Groundbreaking Report on Trans Discrimination

[Julie Marie]

Groundbreaking report on discrimination faced by the transgender community emphasizes importance of fully-inclusive workplace protections

February 4, 2011

The National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force today released "Injustice at Every Turn" the results of a groundbreaking and extensive survey of the discrimination faced by the transgender community.  The information in this report is both important and alarming, underscoring the injustice faced by our transgender friends and colleagues, and shining a light on what we already know from the stories they share with us every day.   

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[Michelle.]

Could we move and sticky this into the DISCRIMINATION area of the board?
Good find Julie.

[Julie Marie]

Could we move and sticky this into the DISCRIMINATION area of the board?
Good find Julie.

I intentionally did not put it in DISCRIMINATION because I felt it would be missed by too many.  Even though discrimination is a very real problem with Trans people, that section of the board gets very little activity.  This is too important to be missed.

If anyone is presently experiencing discrimination at any level, this report may be helpful, even if it only opens up some eyes.  I've been a serious student in the study of trans discrimination for several years.  Even with that, some of the results I found very surprising.

For anyone wanting to keep up with what's happening on the Trans Front Lines, this came from the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE).  I got it through both the NCTE and Out & Equal newsletters by email.  Just sign up for it to keep informed.

One other thing, this last report had a little over 6,000 respondents in the survey.  That's a pretty small percentage of trans people overall.  I'm guessing the fact the survey was being taken didn't reach many of us.  So go tell two friends and urge them to tell two friends and so on.  While the study is very well done, the number of respondents isn't sufficient to get the attention of the average lawmaker.  If we don't scream, and that means all of us, we won't be heard.  Get the word out!

[gennee]

I read part of the study and survey today. I'm going to download it and read it.

Gennee

[gennee]

I read some of the report and it's pretty disturbing. Two areas that concern me are medical care and the prison system. I have read stories of transgender women put in the male population in prison. Australia is currently investigating one case where a transsexual woman was placed in such a situation. Six days later she was found hanging in her cell.

Here in New York, it's against the law to discriminate against anyone receiving medical care. I haven't had any problems myself but it is a concern. Last year, three transsexual women were murdered. One of the victims lived not too far away from me. That's a little too close to home for me.


Gennee       

[Mrs Erocse]

Julie Marie,

I haven't read this yet, but I will. Thank you for posting it.

Patty

[Nygeel]

Here in New York, it's against the law to discriminate against anyone receiving medical care.

Gennee       

When did this happen? I was discriminated against in April a year and a half(ish) ago for being read as masculine. ER wouldn't do anything and I was stuck with the bill (no insurance). I didn't bother pursuing it because the doctors probably had some half way decent argument against it. Also, I've been pushing for GENDA to be passed since the damn bill was introduced in NYS. So very frustrating (I've been having trouble getting a job due to trans related stuff).

*clears throat* Uhh anyways...I wish I could say I'm shocked, but I'm not. It sucks that this doesn't get more attention.

[Julie Marie]

It sucks that this doesn't get more attention.

Our community has to shoulder some of the blame.  Too few of us are actively involved.  Even here, all you have to do is look at the posts in the Discrimination and Activism sections.  They are some of the least active sections on this forum.  And that's exactly why I didn't post this there.  Still, this thread has gotten very few responses.  I was thinking we'd be screaming from the rooftops.

[tekla]

Activism is outwardly based, which is pretty much counter to how many people here view life.

[Dana Lane]

I just now saw your post. Been busy lately.  This report is frightening. I have started using it in my battles against the media. What is sad is that even though this report came out we are still the butt of jokes and presented as freaks.

They are basically saying... "It gets better, except for you god damned freaks" signed NBC, CBS, Adam Sandler, and others

[Nygeel]

Our community has to shoulder some of the blame.  Too few of us are actively involved.  Even here, all you have to do is look at the posts in the Discrimination and Activism sections.  They are some of the least active sections on this forum.  And that's exactly why I didn't post this there.  Still, this thread has gotten very few responses.  I was thinking we'd be screaming from the rooftops.

I know a fair amount of trans people in my area, most of them are involved in activism. Most of them do not participate within the online trans communities for various reasons (I know that for myself I've been telling myself to quit many times). I don't feel that judging based on what has been said on here is a good basis for people offline (I guess that's the best way to phrase it).

[Julie Marie]

Nygeel, I agree with your statement.  But for me, I see this lack of outrage (maybe too strong a word) in my personal life too.  I don't have a lot of trans friends but I know a lot of trans people, mostly through groups.  One group (CD, TG mostly) meets twice a month and has anywhere from 10 to 140 people attend their functions.  When I frequented their functions, not once did I get any kind sign from anyone that they even cared about trans rights.  Sure, they wished things were better, but doing anything about it wasn't even on their radar.  I stopped going several years.

Another group consists of full time TS people.  You'd think at least one of the meetings would focus on trans rights but in the six years since I was introduced to the group I don't know of even one incident where the discussion was about trans rights.

As far as this forum goes, there is only a handful of people who have shown any interest in the subjects surrounding trans rights.  And things will never change unless we stand up and scream.

Maybe this issue makes my blood boil so because I once enjoyed those rights I am now fighting to regain.  I'm still as capable, maybe even more so, than I was before transition.  Yet, when I transitioned, I went from hero to zero.  And there's only one reason for that.  So yeah, I get pretty fired up about this issue.