2011 Has Been a Huge Year for Transgender Equality: Mara Keisling on OutQ's Derek and Romaine Show
http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/2011-has-been-a-huge-year-for-transgender-equality-mara-keisling-on-outq%E2%80%99s-derek-and-romaine-show/On July 25th, NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling joined the Derek and Romaine Show to talk about victories and upcoming challenges in the transgender equality movement.
Derek began the discussion with questions on the passage of marriage equality in New York and the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell," events which garnered national media attention but, as some suggest, do little for transgender people. Mara agreed that transgender exclusion in DADT repeal was unfortunate, saying that it will take several years to regain the momentum necessary to allow transgender people to serve openly. However, she emphasized that the win in New York is good news for everyone, saying, "All trans people who are in relationships are either in a same-sex relationship or in a relationship which someone will claim is a same-sex relationship, so marriage equality is helpful very much for transgender people as well." But she also added, "I think sometimes the focus on marriage masks the importance of other issues."
