Transgender people among most misunderstood: Local violence reflects climate of 'transphobia'
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2011/12/08/opinion-transgender-people-among-most-misunderstood-local-violence-reflects-climate- (http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2011/12/08/opinion-transgender-people-among-most-misunderstood-local-violence-reflects-climate-)
12/8/11
Andrea Jenkins
Imagine being stared at and harassed every day of your life. Imagine being routinely physically assaulted at work, even if you're homeless and possibly even HIV-positive. If you were Chrishaun (CeCe) McDonald, this would be your daily existence.
McDonald is a 23-year-old African American transgender woman who, like me, grew up on the South Side of Chicago. She attended Percy L. Julian High School, and while she was open and out about her sexual orientation, she only told a few close friends about her gender identity. Before long McDonald had to leave high school, overwhelmed by the constant fighting and eventually forced to leave home. At 17 she was invited by a friend to visit Minneapolis, and she has remained here since that time.