceptionalism,oneversionofwhichisaboutrehabilitation,cure,
andconcealment.However,thisexceptionalismisnotonlyaboutpass
ingasgendernormativeitisalsoaboutinhabitinganexceptionaltrans
bodywhichisadifferentkindoftransexceptionalism,onethatges
turestowardanewtransnormativecitizenpredicatednotonpassingbut
onpiecing,galvanizedthroughmobility,transformation,regeneration,
flexibility,andthecreativeconcoctingofthebody.Regardingpiecing
asanelementalaspectofneoliberalbiomedicalapproachestobodieswith
disabilitiesnowglobalizedtoallbodies,SnyderandMitchellarguethat
thebodyhasbecomeamultisectionalmarketindistinctiontoFordist
regimesthatdividedworkersfromeachother:
Wearenowperpetualmembersofanaudienceencouragedtoexperience
ourbodiesinpieces....Whereasdisabledpeopleweretrainedtorecognize
theirdisabledpartsasdefinitelyinferior,latecapitalismtrainseveryoneto
separatetheirgoodfrombadaformofalienationthatfeedsthemarkets
penchantfortreatingourpartsseparately.Thebodybecomesaterrainof
definablelocalities,eachcolonizedbyitsparticularpathologiesdictatedby
themedicalizedmarketplace.45

Whilethispartitioningofthebodyisnotarecentemergence,inthatthere
isalonghistoryofbodilycompartmentalizationasaprerequisiteforcapi
talistproduction,46thispiecingisnotonlyaboutproductivecapacitiesbut
alsoaboutextendingthebodyexperientiallyandextractingvaluenotjust
frombodiesbutfrombodypartsandparticles.
Inthiseconomyofalienatedparts,piecingbecomesaprizedcapac
ity.JackHalberstamobservesthatthetransgenderbodyhasemerged
asfuturityitself,akindofheroicfulfillmentofpostmodernpromisesof
genderflexibility.47Halberstamiscautiousaboutoverinvestingingender
fluidityastransgressivecapacity,notingthatmarketeconomiesalready
capitalizeonflexibilityasthehallmarkofneoliberaleconomicproduc
tivity.Butwhichtransgenderbody(bodies?)isactuallyunderstoodas
futurityitself?Thissuturingoftranstoexceptionalfuturityandthe
potentialthatthefutureoffersarethenewtransnormativebody.Again,
thisisnotthetransnormativebodythatpassesbutthetransnormative
bodythatpieces,thecommodificationnotofwholenessorofrehabilita
tionbutofplasticity,craftingpartsfromwholes,bodieswithoutandwith
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neworgans.Piecingthusappearstransgressivewheninfactitisconstitu
tivenotonlyoftransnormativitybutalsoofsomeaspectsofneoliberalor
marketeconomies.
Tosituatethistransbodythatisfuturityitself,wemightwantto
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turntotransorganizing.Importantly,strategicinterfacesbetweendis
abilitylawandtransdiscriminationarealsomirroredingrowingpolitical
organizingandalliancesbetweenthetwogroups.Onerecentexample
includesacoalitionoftransandpersonswithdisabilitiesorganizedat
theUniversityofCalifornia,SantaBarbara,tojointlyaddressissuesof
access,surveillance,andspatialconfigurationsthatdictatethegendered
andabledexpectationsofpublicrestroomscalledPISSAR(Peoplein
SearchofSafeandAccessibleRestrooms).48Asanotherexample,the
TransgenderLawCenterinSanFranciscohasanactivisthandbooktitled
PeeinginPeacethatusesdisabilityinformedargumentsforgenderneutral
publictoilets.49
Alongwithadistinctionbetweenthedisabilityrightsmovementand
disabilityjusticeorganizingmaintainedbyactivistssuchasMiaMingus,
oneshouldalsoretainadistinctionbetweenthetransgenderrightsmove
mentandtransjusticeorganizing.TransJustice,oneofthetwomajorini
tiativesoftheAudreLordeProjectinNewYorkCity,isapoliticalgroup
createdbyandfortransandgendernonconformingpeopleofcolor.Trans
Justiceworkstomobilizeitscommunitiesandalliesintoactiononthe
pressingpoliticalissuestheyface,includinggainingaccesstojobs,hous
ing,andeducationtheneedfortranssensitivehealthcare,HIVrelated
services,andjobtrainingprogramsandresistingpolice,government,and
antiimmigrantviolence.ThemembersofTransJusticetendtobeAfrican
AmericanandLatinoworkingclassyouth,andmostaremaletofemale
(MTF).TheconvergenceofracialidentityandMTFseemssignificant
andhardlyincidental.Everythingavailableoneconomicindicators,trans
genderhealth,incarceration,employment,streetviolence,andeducation
amplydemonstratesthattranswomenofcolor,especiallyblacktrans
women,aremassivelydisenfranchisedinrelationtoothertransbodiesand
thatthegulfbetweenthemand(white)FTMsisvastandgrowing.Data
aresparsebutstark:In2003,14murdersoftranspeoplewerereported
intheU.S.,and38worldwide.MostwereMTFandmostwerepeople
ofcolor.50ThemajorconcernsofTransJusticemembersclusteraround
accesstoschool,employment,welfareprovisions,anduncontaminated
andinexpensivedrugsandtreatmentshormones,fillers,andsurgeries.
Manyarticulatetheirawarenessoftransidentityoccurringsimultane
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ouslywitharealizationthattheywereattractedtothewrongsex(sonot
onlyornecessarilythattheywereinthewrongbody.).Theydesireto
passasbeautiful,feminine,sexy.Whileatranspoliticsmightrendersuch
formsofpassingeitheravalidationofaradicalidentityoraversionof
assimilation,misrecognition,orsellingout,forthesemembersitisoften
entwinedwith,albeitobliquely,avoidingpoliceharassment,community
stigmatization,andfamilialrejection.Theirengagementwiththemedical
industrialcomplexandwithdesiresfortransformativeembodimentisnot

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necessarilyoronlyvictorious,empoweredbychoice,orultimatelycapac
itybuilding.Medicalizationcanbeexperiencedastransformative,capaci
tating,debilitating,oralloftheabove,nottomentionexclusionary.51They
donotembodyfuturityitselfrather,theirbodiescanbereadassitesof
intensivestruggle(medical,educational,employment,legal,social)over
whoindeeddoesgettoembodyandexperiencefuturityandwhoasa
resultwillbecastoffasthecollateraldamagesofsuchstrivingstocapture
theessenceofthefuture.
KrisHayashi,formerdirectoroftheAudreLordeProject,elaborates
theemphasesoftransorganizinginNewYorkCityingeneralandTrans
Justicespecifically:
InNewYorkCity,TGNC[transgendernonconforming]youthofcolorand
lowincomeyouthintheWestVillageneighborhoodfaceongoingviolence
andharassmentatthehandsofthepolice,aswellasfromresidentswhoare
primarilyWhiteandmiddleclasstoupperclass.Asaresult,FIERCE!,an
organizationledandrunprimarilybyTGNClowincomeandhomeless
youthofcolor,prioritizesissuesofpolicebrutalityandviolence,aswellas
gentrification.TransJustice,aprojectofALP[theAudreLordeProject]that
isledandrunbyTGNCpeopleofcolor,hasprioritizedissuesofunemploy
mentandeducationaccessduetohighratesofunemployment(60%70%)
facingTGNCpeopleofcolor.AlsoinNewYork,acoalitionoforganizations
andgroupsincludingTransJustice,WelfareWarriors,andtheLGBTCom
munityCentersGenderIdentityProjecthaveprioritizedeffortstoendthe
regularharassmentanddiscriminationfacedbyTGNCpeopleseekingto
gainaccesstopublicassistance.Finally,manyTGNCgroupsledprimarily
bypeopleofcolorandlowincomecommunitieshavealsoprioritizedending
theU.S.waronterrorism,bothintheUnitedStatesandabroad.52

