News and Events => People news => Topic started by: Shana A on March 27, 2009, 04:00:38 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Atlanta's largest homeless shelter grapples with transgender inclusion
Post by: Shana A on March 27, 2009, 04:00:38 PM
Post by: Shana A on March 27, 2009, 04:00:38 PM
Atlanta's largest homeless shelter grapples with transgender inclusion
Current policy requires transwomen to present as male
By DYANA BAGBY | Mar 26, 3:23 PM
http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24703 (http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24703)
"Remember this is a men's facility and you must present yourself as male."
Those 13 words — part of the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless' "Residents Rights, Responsibilities, Policies & Procedures" — are at the heart of one of the major problems the shelter continues to have with the City of Atlanta in trying to serve the city's large homeless population.
More and more male-to-female transgender women are seeking shelter at the facility, known as Peachtree-Pine because of its location at 477 Peachtree St. at the intersection of Pine Street. The facility houses an average of 600 men each night. Of that total, approximately 5 percent, or between 20-25 people, are transwomen, said Hillary Brown, AmeriCorps Force caseworker. Brown is working with Ann Monk, also with the AmeriCorps Force, to find a way to make the shelter trans-inclusive.
But in order for the transwomen to be able to stay in the shelter, they must "present as male" — and that means shedding their identity, including name, the clothes they usually wear, even wigs and fake fingernails.
Current policy requires transwomen to present as male
By DYANA BAGBY | Mar 26, 3:23 PM
http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24703 (http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24703)
"Remember this is a men's facility and you must present yourself as male."
Those 13 words — part of the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless' "Residents Rights, Responsibilities, Policies & Procedures" — are at the heart of one of the major problems the shelter continues to have with the City of Atlanta in trying to serve the city's large homeless population.
More and more male-to-female transgender women are seeking shelter at the facility, known as Peachtree-Pine because of its location at 477 Peachtree St. at the intersection of Pine Street. The facility houses an average of 600 men each night. Of that total, approximately 5 percent, or between 20-25 people, are transwomen, said Hillary Brown, AmeriCorps Force caseworker. Brown is working with Ann Monk, also with the AmeriCorps Force, to find a way to make the shelter trans-inclusive.
But in order for the transwomen to be able to stay in the shelter, they must "present as male" — and that means shedding their identity, including name, the clothes they usually wear, even wigs and fake fingernails.
Title: ‘This is not who I am’
Post by: Butterfly on April 03, 2009, 02:34:11 PM
Post by: Butterfly on April 03, 2009, 02:34:11 PM
'This is not who I am'
Southern Voice
By DYANA BAGBY
APR. 3, 2009
http://www.southernvoice.com/2009/4-3/news/localnews/9942.cfm (http://www.southernvoice.com/2009/4-3/news/localnews/9942.cfm)
Akasha Harding, 27, a transgender woman, is staying in the city's largest homeless shelter but must 'present as male' or be forced to leave. 'This is not me,' she says.
Now staying in the city's largest homeless shelter, Harding, who has lived as a woman for eight years, said she is forced to live a lie. She cannot wear her wig, or what she prefers to call her hair. She can't wear her makeup. She can't wear her own clothes. Her white tennis shoes do have pink piping.
Southern Voice
By DYANA BAGBY
APR. 3, 2009
http://www.southernvoice.com/2009/4-3/news/localnews/9942.cfm (http://www.southernvoice.com/2009/4-3/news/localnews/9942.cfm)
Akasha Harding, 27, a transgender woman, is staying in the city's largest homeless shelter but must 'present as male' or be forced to leave. 'This is not me,' she says.
Now staying in the city's largest homeless shelter, Harding, who has lived as a woman for eight years, said she is forced to live a lie. She cannot wear her wig, or what she prefers to call her hair. She can't wear her makeup. She can't wear her own clothes. Her white tennis shoes do have pink piping.
Title: Re: ‘This is not who I am’
Post by: Nero on April 03, 2009, 02:44:56 PM
Post by: Nero on April 03, 2009, 02:44:56 PM
That's messed up. You can see her depression in the video.