Dismantling Transphobia: Transgender Women of Color

 

Dismantling Transphobia: Transgender Women of Color 

Transgender- A person who's gender identity or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned to at birth 

Non- Binary- An umbrella term used to encompass many gender identities that do not fit into the male-female category

Transphobia-    Irrational fear, aversion, or discrimination  against transgender people 

In the recent years there have been many advancements when it comes to LGBTQ+  rights such as 

• Utah and Virginia ban on conversion therapy for teens
• The Supreme Court decision to illegalize anti-LGBTQ+ employment discrimination 
• An increase of LGBTQ+ candidates elected into public office as of 2020
•  More LGBTQ+  representation in media such as show like Prime Video's Transparent and FX's Pose
• Land mark ruling in allowing same-sex marriages in 2015 in the United States 
  
  
  

While all these topics are great wins for the LGBTQ+ community, the transgender community faces the most backlash and discrimination. In the year 2020 alone, The Human Rights campaign tracked 44 fatalities of transgender or gender non-conforming people in the United States, ranking it as one of the most violent year. These number of cases represent all the case which were reported. Many deaths or incidents go unreported, and a majority of cases are Black and Latinx transgender women. 

Black and Latinx transgender women are killed in an alarming rate. Victims are often killed by people they know, such as, partners or acquaintances. Many transgender women of color are deprive of basic needs such as  housing and employment due to homophobia bias, which in turn results in these woman exposing themselves to dangers situations.  Transgender women of color often result to sex work as a means of survival. Poverty and homelessness surrounds these women due to intersection of racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia.    

In Black and Latinx communities transphobia is very prominent. Both communities tends to be dismissive towards trans issues. Common examples would be saying trans people are confused, separating people into binary gender categories, and refusing to use preferred pronouns.  A way we can dismantle these fears is to educate the older community. Many of these "traditional" ideas are out of date and try to use religion as a form to justify discrimination. 

Struggles of Being Trans and Latinx

Janet Mock on protests, LGBTQ+ equality and being black and trans in America | PRIDE

In a recent study conducted by AmericanProgress.Org  1 in 4 LGBTQ person faces discrimination

• 27% percent of transgender workers reported to being fired/denied a promotion 
• 8% percent to 17% percent of gay and transgender workers report being passed over for a job or fired because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 
• 7% percent to 41% percent of gay and transgender workers were verbally or physically abused or had their workplace vandalize
• 19% percent of trans people state that they have been refused houses, while 11% percent state they have been evicted due to being transgender 
• Nonbinary and trans people are three times more likely to delay medical attention for fear of discrimination
• 75% percent of transgender students (K-12) have felt unsafe due to their gender expression 

60% percent of transgender students feel they were felt they were forced to use a bathroom or locker room that did not match their gender identity 

Transgender women are people and deserve basic human rights