News and Events => Education news => Topic started by: LostInTime on May 01, 2007, 09:03:32 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Campus transgender awareness
Post by: LostInTime on May 01, 2007, 09:03:32 AM
Post by: LostInTime on May 01, 2007, 09:03:32 AM
scroll down until you see the article (http://thedaily.washington.edu/article/2007/5/1/campusTransgenderAwareness)
Just because a part of the population isn't visible doesn't mean they don't exist or their problems aren't real and deserving of our attention. According to the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS), the Q Center found only eight gender-neutral bathrooms on campus, and of those, only six were accessible. The senate also stated that according to a 2001 survey done in San Francisco, 41 percent of transgender respondents reported experiencing harassment or physical violence in the typical gendered bathrooms.
Transgender people often deal with situations like these just because of who they are, thanks to how our society has trained people to treat them. I think a perfect example of how society is trained to treat transgender people can be seen in the words of conservative political talking head and radio host Michael Savage.
Just because a part of the population isn't visible doesn't mean they don't exist or their problems aren't real and deserving of our attention. According to the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS), the Q Center found only eight gender-neutral bathrooms on campus, and of those, only six were accessible. The senate also stated that according to a 2001 survey done in San Francisco, 41 percent of transgender respondents reported experiencing harassment or physical violence in the typical gendered bathrooms.
Transgender people often deal with situations like these just because of who they are, thanks to how our society has trained people to treat them. I think a perfect example of how society is trained to treat transgender people can be seen in the words of conservative political talking head and radio host Michael Savage.
Title: Re: Campus transgender awareness
Post by: Lisbeth on May 01, 2007, 10:26:22 AM
Post by: Lisbeth on May 01, 2007, 10:26:22 AM
I appreciate Hunter Kincaid's attempt to help transgender people, especially his comments about Michael Savage. But like most people who are not trans themselves, he looks for solutions in the wrong places. Having more unisex bathrooms is no substitute for making it safe for transgender people to use the bathroom of their choice. Before schools start making policy decisions around trans issues, they need to ask the trans people themselves what the right policies are.
Title: Re: Campus transgender awareness
Post by: LostInTime on May 01, 2007, 02:10:31 PM
Post by: LostInTime on May 01, 2007, 02:10:31 PM
Every journey begins with one small step.
Title: Re: Campus transgender awareness
Post by: Lisbeth on May 01, 2007, 03:54:04 PM
Post by: Lisbeth on May 01, 2007, 03:54:04 PM
It sounds too much like "separate but equal" to me.