New Study Reveals Widespread Discrimination Against Transgender People

Transgender Pride Flag

At a press conference held on Friday morning, The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLT) and the National Center for Transgender Equality released the results of the most comprehensive study to date of discrimination against transgender/transexual and gender non-conforming Americans.

The groundbreaking study, titled "Injustice at Every Turn", was based on the survey responses of 6,450 people and reveals some very disturbing figures:

●    Respondents were nearly four times more likely to live in extreme poverty, with household income of less than $10,000.

●    Respondents were twice as likely to be unemployed compared to the population as a whole. Half of those surveyed reported experiencing harassment or other mistreatment in the workplace, and one in four were fired because of their gender identity or expression.

●    While discrimination was pervasive for the entire sample, it was particularly pronounced for people of color. African-American transgender respondents fared far worse than all others in many areas studied.

●    Housing discrimination was also common. 19% reported being refused a home or apartment and 11% reported being evicted because of their gender identity or expression. One in five respondents experienced homelessness because of their gender identity or expression.

●    An astonishing 41% of respondents reported attempting suicide, compared to only 1.6% of the general population.

●    Discrimination in health care and poor health outcomes were frequently experienced by respondents. 19% reported being refused care due to bias against transgender or gender-nonconforming people, with this figure even higher for respondents of color. Respondents also had over four times the national average of HIV infection.

●    Harassment by law enforcement was reported by 22% of respondents and nearly half were uncomfortable seeking police assistance.

●    Despite the hardships they often face, transgender and gender non-conforming persons persevere. Over 78% reported feeling more comfortable at work and their performance improving after transitioning, despite the same levels of harassment in the workplace.

Mara Keisling, Executive Director of NCTE said, “Reading these results is heartbreaking on a personal level—each of these facts and figures represents pain and hardship endured by real people, every single day. This survey is a call to the conscience of every American who believes that everyone has the right to a fair chance to work hard, to have a roof overhead, and to support a family. Equality, not discrimination, is the ideal that Americans believe in, have fought for, and need to apply here.

Said Rea Carey, Executive Director of the Task Force, “By shedding light on the discrimination that transgender Americans face, this study poses a challenge to us all. No one should be out of a job, living in poverty, or faced with sub-par health care simply because of their gender identity or expression. The scope of the problem is clear, and now we must come together to solve it.”

What does as it say about a society ~ and as a community ~ that we would rather see people starving, naked, sick and living in the streets just because they don't fit into our gender and sexual comfort zones? I think it says we are pretty pathetic and have a long way to go to fully embrace the diversity we claim to celebrate.

Related articles

• "Groundbreaking Study Finds Pervasive Discrimination Against Transgender Americans" and related posts (lifelube.blogspot.com)
• Nearly Half Of Transgender People Have Attempted Suicide [Trans Rights] (jezebel.com)
• Landmark Study on Transgender Discrimination Released (towleroad.com)
• Transgender Activists Face Multiple Challenges (abcnews.go.com)

Don't Get Rolled Again! Boycott 2010 White House Easter Egg Roll

The White House has announced plans for this year's annual Easter Egg Roll. The theme this year, chosen by First Lady Michelle Obama,  is "Ready, Set, Go!"

Last year the White House made a point of inviting LGBT families to participate and is doing the same this year. Last year the move was seen as a sign of hope for many of us who believed in the message of change.

The past year has been a huge disappointment for many of us who had such high hopes for this president after so many decades of having our needs ignored, our trust betrayed and our humanity diminished by past presidents. LGBT people supported president Obama and the democrats like never before in the '08 elections and have been rewarded with a smattering of crumbs judiciously scattered at well-chosen, photo-op moments. The sycophantic folks of Gay, Inc., who claim to represent our interests in DC, scramble to their black tie events, posing like best buds with politicians who don't even know their names.

