Discrimination Against The Transgender Community In The 1960s

Majority of transgender people will face some sort of discrimination in their lifetime whether it is through being rejected by their families, denied housing or finding employment. “Employment discrimination forces many to become involved in the street economy and in survival crime. Widespread bias and ignorance among law enforcement and other officials mean that transgender people are disproportionately subjected to arrest and, in turn, imprisonment.” (al, 2011)

Transgender is a metaphorical umbrella term that covers a person whose self-identification, anatomy, appearance, manner, and/or expression is different from the sex assigned to them at birth and does not fit with societies interpretation for the norm of gender roles. Included in the transgender umbrella are transsexual people, non-binary gender identities, and cross-dressing (LGBT Youth, 2017). Transgender individuals are often the target of discrimination, injustice and social stigma that can lead to negative health outcomes.

In “Transgender Liberation” by Susan Stryker, she writes about what lead to the Compton’s Cafeteria riot in 1966. There was a large population of transgender women living in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. They lived in chap residential hotels, and worked as prostitutes or maids in order to support themselves. This, being caused by the “housing and employment discrimination against transgender people” (Stryker 435). This became, according to Stryker, an “involuntary containment zone for transgender women” (Stryker 435), and police perpetuated this by sending them there. They also discriminated them by putting them in jail for suspicion of prostitution. In response to the economic insufficiency, the “Tenderloin residents launched a grassroots campaign for economic justice in 1965” (Stryker 436). Around the same time, Vanguard, now known as the earliest known queer youth organization, was started by and made up of “young gay hustlers and transgender people”

During the holocaust, a large faction of people were subjected to horrible hardships that killed many, and scarred those that weren’t given the luxury of death. The Jewish were this faction; they were sent to ghettos and concentration camps, treated like animals, starved, and even burned alive. Similar events are going on today, though not quite to this extent. People are discriminated against for their skin color, sexuality, or gender by legislature, in the workplace, and in daily life. In “Experience of Career-Related Discrimination for Female-to-Male Transgender Persons: A Qualitative Study,” Franco Dispenza and his colleagues did a study on the different types of discrimination and their impact on female to male transgender men. The holocaust

Kidd and Witten define the term transgender vaguely, stating it “describe[s] people who transcend the conventional boundaries of gender, irrespective of physical status or sexual orientation” (Kidd & Witten, 2007, p. 36). This term is a reference for the ‘other gender’ that is not particularly male or female. Currently, within the American society, there is a growing awareness of individuals who are transgender. Much of this awareness comes from LGBT movements and

Discrimination has been a problem for many years, from the slaving of African Americans dating back to 1619, to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals being shot in the streets a few weeks ago. However one specific group of people, transgendered people have been targeted for decades, yet they haven’t had the mass media coverage as other discrimination issues have. Focusing on their physical abuse, and psychological impact and the substance abuse from the discrimination they face; I hope to highlight these issues and show that they need help fighting this discrimination as well, and this isn’t just an individual problem but the bigger society’s issue.

A REPORT OF THE NATIONAL TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION SURVEY” which is a comprehensive survey taken by over 7,500 respondents a part of the LGBT community to discuss their experiences of discrimination that will further encourage the implementation of better protection towards gender variants. Authors concluded the:

Grant et al. (2011) explain on the Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey that 19% of their sample reported being refused medical care due to their transgender or gender non-conforming status, with even higher numbers among people of color in the survey. In addition, the survey indicated that 50% of the sample reported having to teach their medical providers about transgender

Transgenders are individuals whose identity or self-expression does not match their assigned gender (dictionary). Many people classify themselves as a different gender rather than their physical one. Transgenders such as Caitlyn Jenner, formally known as Bruce Jenner, is a famous transgender. Because of her and other

Elderly transgender individuals have their own assortment of psychosocial and relational concerns that are associated with their identified community. They must contend with identity conflict, discrimination, policies and services that may not meet their basic needs. Furthermore, they are increasingly distressed by inflated financial concerns due to discrimination. Transgender adults face increased workplace discrimination compounded with ageism in acquiring new jobs. Increased interpersonal violence and harassment besiege transgender elders. Additionally, they must cope with the same challenges that their non-LGBTQIA colleagues encounter, such as long term care, chronic debilitating physical health and mental health

Governor Pat McCrory of North Carolina recently made the law that trans people must use restrooms the corresponds with their biological gender in schools and government buildings(CNN). This law is discriminatory because trans people are not allowed to enter bathrooms that corresponds to the gender they identify with. Laws like these make it extremely difficult for trans people do become a welcomed part of society. Trans people are still bullied and targets of assaults. In 2016 there were many fatal attacks on transgender people. A 32 year old women named Brandi Bledsoe was found dead in Ohio, another women, 23, named Dee Whigham was murdered in Mississippi. A man named Nino Jackson was found dead in a lake in Dallas, and a 24 year old man named Kayden Clarke was shot in his home by police after threatening to commit suicide

In the United States, at least 0.3% of our population is comprised of transgender individuals. Of whom struggle with numerous discriminatory laws. Although this is not a large number it doesn’t justify these acts.

Do you remember when segregation existed? People of color were denied access to bathrooms, water fountains, public spaces, etc. Transgender people are facing problems similar to this. One of the current biggest issues in the trans community is, the debate on whether or not transgender people should be allowed to use the restrooms that correspond with their gender identity. I believe they should be able to use the restrooms they want to.

Transgender inequality is a big thing in the 21st century. The population consists of ,115 000 to 450 000 people. All those humans beings who have been fighting for their rights in this world, who try to be excepted for who they really are they should not be hiding their identity from others that will be discriminating them every time they come out of the shadows. They should be free to go out to do daily tasks and have the confidence of being themselves every day.

Transgender people are discriminated on an almost daily basis. They are discriminated in the workplace, as shown in a study commisioned by the Equalities Review. In a group of transgender people who have jobs and are prone to workplace-enviroment effects and opinions, “many respondents experienced harassment from co-workers and employers.” Nearly 29% of the group experience verbal abuse and harassment in the workplace enviroment, and about 4% received physical abuse. About 7% experienced threats, and about 27% experienced some sort of different treatment due to their gender non-conforming ways.(Whittle 38-39). In another study, it was found that being mistreated in the school years would have a negative effect on future outcomes relating to employment. “Those who were physically attacked in school were considerably more likely to stay in a job (64%) compared to those who were not (42%) (Grant 50).” They are also discriminated in public as well, adding on to the distress that many transgender people suffer from regularly, making it seem as if all transgender people are crazy. Transgender people are just more likely to be diagnosed as someone with a mental disorder because its helpful to see that those who have been diagnosed are “hurting and something needs to be done to help (Kreitler 1).” In