TheworkofTransJusticesituatesthevexedrelationstofuturitythatits
transconstituencymustmediateintermsofquotidiansurvival.Indoing
so,TransJusticeactivistsputtransnormativityinfullreliefasafunctionof
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theprivilegeofwhiteness,foregroundingacriticalapproachtotheracial
izingtechnologiesoftransidentity.Theiranalysescentralizetheprivilege
ofwhoisabletobedisabledandisabletobetransgenderasafunctionof
stateandlegalrecognitionthatisoftenelusivefortheirbodies,demon
stratingcapacitytheabilitytonotjustbebutbecome,nottopassbut
topieceratherthanonlydebility,deviance,victimhood,ostracization,
ornonnormativityatthecenteroftheseprojects.Thetransbodythat
pieces,then,alsopassesnotasgendernormativemaleorfemalebutas
trans.SusanStrykerandNikkiSullivan,elaboratingonthiscapacitation
throughpiecing,write:Ourresearch...leadsustowardanewunder
standingofbodilyintegration,onepredicatednotontheorganicintegrity
ofthehumanorganism,butratheronthebodyssuitabilityforintegration,

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itsabilitytobeintegratedasabiopoliticalresourceintoalargersociotech
nicalfield,orintoanapparatussuchastheState.53Inotherwords,they
renderacritiqueoftherehabilitationmodelasintrinsicallyareturnto
wholeness.Integrationthroughpiecing,ratherthanwholenessthrough
passing,becomesavaluedassetincontrolsocieties.StrykerandSullivan
continue:Theintegrityofthebodythatis,theabilityofthebodytobe
integratedisthus,paradoxically,dependentonitsenfleshmentasalways
alreadytorn,rent,incomplete,andunwhole.54Thiscapacitytointe
grateoneselfnottopassbuttopiecethusmediatestheproductionas
wellasthelivedexperiencesofmolarcategoriessuchasrace,class,and
gender.WhatIamarguinghereisthatcapacitationaroundhealthand
attendantregistersofbodilyprowess,notnecessarilyidentityastransor
disabledorabledorqueerornottrans,ultimatelyservesasthedividing
socialpracticeinbiopoliticalterms.55Thedebatesaboutthedisabledself
andthenondisabledotherreflectwiderdiscoursesofhowthoseselvesare
materiallyconstructedthroughthediscoursesthataboundonabjectand
successfulbodies.
Whilethecapacitytopiece(inordertopassasnotpassing)can
producenewformsoftransnormativity,StrykerandSullivanrightlypoint
outthatbodilycomportmentsthatdonotstrivetomanifestwholeness
oraninvestmentintheselfascoherentdonothavetoreproduceliberal
normsofbeing:Itisthisaspectofbodilybeingthattheliberaldiscourse
ofpropertyrightsinoneselfdoesnot,andcannot,accountforitisthis
aspectofbodilybeingthatweseektohighlightwhensuggestingthat
individualdemandsforbodilyalterationarealso,necessarily,demandsfor
newsocialbodiesnewsomatechnologiesthatethicallyrefiguretherela
tionshipbetweenindividualcorporealitiesandaggregateassemblagesof
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bodies.56Thisformulation,then,ofnewsomatechnologiesthatrefusethe
individualizingmandateofneoliberalparadigmsofbodilycapacityand
debilityinfavorofarticulatinggreaterconnectivitiesbetweenaggregate
assemblagesofbodies,preciselyflagsthechallengeofcraftingconviv
ialpoliticalpraxes.Andyet,itisalsothecasethatsuchpoliticalpraxes
mustneveroccludethestratificationsinherentinthequesttoaccesssuch
somatechnologies.Thetransnormativebodyoffuturitythatreflectsneo
liberalcelebrationsofflexibilityandpiecingremainsanelusivereality
formany.Thedistinctionsbetweenpassingandpiecingarethusfluid
andshifting,giventhekindsofpiecingtogetherofmedicalaccessand
legalaccommodationsthattransofcolorbodiesareforcedtoseekinany
effortstopass.

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III.BecomingTrans?AGeopoliticsofRacialOntology
Molecularlinesofflighttraceoutlittlemodifications,theymakedetours,
theysketchoutrisesandfalls,buttheyarenolesspreciseforallthis,
theyevendirectirreversibleprocesses....Manythingshappenonthis
secondkindoflinebecomings,microbecomings,whichdontevenhave
thesamerhythmashistory.Thisiswhyfamilyhistories,registrations,
commemorations,aresounpleasant,whilstourtruechangestakeplace
elsewhereanotherpolitics,anothertime,anotherindividuation.
GillesDeleuze,DialoguesII

ThusfarIhavesurveyedhowbiopoliticalrecognitionofdisabilityhas
installedaversionofgendernormativity,inthiscasespecificallythrough
thepoliticalapparatusoftheADA.Ihavethenoutlinedformsofbodily
exceptionalismthatmayproducetransableistdiscourses.Iturnnowfrom
thefocusonsubjectconstructionthetranssubject(s)andthedisabled
subject(s)thatarehailedand/ordeniedbylegallegitimation,staterec
ognition,publicaccommodation,andresourcedistributiontooffera
reconceptualizationofcorporealassemblagesthatforegroundontologi
calcontinuumsinrelationtoepistemologicalbifurcations.Itisalsoan
approachthathighlightshowbodiesaremalleablenotjustassubjectsbut
alsoascompositesofparts,affects,compartmentalizedcapacities,and
debilities,asdatapointsandinformationalsubstrates.Thiscontinuous
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oscillatingbetweentheidentityorrightsbasedclaimsofthetranssubject
andthedisabledsubjectseekingrecognitionandbiopoliticalcontrolthat
operateslargelythroughsecuringthesubandparaindividualcapacities
ofbodiesforprivatized(intheUnitedStates)regimesforpayisneces
sarybecausethesepoles,asGillesDeleuzeandFlixGuattarinote,are
neverwithouteachother:Thesetwopolesareinseparabletheyentertain
perpetualrelationsoftransformation,conversion,jumping,falling,and
rising.57Further,ifitisunderstoodthatthebattleagainsttheextraction
andexploitationofbodilycapacitiesandhabituationsisnotgoingtohap
penthroughtheterrainofintersectionalpoliticsalone,andthatinfact
biopoliticalcontrolsocietiesworkinsidiouslybyusingdisciplinarypower
tokeepordeflectourattentionaroundthesubjectionofthesubject,thus
allowingcontroltomanifestunhindered,Iwouldargueanotherinter
pretationofdisciplinaryapparatusesisthatinparttheyfunctionasfoils
forcontrolmechanisms.
Enactingthisoscillationmovesbetweenquestionssuchaswhatdis
abilityisandwhattransistowardwhatdisabilitydoesandwhattrans
does.Indisabilitystudies,JamesOverboedevelopstheDeleuziannotion
oftheimpersonallifeonewithoutaselftocutthroughadisability
politicsofidentitythatcentralizestheselfreflexiveindividual.Hegen
eratesthisinterventioninordertoaffirmdisabledlivesthataresimply

