Jeri Hughes Running For Gertrude Stein Club Presidency

I've mentioned a few times in my posts about my trips to Washington DC longtime trans activist Jeri Hughes.  When I'm inside I-495 and chilling at her I get the opportunity to have some long and thoughtful conversations about the state of the trans community and countless other subjects with her every time I'm in her presence.

I also know she's proud of living in the District, and I was happy to discover courtesy of an October 31  Washington Blade article that she is running for the presidency of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club when the group holds its officer elections on November 18.   

The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club was founded in 1976 and is the voice for TBLG Democrats in Washington DC.  It is also the founding chapter of the National Stonewall Democrats and according to their website one of the oldest Democratic Clubs inside I-495.

If she is successful, Hughes would become the first trans person to serve as the Gertrude Stein club’s president but wouldn't be the first elected to a leadership position in that organization.   Transgender and Democratic Party activist Julius Agers served as the club’s vice president two years ago.

Best of luck Jeri and hope I have some wonderful history to report on come November 18.

UK National Transgender Memorial Vandalized

Damn, why is it that some idiots take it upon themselves to destroy or vandalize the nice things we trans people manage to put together as a community? 

The trans community in Manchester, England and their allies are probably asking themselves that question right now.  

They coordinated the Transgender Remembrance Memorial Project spearheaded by Tony Cooper, the chair of the Sackville Park Friends Association to construct what is believed to be the world's first purpose built memorial to remember the victims of anti-trans violence. 

The Manchester community spent hundreds of hours putting together a memorial garden and brick laid path in the park to complement the nine foot tall wooden structure being carved by sculptor Shane Green. 

The dedication of the National Transgender Memorial in Manchester's Sackville Gardens happened during the UK's Sparkle Weekend trans celebration that occurred July 12-14. 

Unfortunately on or around the night of August 6 some wastes of DNA vandalized the memorial and the CCTV surveillance system that is prevalent in many UK cities as bad luck would have it didn't have cameras pointed toward that section of the gardens.  . 

The Greater Manchester Police have opened an investigation of the crime and are solicting information leading to the arrest, trial and conviction of the vandals.  

Here's hoping in the interim the damage done to this first ever memorial will quickly be repaired.

I also hope we see more communities around the world take the initiative to put together their own memorials to honor our fallen transsisters and transbrothers.

What's Trans* H4CK?

One of the increasingly popular things happening is what's called a hackathon.  It's a community event in which programmers, developers, graphic designers, entrepreneurs and community members share ideas and skills to develop new software projects over a course of either 24 or 48 hours.

Hackathons are increasingly being used as a way to solve social problems, and Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler got the brilliant idea to do a hackathon called Trans* H4CK that combines the tech savvy talents of our trans community members with social justice activism

When asked why a trans centric hackathon needed to happen and be supported by LGBT organizations:

Hosting a hackathon can leverage the specific insights and talents of community members invested in LGBT equality by generating ideas that your organization normally wouldn’t. Think of potential participants as a temporary “think tank” comprised of dedicated volunteers of the cause. It is inevitable that the amount of passion each hacker brings to the table, will produce amazing tech based projects that can help make the lives of activists and the community that we serve a little easier. Plus, the bonus of working in a collaborative environment that values the input of each team member creates a sense of collective responsibility and comfort in which the learning of new tech skills is possible.

On the Trans* H4CK page it also made this salient point.

Research shows that transgender people are unemployed at 2x the national rate–4x for transgender people of color; have incomes of less than $10,00 a year; experience homelessness at 2x the rate of non-trans people; and suffer overwhelming discrimination when it comes to accessing adequate healthcare and legal services. This problem not only affects transgender adults but trans and gender nonconforming youth as well. A necessary step in addressing anti-transgender bias is to create technology that socially empowers transgender individuals. Imagine if there existed a mobile phone app that helps individuals find trans friendly doctors or an app that profiles safe space job opportunities for trans people across the country? Trans*H4CK is a space in which to turn these possibilities into reality.

After conceiving the idea and laying out the case for it, Dr Ziegler set out to make it happen with a GoFund Me campaign to raise funds to bring it to life.

On September 13-15 the inaugural Trans* H4CK will take place at the Betti Ono Gallery in Oakland and the New Parkway Theater.   This first trans hackaton will be limited to 50 people and will be a judged competition.

The judges and the speakers at the inaugural Trans* H4CK will be named later and I'd love to be there in the Bay Area just to satisfy my inner tech nerd and see what takes place at a hackathon.       

I'm down with any event that showcases the immense untapped talent and creativity of our community and hope it is as megasuccessful as I presume it will be. 

Trans Being Left Behind Rights Wise In Vietnam?

Since I posted the story of Cindy Thai Tai and her evolution, it's been interesting from these shores to watch the Vietnamese trans community begin to emerge from the shadows in that country.  

