We, the LG in LGBT, are miles ahead of the rest of our acronym, particularly the T. Going to The Empire State Pride Agenda’s Equality and Justice Day in Albany, NY, threw into painful, clear light just why the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) is so important. In thirty-four states, transgender people can be thrown from public establishments such as restaurants, evicted from and discriminated against in housing, fired from (or never hired to) jobs, and denied access to public accommodations. They are even put into dangerous situations regarding prisons and homeless services because they are housed with the gender with which their body matches rather than the one with which they identify. This often leads to brutal physical attacks and even death.
Further, due to the lack of housing, employment, and other services needed for basic survival, transgender people are often forced into sex work. Often, this leads to a vicious cycle of incarceration in the aforementioned dangerous situations, as well as environments where they are taken advantage of and abused by pimps. Also, thanks to the fact that condoms can be used as evidence of illegal sex work, members of this already vulnerable population are often unjustly arrested- just for wanting to protect themselves from HIV and other STI?s. The list of things in the dire plight of transgender people in New York State and around the nation and world goes on, but I think you get the picture.
This is not only about the dangers and discrimination facing our transgender brothers and sisters. It is also about basic human dignity and respect. So many ignorant people wish to reduce GENDA to the ?bathroom bill? and complain about ?men in dresses? in public accommodations meant for women. To reduce this far- reaching bill that would achieve basic equality and human dignity for our fellow human beings to crude discussions about bathrooms is demeaning, dehumanizing, and insulting. Transgender women are women. Transgender men are men. They should be treated as such. End of story. This is about treating our fellow human beings with the dignity and respect that we all deserve. If there is one thing we all share, it is humanity, no matter our other differences.
The key here is education. We must educate the public on transgender people and their issues, and we must educate our legislators on why we need their help now. We have astronomical rates of suicide and murder with regards to the transgender population compared to other populations- including LGB people. Our transgender brothers and sisters need us now. Find out who your Assembly people and Senators are, and write to them, call them visit their offices, and explain to them all I have explained to you here. GENDA needs to go to the Senate Floor, and it needs to be passed. We have waited long enough. It is time for equality and justice for everyone, everywhere.
Shannon Barber is a self- described queer feminist and activist for LGBT rights, women’s rights, and secular rights in America. She is a lifelong lover of words, though her educational background is in computer science. She currently writes for 3 liberal websites, and keeps her own?Humor Blog?for lesbians. She hopes to change the world, one mind at a time.
Follow Shannon on?Facebook?and?Twitter, or check her out on?Addicting Info?and?A Gurlz Guide
Edited by AEK
