Transgender Day of Remembrance 2011: A Hostile Climate Continues for Transgender

[Shana A]

Genny Beemyn and Sue Rankin

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2011: A Hostile Climate Continues for Transgender People
Posted: 11/19/11 12:39 PM ET

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/genny-beemyn/transgender-day-of-remembrance_b_1100805.html

Such horrific murders are the most extreme manifestation of the hatred toward individuals who do not conform to gender expectations. In the research for our new book, The Lives of Transgender People, we found that acts of anti-transgender bias are commonplace and affect all gender nonconforming people, both directly and indirectly. Among the nearly 3,500 transgender individuals in the United States we surveyed, more than one fourth had experienced harassment or violence within the previous year; those most likely to be victimized were transgender people of color and those whose transgender identity was more visible. Appallingly, a majority of the people in our study indicated that they feared being injured or killed for being transmasculine, transfeminine, or gender-nonconforming.

Violence, however, is merely the most extreme manifestation of how society expresses contempt toward individuals who do not conform to gender expectations. And these views pervade our lives and continue to harm transgender people, even in subtler forms.

[Catherine Sarah]

There is a saying that goes something like; " What man doesn't understand, man fears. And what man fears, man destroys."

Maybe the time has pasted when we need an international anonymous vote/referendum, from every man, woman and child, as to their Gender orientation, in order to dispel the myths, ambiguities and fears of our population. I can be easily convinced that our community is not such a minority we think we are. For those of us who have "raised our hands" I believe we represent the "tip of the iceberg".

Societies concepts of trans genderism must roughly equate to the concepts of slavery when it was in it's heyday. Maybe there is a need for substantial unilateral legislation required to combat crimes of hate in society.

Regrettably I read just recently that sex slavery is more rampant than labour slavery, per head of population, when it was at its peak. 1.2 million children alone are reported to be trafficked into sex slavery each year.

What are your thoughts?

Be safe, well and happy
Lotsa luv
Catherine