Tickets to the Easter Egg Roll are distributed by a lottery system. Results will be announced on Thursday, March 4th. Not surprisingly, supply of tickets have been given to, you guessed it, Family Equality Council, Human Rights Campaign and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The White house is encouraging the groups to invite their members. Last year over 100 gay and lesbian families took part in the event.

This year, we should send a message to the president that we will not be cast as bit players in his latest public relations production. We will not play the roll of token homosexual and smile for the cameras while the President stalls and plays games with our rights. We'll either stay home or take to the streets to demand less posturing and more action from our "fierce advocate". A lot of parents will say it's a great opportunity for their kids to go to the White House. It's a moment their kids will never forget. But it's a much better opportunity to teach your kids an important life lesson about standing up for what is right.

Don't get rolled again this Easter. Boycott the White House Easter Egg Roll!

National Equality March Update: NGLTF Signs on the Growing List of Endorsements

After a summer of fits and starts, the National Equality March has begun to find its footing. March organizers have changed logos and web sites three times in an effort to gather support and build momentum for the planned gathering, scheduled for the weekend of October 10-11 on the grounds of the U.S. Capital.

Thursday, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) released a statement endorsing the march several weeks after its initial lukewarm reaction to activist Cleve Jones' call to arms. Jones started his life of activism as a teenager, working side by side with slain activist Harvey Milk (he's the the curly-haired kid with glasses in the movie "Milk"), and created The Names Project, better known as the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

Task Force will engage and support people taking action
in pursuit of full equality and justice for LGBT people

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a leader in building grassroots lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) political power, endorses the National Equality March, which will be held in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 10-11. Thousands of people from across the country will march and rally in front of the U.S. Capitol demanding equal protection under the law for LGBT people and their families in all 50 states. At the march, the Task Force will engage new activists, support fair-minded clergy and other people of faith, and mobilize volunteer activists to return home engaged and energized.

"For the past 30 years, LGBT people and our allies have come together in Washington to be inspired, to engage in political action, and to go home geared up to create change. The National Equality March will bring together those of us who have never marched, those who want to renew their passion for action, and those who demand their voices be heard. When we mobilize for LGBT equality, for racial and economic justice, for a transformed society, and to make our love and lives visible, the Task Force is there. The Task Force will be there at the march to support the voices of new activists, LGBT people and our allies who push and push for the end to hatred, discrimination and unjust laws," says National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey.

As part of its commitment to support march participants in fighting for local, state and federal change, the Task Force will:

• Utilize technology to connect people to concrete actions they can take on the local, state and national levels.
• Lend its faith organizing expertise in helping to plan an interfaith worship service.
• Work to connect state equality organizations and community centers with march participants the Task Force identifies from their states so they can further engage them to be active at home.
• Engage march participants in ballot campaigns under way in Maine, Washington state and Kalamazoo, Mich.
• Engage and support new activists in honing their talents and grassroots skills after the weekend of the march.

Consistent with the march goal of seeking equality in all 50 states, the Task Force will maintain its longstanding commitment to provide organizers, expertise and money for key ballot measure fights under way in Maine, Washington state and Kalamazoo, Mich. The Task Force will reach out to march participants from these states to channel their energy to create change back home.

March attendees who want to further develop their skills and strategize with other activists will be encouraged to attend the National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change just a few months later in Dallas, Texas.

"The Task Force is excited to support a new wave of activists and advocates. Whether you come to D.C. to march or stay at home to create change in your city, town, school or place of worship, the Task Force has the tools and know-how to help. Let's march in Washington and step it up at home," says Carey.

Following is a list of links to other march-related news:

March For Equality Homepage, which includes the latest planning updates and an interactive map of local organizing activities.

Towleroad.com has posted an exclusive list of 140 activists, organizations and others endorsing the march.

Blogger Bil Browning of the Bilerico Project interviewed activist and march organizer Cleve Jones this week, asking reader-submitted questions. Video of the interview has been posted in two parts on YouTube. Click here for part one and here for part 2. (I just want to warn you, the camera man had a hard time keeping his presence a secret. At times it sounds like Darth Vader is somewhere in the room.)