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expressedwithoutcognition,intent,oragency.Overboewrites:The
vitalismofanimpersonallifeisoftenconsiderednoisethatwillbefiltered
out,inthenameofclarity,inordertofacilitatetherealbusinessofsocial
changeandsocalledemancipation.Thisreestablishesandreinscribes
thedominantlanguageorcommunicationstyleassociatedwithbeinga
personorindividualwithagency.58Thereisarefusalhereofthemedical
impairmentversussocialconstructionimpasse,inpartbecauseDeleuzian
theoryembracesbiomateriality,foregroundingvitalismandpotentiality
ofimpairmentratherthanseekingitsrecontextualizationinthesocial.
Overboealsoremindsusthattheconstructofthesubjectitselfeventhe
disabledsubjectisalreadydiscursivelyabled.
Onecouldalsopointtoeffortstoarticulatetransasanontological
forcethatimpelsindeterminatemovementratherthananidentitythat
demandsepistemologicalaccountabilityorasamovementbetweeniden
tities.PaisleyCurrah,LisaJeanMoore,andSusanStrykerexplicatethe
trans(transhyphen)inthesociopolitical59JamiWeinsteindevelops
thenotionoftransgenre.60DeleuzeandGuattarisuseofthetermtrans
sexualityopenstoafluidspectrumofpossibility:transasamotion,not
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anidentity,andtransasacontinuumofintensity.Fortransstudies,Mel
ChenarguesthatthesimultaneouslimitationandpromiseofaBody
withoutOrgans(BwO)ispreciselythatthegenitals(ornongenitals)
matter,butarenotnecessarilyconstrainedbynormativegenderandsexu
ality.61Chenispointingtotransasareorderingofwhatorganssignify
whichgenders,orifanyorgansneedtosignifygendersatall.62
WhileearlierIhighlightthetroublingdiscourseofsharedtranssexin
relationtounmarkedandunevenbiopoliticsoftoxicitydistribution,Kiers
formulationoftransgenderasallencompassingcategoryeveryoneon
theplanetisnowencompassedwithinthecategoryoftransgender
issuggestivetomenotofthedesiretoretainthecategoryoftransgen
derbut,rather,ofitsimbricationinanunfoldinginterspeciesbiopolitical
vision.Kierproclaimsthatwemightbebetteroffrespondingtothis
rearrangement,notthroughfearoftheecocatastrophicassumptions
transsexinvokes,butbyembracingoursharedinterdependenttranssex.63
Weinsteinalsomobilizesthenotionofbecomingasadismantlingofthe
veryspeciationandbiopoliticalidentityconstructionthatMichelFou
caultelaborates.64Inacritiqueofspeciestaxonomy,JulieLivingstonand
Iusethetermbiopoliticalanthropomorphismor,rewordedmoreappropri
ately,biopoliticalanthropocentrismtohighlightthebiopoliticalprocesses
thatcoherethecentralityofthehuman,andofcertainhumansand,the
tendencyofbiopoliticalanalysestoreinscribethiscentralitybytaking
humanspeciesastheprimarybasisuponwhichcleavagesofraceand
sexoccur.65Biopolitics,asFoucaultexplains,istheprocessbywhich
humansbecomeaspecies(andinfactspecimens)tojoinallotherbiologi

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calspecies.Thisbecomingisalsotheprocessbywhichanthropomor
phicframesofthehumanthustakeforceandareconsolidated.Foucault
explainsinSecurity,Territory,Populationthatthedimensioninwhich
thepopulationisimmersedamongsttheotherlivingbeingsappearsand
issanctionedwhen,forthefirsttime,menarenolongercalledmankind
(legenrehumaine)andbegintobecalledthehumanspecies(lespece
humaine).66Aparadoxoccurs:theanimalismofhumansthelifeofthe
bodyandthelifeofthespecies67istakenupasaprojectofpopulation
construction,andhumansjoinspecies.The(androcentric)humanisthus
rearticulatedasanexceptionalformofanimalitywithinananthropo
morphizedcategory:humanity.Therefore,althoughFoucaultsownwork
doesnotexploretheimplicationsofthisintermsofinterspeciesrelating,
histheoryofbiopoliticsunderstandsanthropocentrismasadefiningfacet
ofmodernity.
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Transgenderstudieshastakenonthequestionofspeciationthrough
aposthumanistornonhumanistturninfact,itisleadingthewaytoward
posthumanistinquiries,afairamountofitemboldenedbyDeleuzian
thought.Thismeetingoftransgenderstudies,animalstudies,andpost
humaniststudiesisfantasticallyrich,considerablycomplicatinghuman
istpresumptionsofsexdimorphism68andconceptualizingsexasareac
tionnormindynamicemergencewiththeenvironmentandasaneffect
ofgenesand(hormonal)environmentsinterfacing.69MyraHirdswork
defusesthenature/culturedistinctionbyunpackingthehumanexception
alismembeddedincontinuallyevokingthetranshumanbodyastrans
gressive.Givenitsplentitudeinnonhumanforms,Hirdarguesthattrans
isnotaculturalartifactoftechnologicalmeans,orgloriouslyperverse
inthatitisunnatural,butisinfactconstitutiveofnatureitself.Hird
deploystransnotjustbeyondoracrosssexbutacrosstraditionalspecies
classifications.Takingacuefromthecomplexityofintersexandtrans
sexandthenonapplicabilityofgenderandsexualdimorphismtomost
nonhumanlife,Hirdarguesagainstanature/culturebinarywherethe
humantransbodyisunderstoodasatechnologicalinventionalone.The
upshotofHirdsargumentisthattransisnottransgressivebut,ratherand
infact,natural.70InconcertwithVickyKirbyspropositionthatnatureis
writingandrepresentingitself,andthatperhapsculturehasbeennature
allalong,71Hirdarguesthattechnologymustbeunderstoodthroughits
interspeciesdimensions:Theuseoftechnologytodistinguishbetween
natureandcultureobscurestheveryrealandenergeticinventionanduse
oftechnologybynonhumanlivingorganisms...aswellastheextentto
whichsocalledhumantechnologiesactuallymimictechnologyalready
inventedbyotherspecies.72Hirdsargument,whichcomplicatesif
notrefusesthenature/culturebifurcation,hasvastimplicationsforthe
debatesindisabilitystudiesaboutthebiomedicalversussocialmodelof
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disability.Withinthecontextoftransgenderjurisprudenceandactivist
debatesregardingtheuseofthemedicalmodelwithinlegislativebattles
forhealthcareandattendantprovisions,heranalysissuggestsastrategic
deploymentofthemodelthatmightdefusepathologicalconceptualiza
tionswhenpositedasamanipulationofthetermsoftechnologyandwhat
constitutesthenatural.
Butdespitechallengingtheforegroundingofthehumananditscen
tralitytodefiningtheparametersofsex,gender,andsexualreproduction,
thedeepeningconversationsbetweentransgenderstudies,animalstudies,
andposthumanismhasfastidiouslyavoidedanengagementwithdisability
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studies,afieldalwaysinconversationwitharrangementsofthehuman,
especiallyasitrelatestocognitiveandmentaldisabilities.Thisocclusion
isfurthernotableinlightofarich,emergingdialoguebetweendisability
andanimalstudies.73Further,thegrowingpartnershipbetweentrans
genderstudiesandanimalstudieshaselideddiscussionsofracialdiffer
encecrucialtodebatesaboutbiopoliticalanthropocentrism,foreground
inginsteadthecategoryspecies,asifspecieswerenotalsoaforumfor
understandingcleavagesofracialdifference.74Oneefforttoredressthese
elisionsisChensarticulationoftheprefixaltransamaterialismof
grammarasawaytoexplorethatcomplexityofgenderdefinitionthat
liesbetweenhumangendersystemsandthegenderingofanimals.75In
attendingtotherelationshipbetweenhumananimalsandnonhuman
animalsasaracializingtechnologyofbiopolitics,Chensanalysisartic
ulatestransnotjustasmutilatinggender,76astherescramblingand
reorganizingofgender,buttransasmutilatingorperhapsbetterstatedas
mutatingraceaswell.Insomecases,thismutatingisareterritorialization
andenhancedcapacitationofracialprivilegeandtheprojectionofracial
coherencethroughrearranginggender.BobbyJeanNoble,forexample,
describeshisprocessofregenerationfromaworkingclassbutchwoman
toatransmanasoneofmovingfromformerlyoffwhite[toa]nowWhite
personinalandscapewhereintheselfisthehottestandmostinsidi
ouscapitalistcommodity.77Theconfusingdesignationofoffwhite
notwithstanding,Nobledescribesthiscapacitationofracearevivalof
theprivilegesofwhitenessnowaffordedthroughmasculinityasaby
productoftransbodymodification.Ifonequeriesthisderivativeformula
tion,however,thepossibilitythatmutilatinggendermightnotbesoeasily
cleavedfrom(desiresfor?)racialrecuperation,orfromconstructsofable
ism,needstobeconsidered.Whatkindsofattemptedrecuperationofone
sortoranothersubtendorevenprefacetheserearrangementsofgender?
RecallthatforFoucaultracismisnotderivativeofbiopowerbut,
rather,aprerequisiteforhowbiopoliticsworksthatistosay,Foucault
wrenchesracismoutofnotionsofculturaltolerancebystatingthatthe
caesurainthebiologicalspectrumthatisaccordedtoraceisnecessary

