Top LGB issues versus Top Trans Issues

People are always discussing the priorities of the LGBTQ movement. A few years ago it was all about whether or not marriage was an effective use of our resources – as it was clearly taking away resources from other endeavors. But more recently the question has been turned to where trans people fit into these priorities.

After the betrayal of ENDA, many people were left wondering if trans folk should even be involved in LGBTQ organizations or if we should just focus on trans-specific organizations. Many non-trans activists claimed that there hasn’t been enough trans education. It’s not hard to see that trans people have been incredibly involved in activism, but there is some truth that as volunteers for LGBTQ organizations, we’ve been putting much of our energy into projects focused more on sexual orientation than on gender identity.

This leads me to question my own activities. Should I view the energy I put into supporting domestic partnership rights in Oregon just as energy that I could have been putting into trans education? Should I think of the fundraisers I helped out with (and my own donations) just as money that could have been going to support trans rights? I don’t think so.

I’m proud to work with LGBTQ organizations, and I see them putting time, energy, and resources into trans issues. Yet I can’t help but notice that even in the organizations I support, the issues that are most important to me and the other trans people I know barely get acknowledged.

It seems that trans issues aren’t really a part of setting the agenda. It is set based on what the gay, lesbian, and sometimes bisexual communities need, and only after the issues are laid out are trans people fit into it. Some of the big issues being fought for these days are relationship recognition, non-discrimination, don’t ask don’t tell, and adoption. When applicable, trans people are brought into this agenda, but only as an afterthought and in some cases the issue – or the solution being sought – just doesn’t really impact the trans community. I could talk about how well our organizations are incorporating trans perspectives into these issues, but for now, let me focus on what some of the big issues I see impacting the trans community are.

Non-Discrimination. Discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations has a tremendous impact on the trans community. And leave many people with few economic resources.

Health Care. In many cases, trans folk have a hard time getting employment that provides healthcare. But even when insurance is available, transgender exclusion clauses deny coverage to important and necessary trans healthcare needs. In some cases, those clauses are used to deny almost anything, such as my allergy test when I also talked with my doc about my medical history and medications, or the trans woman who was refused coverage for an arm she broke while playing in a lesbian softball league under the logic that she wouldn’t have been in the league if she hadn’t transitioned. Many LGBTQ organizations find themselves unable to even provide trans-inclusive health insurance to their own employees.

Sex Work. Many trans people are not in sex work, but given the discrimination in employment and health care and the ability to do much of this work without documentation, many trans people are. Even those not in sex work may still have to deal with trans-profiling (both from police and johns) that labels all trans woman as sex workers. Lack of access to support systems or law enforcement create the dangerous working conditions responsible for much the of anti-trans murders each year. These are not characteristics inherent to sex work and reforms can and should be undergone to make sex work safer.

Police Brutality and Prisoner Rights. While many trans people are incarcerated for survival crimes, others might have to face harassment from law enforcement for being homeless, for participating in peace protests, or for a speeding ticket. No matter what the reason, trans people deserve fair treatment. Having inaccurate gender documentation can lead to anything from harassment, to assault, to rape, to denial of medical treatment, and death. Due to trans-profiling, trans women sex workers are often targeted for harsher treatment than their non-trans counterparts and being raped by police officers is not uncommon. In several of the unsolved murders of trans people, the victims’ friends and community suspect police involvement. Giving more power to law enforcement in the form of hate crimes legislation will do little to stop perpetrators who are law enforcement officials themselves.

Gender Documentation. The standards for when and how to change your gender documentation vary wildly from governmental agency to agency. And in many cases the standards are set so high that only a small fraction of the trans community will ever be able to meet them. The inability to obtain accurate identification and documentation is one of the aggravating factors that make each of the above issues more dangerous.

Access to Shelters. Trans people who are experiencing homelessness or domestic violence often find themselves turned away from support services that are unwilling to support trans people or willing to tolerate trans people only if they are able to endure misgendering and a hostile environment.  This can be devastating at a time when help is needed most.

Community Support. Many trans people come out with a feeling of isolation and loneliness. Combined with internalized transphobia and a society (and sometimes even an LGB community) that tells us we are freaks creates circumstances where depression and suicide happen all too frequently. A lot of individual time and energy is put into vital support activity. Yet most of the time this work is not organized and not acknowledged.

I don’t claim this is the comprehensive list of trans needs, but it’s what I could come up with for now.  Looking back over this list, how many issues are being dealt with by most LGBTQ organizations? One? Maybe two?

I’m beginning to see a shift. More and more LGBTQ organizations are putting “transgender issues” on their list of priorities, but there needs to be more. “Transgender issues” by itself says nothing, and ignores how some of the other things on the list (such as non-discrimination) are trans issues too. This is a nod toward inclusion, but to really have inclusion trans needs must be considered from the beginning of the planning process and the issues most important to trans people need to be represented.

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Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Open Letter Regarding ENDA
• Someone was Listening
• Calling All Shills
• The Big G