Vanessa Edwards Foster: Hate Crimes- A Long Time Coming And A Long Struggle Ahead
by: Autumn Sandeen
Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 09:30:00 AM EST

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/13990/vanessa-edwards-foster-hate-crimes-a-long-time-coming-and-a-long-struggle-ahead

This is a guest post by Vanessa Edwards Foster. Vanessa Edwards Foster, a longtime activist, is co-founder and current President of the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC), a grassroots coalition of transgender Americans who are politically active and lobby locally, statewide and at the national level.

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It's been a long time coming. The historic passage of hate crimes legislation and signature into law by the President signals the very first federal law covering trans people in America. My emotions, though, are mixed: ebullience, wistfulness, solemnity, sadness

To have this finally pass, and to have it inclusive of trans people, is a major victory. Since 1997, I've been consistently taking time, shelling out money and visiting offices all over Washington DC and Austin - and even once in Annapolis this year - in attempt to get even this, the most elemental protection, passed with coverage for us all. With this official passage last week, all the memories of where we've all collectively been working to achieve what's finally reality - seemingly against all odds - come streaming in.