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forlicensingthefourcoordinatesofbiopoliticalwill:makinglive,making
die,lettinglive,lettingdie.Thisformulationofracismasacaesurain
thebiologicaldomain78canbemobilizedasapreemptivecritiqueofa
posthumanismthatdoesnotacknowledgeraceasacriticalthresholdof
demarcation.Giventhecentralityofracialdemarcatednesstobiopolitics,
IreadFoucaultslaterexplanationsofbiopolitics,orwhathecallsthe
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regimeofsecurity,laterrecapitulatedinDeleuzestheorizationofcontrol
societies,asinfactageopoliticsofracialontology.
Resuturingthefoundationalfunctionofracewithinbiopoliticsto
theproductionofontologicallyirreducibleentitiesincontrolsocieties,the
geopoliticsofracialontologymarksthemanifestationofdifferentspa
tializingregimesofthebody,anditsparticles,suchthatthebiological
caesurathatdemarcatesthecutoforforracismisnownotjustaquestion
ofvisibleracialdifferenceorofthetaxonomicandeugenicscienceof
phrenologyandthescientificracismoftheeighteenththroughearlytwen
tiethcenturies.Itis,rather,thebiotechnologiesofgeneticengineering,
assistedreproductiontechnologies,humangenomesequencing,andphe
notypicalvariationwhichmaywellintersectwith/appearasgendered
transformationsthatmeanthecutofracismisnotmadeonlythrough
disciplinarycategoriesofracebut,moreperniciously,throughbiopoliti
calcontrolaggregatesofpopulation.79Thisgeopoliticsofracialontology
destabilizestherelentlessfocusonepistemologicalcorrectivesthattend
todominatepoliticalinterventions.But,moretrenchantly,theemphasis
ongeopoliticsamendswhatmightotherwisebealocationlessnotionof
ontology,anunmarkedlocationalinvestmentofrecentworkonontol
ogy,muchofitneitheraccountingfortheproductiveforceofgeopolitics
withinitsscholarlypurviewnoracknowledgingthegeopoliticalforcesthat
enabletheorizing.
Intheoscillationbetweendisciplineandcontrol,whichislessabout
theendofdiscipliningandmoreabouttheconstellationofrelations
betweendisciplineandcontrol,thequestion,areyoutrans?morphsto,
howtransareyou?Bothdisciplineandcontrolpivotonthefantasyofa
bodythatisconcretelyanddistinctlyarealtransbodythe(transnorma
tive?)bodythatpiecesmanifestinoppositiontothebodythatismost
certainlycisgender.Similarly,thequestion,areyoudisabled?morphsto,
howabledareyou?andhowdisabledareyou?Inthecontextofanarray
ofmedicalproceduresthatchangeintermsofaccess,signification,cul
turalcapital,andsocialization,themovesaroundthesequestionsarenot
signalingmerelydegree.Theendgoaltopass?topiece?isimpossible
andalwaysshifting:thereisnotrans.Transbecomingmasqueradesas
ateleologicalmovement,asifonecouldactuallybecometrans.Trans
isoftenmistakenasthehorizonoftransand,assuch,ismistakenfor
becomingtransaslineartelos,asaprognosisthatbecomesthebodys
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torynormsofpermanence.80
Becomingtrans,then,asopposedtotransbecoming,musthighlight
thisimpossibilityoflinearity,permanence,andendpoints.InDeleuzian
terms,becomingistheIcascadingintotheimpersonal,thestrippingof
allregistersofsignificationthatmakeeachbodysuccumbtosubjectifica
tionoversignifiance.Becoming,asWeinsteincontends,isawholesale
deterritorializationofthehuman,andabecomingimperceptiblea
divestmentofcodes,ofsignification,ofidentityandaprocessoftakingon
theregisteroftheimpersonal.Becomingisnotabouttryingtomakethe
bodymorecapacitatedbutaboutallowingandreadingmoremultiplicity,
multiplicitiesoftheimpersonalandoftheimperceptible.Importantly,
becomingshavenostaticreferentofstartpoint,endpoint,orclimaxthey
havenonarrative.Becomingisawashinpureimmanence,nevercoinci
dentwithitself,markedonlybydegreesofintensityandduration.81But
noneofthisistoobscurethefactthatbecominghasbecomeazonefor
profitforcontemporarycapitalism,forneoliberalpiecingandprofiteer
ing,amodethroughwhichprofitisbeingaggressivelyproduced.Andas
such,alltheorizationsofbecomingaregeneratedthroughandwithinthe
geopoliticsofracialontologythatitinhabits.
Astranstransitionisincreasinglytheorizedasthemobilization,
modulation,andmodificationofbodilymatterratherthanaretroactive
cuttingandseveringfrombeinginthewrongbody,controlsocietiesmust
beunderstoodasdeeplysympathetictoifnotpartiallyproductiveofthis
reframing.Controlminesgradationsofsurfaceanddepth,tensionand
attention,penetrationandwithdrawal,findingmultipleusesforthediver
sificationofvestmentsandinvestments.Onceagain,however,wecande
exceptionalizetransbodies,astheyareneitherexceptionallysusceptible
tocontrolanditsformsofcontinuoussurveillance(giventhecontinuities
betweenrhinoplastyandothertranssurgicalprocedures,forexample,
andbodymodificationingeneral),82noraretheyexceptionallycapableof
modulation,flexibility,andattunement.
Biopoliticalcontrolforegroundsthesubindividualcapacities,the
nonhumancapacities,theprostheticcapacities,themolecularcapacities,
andthehormonalcapacitiesandmanipulatesthetelosofdegreegranting
drivenbythemedicalindustrialcomplex.BeatrizPreciadodevelopsa
formulationofthepharmacopornographictodescribetheproliferation
ofbodilymodulationsincontrolsocieties,formsofmicrocontrolhecalls
softtechnologiesthatenterthebodytoformpartofit:theydissolve
inthebodytheybecomethebody:Herethebodynolongerinhab
itsdisciplinaryspaces,butisinhabitedbythem.Thebiomolecularand
organicstructureofthebodyisalastresortforthesecontrolsystems.83
ThedisciplinaryspacesPreciadowritesofencompassingthemolarcat

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egoriesofrace,gender,sexproliferatefrombodilyhabitationsofiden
titytoinhabitationsofthebody.Thisinhabitationisperhapsoneofthe
mostperniciousmodalitiesofpowerthatcontrolcanmanifestcontrolas
disciplineparexcellence,inthatdisciplinereproducesitselfcontinuously
throughouttimeandspace.Thesemicroprostheticsofcontrol,which
Preciadoclaimsimpelaprocessofminiaturization,taketheformof
thebodytheycontrolbytransformingintobody,untiltheybecome
inseparableandindistinguishablefromit.84Thus,thetermbodymodi
ficationbecomesaredundancy:thebodyis(endless)modification.This
body,however,isnotonlythecontouredorganicbodywitharaceanda
sexitiscompositesofinformationthatsplaythebodyacrossregisters
ofdisciplinaryspaceandtime.Thetargetisdata,notonlyidentityor
thesubjectoritsrepresentation.Identitariancommunitiesofbelonging
traditionallyunderstoodthroughdisciplinarycategoriesofidentity,spati
ality,coherencearereorganizedthroughstatisticalpopulations,strati
fiedthroughaggregatesofbiopoliticallifechancesinthenexuswhere
state,market,scientific,andgeopoliticalrealmsmeet.
WhileIfindPreciadosdescriptionofcontroleconomiesofbodily
inhabitationverypersuasive,heoptimisticallydescribesthemolecularas
theparadoxicalconditionofcontemporaryresistanceandrevolt:
Wearemolecularlyequippedtoremaincomplicitwithdominantrepressive
formations.Butthecontemporarypharmacopornographicbody...isnot
docile.Thisbodyisnotsimplyaneffectofthepharmacopornographicsys
temsofcontrolitisfirstandaboveallthematerializationof...powerof
lifethataspirestotransfertoallandtoeverybody.Thisistheparadoxical
conditionofcontemporaryresistanceandrevolt:pharmacopornographic
subjectivityisatthesametimetheeffectofbiopoliticaltechnologiesofcon
trolandtheultimatesiteofresistancetothem.85

Wemightwanttopauseattheformulationofthemolecularandthe
nondocilebodywithinwhichitresidesastheultimatesiteofresistance,
anontologizingofthemolecularasathrivingsiteofresistancebyvirtue
ofitsmerepresenceandflexiblerelationtobiomedicalcontrolecono
mies(indeed,partofthetransnormativebodythatpieces,anddrivingthe
reterritorializationofwhiteness).Giventhegeopoliticsofracialontology
thatconditionanypossibilitiesforbecoming,forawholesaledeterrito
rializationofthehuman,andgiventhatallthecoordinatesaroundthe
relationofthemedicalmodeltothesocialmodelandtheaccesstosubject
recognitionandthemedicalindustrialcomplexrevolvearoundnotjust
genderandsexualalteritybutalsoracialalterityanddisenfranchisement
throughracialdifference,Iwanttoproposebecomingtransasacapacita
tionofrace,ofracialontologies,thatinformsthefunctioningofgeoand
biopoliticalcontrol.Becomingtransisaprocessthatcourtsnotonlythe

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transformationofbodiesintermsofgender,butalsosolicitsthecapac
ityofracetoreinventitsterms.Racehereisunderstoodnotonlyasa
functionorsynonymofcolorbutalso,andperhapsmoreperniciously,as
speciation.Becomingtransisdistinctfromtransbeing,ortransnorma
tivitythatrevelsinthefuturityofthebodythatpieces,becauseitspecifi
callyanddeliberatelyacknowledgesapoliticalcommitmenttothinking
throughtheformsofracialcapacitationandreterritorializationthatsub
tendandinformtransmovements.
Wecouldseebecomingtrans,then,asthedissolutionofthiscat
egoryofsignificationthroughmanifestingtheintensivemultiplicityof
race,outpacingtheforcesofsignificationthatseektocontainandcom
partmentalizewhatisraced,whatisnotraced.Insofarasracecontinues
tobedefinedinrelationtotheWhiteManwhosetsitsparameters,what
AmitRaicallsraceracingproliferatesracialontologiesthatareirreduc
ibleanduntothemselves,inrelationthroughinfinitevariationratherthan
differencefrom(theWhiteMan).Theimpetusforraceracingstems,for
Rai,fromthecontextofantiracistorganizinginBritain,wherehelaments
thecontinualreiterationofthecentralityandnormativityofwhitesub
jectsandbodiesineventhemostprogressiveantiracistpoliticalforums.
Onthinkingracenotrepresentationallybutintensively,whathecallsrace
racing,Raiwrites:
Ifoneistoconsistentlythinkraceracingasanintensiveprocess,themulti
plicityofracelacksanyresemblancetoitselfraceracingmultiplicitiesgive
formtoprocesses,nottothisorthatfinalproduct(arace,aname...).
Indeed,theendresultsofprocessesrealizingthesamemultiplicitymaybe
highlydissimilarfromeachother,likethesphericalsoapbubbleandthe
cubicsaltcrystal,orlikeJazzmusicandthenarrativenovel,whichnotonly
donotresembleoneanother,butbearnosimilaritytothetopologicalpoint
guidingtheirproduction.Themultiplicityofraceracingisofanobscure
yetdistinctnaturequitedifferentfromtheclearanddistinctidentityof
rationalisticessences.86

Raceracing,asRaielaborates,trackstheinsistentbecomingofrace,the
wayracelack[ing]anyresemblancetoitselfisalwaysmutilating
andmutating(toinvokethelanguagefrommutilatinggender)itsformin
ordertoresituateandreviveitscapacitationwithinbiopoliticalfields.Race
racingthen,allowsareadingofracialcapacitationdeterritorialization,
reterritorializationinbecomingtrans.Becomingtransisofcoursejust
onepotentialityofraceracing.Butifweareserious,toinvokeChenand
otherswhothinkoftransasamovementnotsolelytetheredtomodula
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tionsandmodificationsofgenderandsexualitybutalsoofspecies,race
racingchangestransbecominginsofarasitpotentiallychangeswhat
raceis,proliferatesitsintensive,singularforms,reorganizesitsregisters

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ofsignificanceandsignification,andreterritorializesandmultipliesits
capacitation,itspresence,itsmutability.Butbecomingtransalsocar
riesthroughandoutaprocessofracializationasmuchasitalsomarks
anintensiveraceracing,amomentofracebecomingfuturity.Thereis
nodoubtthatthereterritorializationofwhiteness,inparticularofwhite
masculinities,mightoccurthroughthereassemblingofgenderandsexu
alityintoversionsoftransnormativity.Butbecomingtransasapractice
andapoliticstakesonadeterritorializingforcenotonlyinrelationto
genderandsexbutalsoinrelationtoraceandspeciation.Thequestion
thenisnot,doesgenderandsexnonnormativityleadtoracialnonnor
mativity?but,rather,aboutcreativelinesofflightthatmutateanddistort
andswerveinLucretianfashion.Notswervefrom,justswerve,creating
intensiveratherthanqualifieddifference.Thinkingofbecomingtransas
aformofraceracingilluminatestherelationsofwhitetransnormative
(FTM)bodiesoffuturitytheonesthatpassbyexemplifyingpiec
ingtotheTransJustice(MTF)bodiesofcolor,thosethatstruggleto
piece(inordertoperhapspass),byseeingallthesebodiesasimplicatedin
theredistributionofcapacitationsandreterritorializationsofraceintheir
intensivedifferences.Themultiplicity,nottheeither/orofnormativityor
nonnormativity,ofracialandgenderdifferenceisforegrounded.Thus,
passingandpiecingwouldbedestabilizedfromtheirdiscretesexualand
racialreferentsandunderstood,rather,asproducedthroughinterfacing
assemblagesofdeandreterritorialization,ofproliferatingnotonlygen
dersbutalsoracesand,indeed,species.
Adeconstructivemodelofraceinsistentlyrepositionsthewhitemale
subjectasdeterminantofwhatraceis,ofmakingsenseordifferentsense
ofarepresentationalformatorforumlanguagedominatesthepolitical
realmhere.ButtheoristssuchasArunSaldahna,AmitRai,andmyself
arearguingforapoliticalandtheoreticalmethodologythatintensifies
andproliferatesraceratherthandeconstructsit,aproliferationthat,
ratherthanhopingtodissolvebinaries,makesthemfadethroughthe
overwhelmingforceofontologicalmultiplicity,attunedtotheperpetual
differentiationofvariationtovariationandthemultiplicityofaffirma
tivebecomings.Ifraceisatechnologyofregeneration,inthatraceis
insistentlyreinventingitselfinmannersbothobscureanddistinctas
Raiavers,thismethodologydoggedlypursuestheinventivemovements
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ofraceitself.Writingthatraceisawholeevent,87Saldahnaexhorts:
Everytimephenotypemakesanothermachinicconnection,thereisa
stutter.Everytimebodiesarefurtherentrenchedinsegregation,however
brutal,thereneedstobeanaffectiveinvestmentofsomesort.Thisisthe
rupturalmomentinwhichtointervene.Raceshouldnotbeeliminated,
butproliferated,itsmanyenergiesdirectedatmultiplyingracialdifferences
soastorenderthemjoyfullycacophonic.88
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ThisjoyfulcacophonyisinpartwhatRaiunderstandsasanexperi
mentationonraceitself,onethatwouldcontinuouslymutate,neverresem
blingitself,changingthemetricofitsownmeasurethrougharesonance
thatmovesbeyonditsterms.89UnlikeforPreciado,forwhomresistanceis
simplyaprioriinstalledinthemolecularastheultimatesiteofresistance
andutterlyunbeholdentoanycollectiveanontologizingandindividu
atingpoliticsatbest,asJord/anaRosenbergsodeftlydemonstrates90
Raicallsforsocialandpoliticalpracticesofexperimentation,adeeply
pragmaticmanipulationofthepartitioningcapacitiesofbodies.Isug
gestthis[move]beyonditstermsisonewayofworkingthroughand
alsoagainsthowbiopoliticalcontrolseekstomodulatesubandpara
individualcapacitiesofthebody(itseekstomodulatetheimpersonal,the
becoming)whilepromotinganindividualrecoursetosubjectidentifica
tion.Becomingtrans,assuggestedbyraceracing,wouldbeapoliticsof
manifestingbeyondwhatcontrolcancontrol,amolecularlineofflight,
amomentofintensificationintheprocessofbecomingthatischaracter
isticofraceracing.Aswithallbecomings,linesofflightareimmanent,
andtheiravailabilityforreterritorialization,orcapacitytonewlyterri
torialize,imminent.Therevolutionisnotmolecularrather,movement
residesintheinterstitialshuttlingtherupturalmomentinwhichto
intervenebetweenintensivemultiplicityanditsmostlikelyrecapture.
Notes
Thisarticlehasevolvedovermanyconversations,places,andtimes.Ihavebeenvery
luckytohavehadengagedaudiencesattheUniversityofMaryland,OhioStateUni
versity,LinkpingUniversity,theUniversityofIndiana,theUniversityofBergen,
CornellUniversity,theInstituteforCulturalInquiryinBerlin,KingsCollege,and
ManchesterUniversity.ThanksalsotoTaviaNyongo,EdCohen,JulieLivings
ton,ElenaGlasberg,andSusanStrykerforfeedbackandencouragementonvari
ousdrafts,andtoAlexPittmanforhisendlesspatience.Asever,myanalyseshave
beenchallengedandsharpened(hopefully)throughmanydizzyingexchangeswith
Jord/anaRosenberg,whoneverfailstofollowthroughontheimplicationsofevery
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lastthoughtandidea.
1.DonavanSlack,BidenSaysTransgenderDiscriminationCivilRightsIssue
ofOurTime,Politico,30October2012,www.politico.com/politico44/2012/10/biden
saystransgenderdiscriminationcivilrights147761.html.
2.SeeSiobhanB.Somerville,QueerLoving,GLQ:AJournalofLesbianand
GayStudies11,no.3(2005):33570.
3.Therewashealthyskepticismfromotherquarters,includingtransrightsgrass
rootsactivistsaskingtheimportantquestionsaboutwelfare,safety,work,economics,
andhealthcare.Forsomeexamples,seeS.E.Smith,JoeBidenCallsTransgender
DiscriminationtheCivilRightsIssueofOurTime,xoJane,31October2012,www
.xojane.com/issues/joebidencallstransgenderdiscriminationthecivilrights
issueofourtimeNatashaLennard,WhatTookBidenSoLongonTransDiscrimi
nation?,Salon,31October2012,www.salon.com/2012/10/31/if_trans_discrimination
_is_the_civil_rights_issue_of_our_time_why_is_biden_just_mentioning_it_now/.
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4.BethPovinelli,lectureatAmericanUniversityofBeirut,14March2013.
5.C.RileySnortonandJinHaritaworn,TransNecropolitics:ATransna
tionalReflectiononViolence,Death,andtheTransofColorAfterlife,inTransgen
derStudiesReader2,ed.SusanStrykerandArenZ.Aizura(NewYork:Routledge,
2013),67.
6.SusanStrykerandArenZ.Aizura,Introduction:TransgenderStudies
2.0,inTransgenderStudiesReader2,10.
7.ArenZ.Aizura,OfBordersandHomes:TheImaginaryCommunityof
(Trans)sexualCitizenship,InterAsiaCulturalStudies7(2006):295.
8.SusanStryker(personalcommunicationviaemail,20June2013and25
August2013)hasreferredtothisastransnormativecitizenship.Asshewonders:
Istransjustanadditivetotheconceptofhomonationalism,ordoesitcreate(trans)
gendertroublefortheconcept?Myownsenseisthathomonationalisminvolvesthe
captureofhomonormativitybystate/governmentality,andthecaptureoftransnor
mativegenderisanotherinstanceofthesameprocess,butisnotnecessarilyhomo
(sometimesitis,sometimesitisnt)(23June2013).
9.DanIrvingwritesthatconstructionsoftranssexualsasviablesocialsub
jectsbymedicalexperts,transsexualindividuals,researchers,andallieswere,and
continuetobe,shapedsignificantlybydiscoursesofproductivityemergingfrom
andreinforcingregimesofcapitalistaccumulation.Tomovetowardachievingsocial
recognition,thetranssexualbodymustconstituteaproductiveworkingbody,that
is,itmustbecapableofparticipatingincapitalistproductionprocesses.Irving
claimsthatthisresultsintheconstructionoftranssexualsubjectivitiesinwaysthat
reinforcedominantexploitativeclassrelations.Perhapsitisworthaffirmingthat
whileperhapscorrect,thisassessmentcanbemadeofmanybodiessolicitedforneo
liberalsubjecthood.Irvinggoesontoexceptionalizethetransbodybyarguingthat
appealstomainstreamsocietytoaccepttranssexualsaslegitimatesubjectsoften
emphasizedtheirvaluablecontributionstosocietythroughtheirlabor.DanIrving,
NormalizedTransgressions:LegitimizingtheTranssexualBodyasProductive,
RadicalHistoryReview100(2008):42.
10.KarenNakamura,Trans/Japan,Trans/Disability(paperpresentedat
DebilitatingQueernessconference,UniversityofMaryland,CollegePark,5April
2013).
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2013).

11.SeeDavidValentine,ImaginingTransgender:AnEthnographyofaCategory
(Durham,NC:DukeUniversityPress,2007)SusanStryker,WeWhoAreSexy:
ChristineJorgensensTranssexualWhitenessinthePostcolonialPhilippines,Social
Semiotics19,no.1(2009):89JaniceM.Irvine,DisordersofDesire:SexualityandGen
derinModernAmericanSexology(Philadelphia,PA:TempleUniversityPress,1990).
12.Section12221ofthe1990AmericanswithDisabilitiesActreadsasfollows:
(a)Homosexualityandbisexuality
Forpurposesofthedefinitionofdisabilityinsection12102(2)ofthis
title,homosexualityandbisexualityarenotimpairmentsandassuch
arenotdisabilitiesunderthischapter.
(b)Certainconditions
Underthischapter,thetermdisabilityshallnotinclude
(1)transvestism,transsexualism,pedophilia,exhibitionism,voyeurism,
genderidentitydisordersnotresultingfromphysicalimpairments,or
othersexualbehaviordisorders
(2)compulsivegambling,kleptomania,orpyromaniaor
(3)psychoactivesubstanceusedisordersresultingfromcurrentillegaluse
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13.AdrienneL.Hiegel,SexualExclusions:TheAmericanswithDisabilities
ActasaMoralCode,ColumbiaLawReview94,no.4(1994):1451.
14.L.CamilleHerbert,TransformingTranssexualandTransgenderRights,
WilliamandMaryJournalofWomenandtheLaw15,no.3(2009):54041.
15.R.NickGorton,TransgenderHealthBenefits:CollateralDamageinthe
ResolutionoftheNationalHealthCareFinancingDilemma,SexualityResearchand
SocialPolicyJournalofNSRC4,no.4(2007):84.Gortoncontinues:Therefore,
althoughobtainingtransgenderservicesthroughMedicaidisdifficultbutpossible
dependingonthecourt,obtainingfederalprotectionsthroughtheADAinvolves
convincingcourtsnotonlythatgenderidentitydisorderisalegitimateillnessneeding
treatmentbutalsothattheexclusionwithinthelawitselfisunconstitutionalamuch
moreformidablechallenge.Todate,nocourthasstruckdowntheADAsexclusion
oftransgenderpeople(84).
16.KariHong,CategoricalExclusions:ExploringLegalResponsestoHealth
CareDiscriminationagainstTranssexuals,ColumbiaJournalofGenderandLaw11
(2002):123.
17.SeeRuthColker,Homophobia,AIDSHysteria,andtheAmericanswith
DisabilitiesAct,JournalofGender,RaceandJustice8,no.1(2004):33.
18.KevinM.Barry,Disabilityqueer:FederalDisabilityRightsProtectionfor
TransgenderPeople,YaleHumanRightsandDevelopmentJournal16,no.1(2013):
150.
19.WemightaskwhattheshiftfromGIDtogenderdysphoriaentails:Will
therebeashiftawayfromtheemphasisonchildhood?Whatnewpopulationswill
beimpelledandcurated?Whilebeyondthescopeofthisdiscussion,theelimination
ofGIDfromtheDSMmightentailthatsuccessfullylitigatingforADAcoverageof
transisanevenmoreremotepossibility.
20.Hiegel,SexualExclusions,145253.
21.NicoleMarkoticandRobertMcRuer,LeadingwithYourHead:Onthe
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21.NicoleMarkoticandRobertMcRuer,LeadingwithYourHead:Onthe

BordersofDisability,Sexuality,andtheNation,inSexandDisability,ed.Robert
McRuerandAnnaMollow(Durham,NC:DukeUniversityPress,2012),16582.
22.SharonL.SnyderandDavidT.Mitchell,AblenationalismandtheGeo
PoliticsofDisability,JournalofLiteraryandCulturalDisabilityStudies(2010):124.
23.Ibid.,122.
24.SeeQueerChannelMedia:TranswashingtheADA,ENDAblog,28
July2011,endablog.wordpress.com/2011/07/28/queerchannelmediatranswashing
theada/.
25ZachStrassburger,DisabilityLawandtheDisabilityRightsMovement
forTranspeople,YaleJournalofLawandFeminism24,no.2(2012):7.
26.Iftranshasbecomethefigureofradicalalterityfromanowdomesticated
queer,asitisincreasinglyclaimed,thenistransthedisabledOtherofaqueerable
ism?Istransphobiainqueerorganizationsandcommunities,forexample,inpart
amanifestationofableism,ofanxietyorphobiatowarddisability?Thisisnotin
anywaymeanttoreducetransphobiatoableism,ortoanyotherism,buttoask
whatcomponents,includingrace,class,andableism,mightbefuelingtheassem
blagethatistransphobia.WhyistheMichiganWomynsMusicFestivalstillbarring
transwomen?Istheinabilitytocompletelyembodyoriginarybiologicalfemale
nessrespondedtophobically,asifthisinabilitywereadisability?Istherevaluein
conceptualizingtransphobiaasavariantofableism?
27.Strassburger,DisabilityLaw,34.
28.Stryker,personalcommunicationviaemail,25August2013.
29.AlvinLee,TransModelsinPrison:TheMedicalizationofGenderIden

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tityandtheEighthAmendmentRighttoSexReassignmentTherapy,HarvardJour
nalofLawandGender31(2008):46465.
30.Ibid.,470.
31.JeannieJ.Chung,IdentityorCondition:TheTheoryandPracticeof
ApplyingStateDisabilityLawstoTransgenderIndividuals,ColumbiaJournalof
GenderandLaw21,no.1(2011):145DeanSpade,ResistingMedicine,Re/Mod
elingGender,BerkeleyWomensLawJournal18,no.1(2003):37.
32.StrykerandAizura,Introduction,1.
33.AbbyL.Wilkerson,NormateSexandItsDiscontents,inMcRuerand
Mollow,SexandDisability,18485.
34.SeeEliClare,BodyShame,BodyPride:LessonsfromtheDisability
RightsMovement,inStrykerandAizura,TransgenderStudiesReader2,26165.
35.Clare,BodyShame,BodyPride,262.
36.Ibid.
37.DavidT.MitchellandSharonL.Snyder,NarrativeProsthesis:Disability
andtheDependenciesofDiscourse(AnnArbor:UniversityofMichiganPress,2000).
38.DavidT.MitchellandSharonL.Snyder,Introduction:DisabilityStudies
andtheDoubleBindofRepresentation,inTheBodyandPhysicalDifference:Dis
coursesofDisability,ed.DavidMitchellandSharonSnyder(AnnArbor:University
ofMichiganPress,1997),6.
39.TobyBeauchamp,ArtfulConcealmentandStrategicVisibility:Trans
genderBodiesandUSStateSurveillanceafter9/11,SurveillanceandSociety6,no.
4(2009):47.
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40.Ibid.
41.JonathanM.MetzlandAnnaKirkland,eds.,AgainstHealth:HowHealth
BecametheNewMorality(NewYork:NewYorkUniversityPress,2010).
42.Clare,BodyShame,BodyPride,265.
43.EvaHayward,LessonsfromaStarfish,inQueeringtheNon/Human,ed.
NoreenGiffneyandMyraJ.Hird(Burlington,VT:Ashgate,2008),24964.Hay
wardwritesinafootnote:Again,IriskreadingtheCrippleasatranssubjectnot
toiteratethepathologizationoftransfolks,buttoexploretheimaginingsofthesong.
Forthetranssexual/transgendersubject,genderassignmentscanfeeldisabling,even
wounding.Imspeakingaboutthistraumaticexperience,notabouttransgressive
exceptionalism(254).
44.BaileyKier,InterdependentEcologicalTranssex:NotesonRe/produc
tion,inStrykerandAizura,TransgenderStudiesReader2,194,196.
45.DavidT.MitchellandSharonL.Snyder,DisabilityasMultitude:Re
workingNonproductiveLaborPower,JournalofLiteraryandCulturalDisability
Studies4,no.2(2010):19091.
46.Foranincisivecritiqueoftheahistoricalclaimsregardingtheparticlization
ofbodiesnecessarytocapitalism,seeJordanaRosenberg,TheMolecularizationof
Sexuality:OnSomePrimitivismsofthePresent,TheoryandEvent17,no.2(2014),
muse.jhu.edu/journals/theory_and_event/v017/17.2.rosenberg.html.
47.JudithHalberstam,InaQueerTimeandPlace:TransgenderBodies,Subcul
turalLives(NewYork:NewYorkUniversityPress,2005),18.
48.SeeIsaacWest,PISSARsCriticallyQueerandDisabledPolitics,Com
municationandCritical/CulturalStudies7,no.2(2010),15675alsoSheilaCava
nagh,TouchingGender:AbjectionandtheHygienicImagination,inStrykerand
Aizura,TransgenderStudiesReader2,42642.
49.PeeinginPeace:AResourceGuideforTransgenderActivistsandAllies(SanFran

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cisco:TransgenderLawCenter,2005),translaw.wpengine.com/wpcontent/uploads
/2012/05/94930982PIPResourceGuide.pdf.
50.RememberingOurDead,www.rememberingourdead.org(siteinactive
accessed13June2013).SeealsoJulietJacques,RememberingOurDead:Global
ViolenceagainstTransPeople,openDemocracy(digitalcommons),26November
2013,www.opendemocracy.net/5050/julietjacques/rememberingourdeadglobal
violenceagainsttranspeople.OnthedistinctionsbetweenMTFandFTMand
transwomenofcolor,seeMichelleOBrien,TracingThisBody:Transsexuality,
Pharmaceuticals,andCapitalism,inStrykerandAizura,TransgenderStudiesReader
2,5665.
51.Foratransnationalanalysisofracialdifferencethatinformsthepossibil
ityoftransformativeexperiencesofsurgicalprocedures,seeArenZ.Aizura,The
RomanceoftheAmazingScalpel,inStrykerandAizura,TransgenderStudiesReader
2,496511.
52.PaisleyCurrah,SteppingBack,LookingOutward:SituatingTransgen
derActivismandTransgenderStudiesKrisHayashi,MattRichardson,andSusan
StrykerFrametheMovement,SexualityResearchandSocialPolicy5,no.1(2008):
100.
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53.SusanStrykerandNikkiSullivan,KingsMember,QueensBody,in
Somatechnics:QueeringtheTechnologisationofBodies(Farnham,UK:Ashgate,2009),
51.
54.Ibid.,61.
55.SeeMetzlandKirkland,AgainstHealth.
56.StrykerandSullivan,KingsMember,QueensBody,61.
57.GillesDeleuzeandFlixGuattari,AThousandPlateaus:Capitalismand
Schizophrenia,trans.BrianMassumi(Minneapolis:UniversityofMinnesotaPress,
1987),147.
58.JamesOverboe,AffirminganImpersonalLife:ADifferentRegisterforDis
abilityStudies,JournalofLiteraryandCulturalDisabilityStudies3,no.3(2009):254.
59.PaisleyCurrah,LisaJeanMoore,andSusanStryker,Introduction:Trans,
Trans,orTransgender?,WSQ:WomensStudiesQuarterly36,nos.34(2008):11.
60.SeeJamiWeinstein,TransgenresandthePlaneofGenderImpercepti
bility,inUndutifulDaughters:NewDirectionsinFeministThoughtandPractice,ed.
HenrietteGunkel,ChrysanthiNigianni,andFannySderbck(NewYork:Palgrave
Macmillan,2012),15568.Particularly,Weinsteinprovidesanimportantreread
ingofNietzscheandacorrectivearoundJudithButlersuseofnodoerbehindthe
deed,assertingthatthedoerandthedeedarebothfictionsaccordingtoNietzsche,
andimploresusinnonessentialisttermstobecomewhatweare(16263).
61.MelChen,Animacies:Biopolitics,RacialMattering,andQueerAffect(Dur
ham,NC:DukeUniversityPress,2012).
62.SeealsoLucasCassidyCrawford,TransgenderwithoutOrgans?Mobiliz
ingaGeoaffectiveTheoryofGenderModification,WomensStudiesQuarterly36,
no.3/4(2008):12743.
63.Kier,InterdependentEcologicalTranssex,189.
64.Weinstein,TransgenresandthePlaneofGenderImperceptibility,156.
65.JulieLivingstonandJasbirPuar,Introduction:Interspecies,SocialText
106(2011):314.Intheparagraphsthatfollow,Iparaphraseseveralpointsfromour
cowrittenintroduction.
66.MichelFoucault,Security,Territory,Population:LecturesattheCollgede
France,19771978,trans.GrahamBurchell(NewYork:Picador,2009),75.

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67.MichelFoucault,TheHistoryofSexuality,vol.1,AnIntroduction,trans.
RobertHurley(NewYork:Vintage,1990),146.
68.SeeJoanRoughgarden,EvolutionsRainbow:Diversity,Gender,andSexual
ityinNatureandPeople(Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,2004).
69.SeeEvaHaywardandMalinAhKing,ToxicSexes:PervertingPollution
andQueeringHormoneDisruption,OZone:AJournalofObjectOrientedStudies1
(2013),112.HaywardandKingtheorizetoxicityasathreatandapossibility.
70.MyraHird,AnimalTrans,inGiffneyandHird,QueeringtheNon/
Human,242.
71.VickiKirby,QuantumAnthropologies:LifeatLarge(Durham,NC:Duke
UniversityPress,2011).
72.LynnMargulisandDorionSagan,quotedinHird,AnimalTrans,241.
73.MuchofthisdialogueseemsfixatedonTempleGrandin,anautisticperson
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knownforherworkonlivestockanimalbehavior.SeeCaryWolfe,Learningfrom
TempleGrandin,or,AnimalStudies,DisabilityStudies,andWhoComesafterthe
Subject,NewFormations64(2008):11023KariWeil,ThinkingAnimals:Why
AnimalStudiesNow(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress,2012).
74.SeeMaxHantelsreviewofQueeringtheNon/Human:MaxHantel,Post
humanism,LandscapesofMemory,andtheMaterialityofAIDSinSouthAfrica,
WomensStudiesQuarterly40,no.1(2012):25156.Whileanexcellentinitialcollec
tiononthegenerativeconnectionsbetweentransstudies,animalstudies,andpost
humaniststudies,thebook,editedbyNoreenGiffneyandMyraHird,participates
inthiselision.
75.Chen,Animacies,137.
76.DeanSpade,MutilatingGender,inTransgenderStudiesReader,ed.
SusanStrykerandStephenWhittle(NewYork:Routledge,2006),31532.
77.BobbyJeanNoble,OurBodiesAreNotOurselves:TrannyGuysandthe
RacializedClassPoliticsofIncoherence,inStrykerandAizura,TransgenderStudies
Reader2,249.
78.MichelFoucault,SocietyMustBeDefended:LecturesattheCollgede
France,19751976,trans.DavidMacey(NewYork:Picador,2003),255.
79.Manyothercriticalracetheoristshavemadethispoint,includingKim
Tallbear,NadiaAbuelHaj,andDorothyRoberts.KimTallbear,NativeAmerican
DNA:TribalBelongingandtheFalsePromiseofGeneticScience(Minneapolis:Univer
sityofMinnesotaPress,2013)NadiaAbuelHaj,TheGenealogicalScience:Genetics,
theOriginsoftheJews,andthePoliticsofEpistemology(Chicago:UniversityofChicago
Press,2012)DorothyRoberts,FatalInvention:HowScience,Politics,andBigBusiness
RecreateRaceintheTwentyFirstCentury(NewYork:NewPress,2011).Deniseda
Silvahaswrittenonthepassagefromthebiopoliticsofracetonanopolitics:That
cancercellsdonotindicatedarkbrownskinorflatnosescanbeconceivedofas
emancipatoryonlyifoneforgets,orminimizes,thepoliticalcontextwithinwhich
labmaterialswillbecollectedandthebenefitsofbiotechnologicalresearchwillbe
distributed(DeniseFerreiradaSilva,TowardaGlobalIdeaofRace[Minneapolis:
UniversityofMinnesotaPress,2007],89).
80.OnUKlegislationthatrequirestheacquiringofonestransgendertobe
committedtountildeath,seeEmilyGrabham,GoverningPermanence:Trans
Subjects,Time,andtheGenderRecognitionAct,SocialandLegalStudies19,no.
1(2010):10726.
81.IfwefollowthelinesofthoughtthatinformDeleuzeandGuattaris
becoming,weseethatbecominganimalandbecomingwoman(twomajorexam
plesthattheymobilize)areaspirationaltrajectoriesnottowardtheseintersectional

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coordinatesbutbeyondthem.Abecomingmanifestsasanoccupationnotofthese
categoriesbutofthedissolutionofthebinaryframesthatinformthecoherenceofthe
categoriesinthefirstinstance.Becominganimalisnotareachingoutofthehuman
totheexperiencesoftheanimalbut,rather,adissolutionofthehumananimal/
nonanimalbinarysuchthatitnolongermakessense,nolongersignifiesassensemak
ing,sensible.Becomingwoman,forexample,isDeleuzeandGuattarisversionof
actualtranssexualism.Itisthepotentialityofoverwhelmingnotdeconstructingor
transcendingbut,rather,overwhelmingthroughinfinitemultiplicitysexualdiffer
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enceintoincoherence.EdwardMussawirwritesthatBecomingwoman,afigure
indeedsuggestiveoftranssexualism,linksminorpoliticswithanontologyofmove
ment(EdwardMussawir,JurisdictioninDeleuze:TheExpressionandRepresentation
ofLaw[NewYork:Routledge,2011],53).
82.Spade,ResistingMedicine.
83.BeatrizPreciado,ThePharmacopornographicRegime:Sex,Gender,
andSubjectivityintheAgeofPunkCapitalism,inStrykerandAizura,Transgender
StudiesReader2,271.
84.Ibid.
85.Ibid.
86.AmitRai,RaceRacing:FourThesesonRaceandIntensity,WSQ:
WomensStudiesQuarterly40,nos.12(2012):67.
87.ArunSaldahna,ReontologizingRace:TheMachinicGeographyof
Phenotype,EnvironmentandPlanning:SocietyandSpace24,no.1(2006):12.
88.Ibid.,2021.
89.Rai,RaceRacing,74.
90.Rosenberg,TheMolecularizationofSexuality.

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