But there is still a long way to go.  Despite trailblazing people like singer Cindy Thai Tai, writer Nguyen Ngoc Thach, the author of the book Transgender, Tran Minh Ngoc, the host of the YouTube show Funny Family and Vietnamese Idol contestant Huong Giang, a pattern all too familiar to transpeople in the US is emerging in which the 'T' is thrown under the human rights bus and told to wait their turn while the L,G and B get their rights because they give a 'very bad image' of the TBLG community in Vietnam.

ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company) recently conducted a radio interview with Nguyen Ngoc Thach and Tran Minh Ngoc about the Vietnamese trans community.   You can click the link to hear it and here's the transcript of it.

***

A year ago, legislators decided to include gay people in a debate over revisions to the Marriage and Family Law.  Although the proposed revisions are unlikely to result in legalizing same-sex marriage, it is expected to give live-in gay couples property rights.

But where does the transgender community figure in all of this?

Presenter: Marianne Brown

Speaker: Tran Minh Ngoc, transgender TV show host; Nguyen Ngoc Thach, author of 'Transgender'

BROWN: Tran Minh Ngoc is a glamorous 33-year-old who turns heads as she walks through a crowded cafe to meet me. She's a heroine in the transgender community, founding the country's first online forum for transgenders and later, a talent competition.  Her online TV show Funny Family attracts hundreds of  thousands of hits on YouTube. There are ads too for a new biography about Ngoc called simply, 'Transgender'.

It tells the story of family ordeals, romance and friendship, without the emphasis on promiscuity which many Vietnamese readers associate with  homosexual relationships. Ngoc says it is the first biography about a  transgender person to be published in Vietnam. The book hit the shelves last  month.  They have nearly sold out of 2,000 copies and will print more soon.

Sex changes are not recognized legally, and the only socially acceptable jobs they can do are small entertainment gigs, often at weddings or funerals.

Author of Transgender, Nguyen Ngoc Thach, says taking part in these shows  can be degrading. When he was researching the book, he attended one funeral party where the audience demanded to see performers' breasts in exchange for  a few dollars.  While there are a few notable transgender celebrities like singer Cindy Thai Tai and Vietnam Idol contestant Huong Giang, off stage society is not so accepting.

NGUYEN NGOC THACH: When people look at a show that has a drag queen, it's just entertainment.  Maybe this guy is not a gay, he's not a transgender, but he just wears a skirt and makeup to perform. He's not gay or transgender. That's easy to accept. But when you come into a bank or come into an office, you see a  transgender walking there's a lot of people who can't accept that because  this is onstage only and on stage to perform we can do everything but in  real life, it's not.

BROWN:  Discrimination also comes from within the gay community, especially among  men. Thach cites one website for gay men which doesn't allow members to use female names. He says this is because transgenders are too visible, and gay men feel threatened by that. He says this is compounded by bigotry in the workplace, which creates a Catch-22 for many transgenders.

NGUYEN NGOC THACH: Transgenders often show that they don't have a chance to earn money, so they  do bad things, for example to be a prostitute, a robber, to be a thief. So they give a very bad image of LGBT community in Vietnam. So that's why the LG and B  don't like T.

BROWN: Unlike other countries in Southeast Asia, sodomy is not illegal in Vietnam.  Here there is no religious lobby to stall debate on advancing gay rights.  Some observers say this makes LGBT rights an easy way for Vietnam to improve  its human rights record, which is otherwise tainted by restrictions on  freedom of speech and jail sentences for social and religious activists.

Funny Family's Tran Minh Ngoc says she supports the discussion about  same-sex marriage, but she thinks it's too ambitious.. at least for now.

TRAN MINH NGOC: (voice fades) She says society may be ready to read about transgenders and watch them on television, but on the road to equality, campaigners still have to take baby steps.


TransGriot Note:  Photo is of trans masculine writer Nguyen Ngoc Thach.

T.G.I.F. 2013 Happening Tomorrow

Last July  T.G.I.F., spearheaded by local trans activist KOKUMO brought over 350 people to a first of its kind event in Chicago celebrating the trans, gender variant and intersex communities that featured a rally, musical performances, a picnic and a community expo. 

The second annual Trans*, Gender Non-Conforming, Intersex Freedom (T.G.I.F.) event happens tomorrow July 28 at Union Park from 12-4 PM CDT at 1501 W. Randolph St.   If you're living in the Chicago area and are looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon that supports the local community, you may wish to show up for this one. 

The theme for this year's T.G.I.F. is "Transcending Pride, Evolving Movements," is hosted by Cyon Flare and will have performances by Angelica Ross, Dirty Grid, About Face Youth Theatre, Elias Karal, Jova Black, KOKUMO and more.  Local activists delivering keynote addresses are Alexis Martinez of the Chicago Dyke March Collective, gender nonconforming performance artist Nic Kay and intersex activist Pidgeon Pagonis.

There will also be organizations at T.G.I.F. 2013 with information booths and tables performing services such as SAGE Community Services, the Young Women's Empowerment Project and the Transformative Justice Law Project.

Should be a fun, interesting and informative event, so if you're in the Chicago area, go support it.

Rest In Peace, Michelle C. Myers

Was saddened to learn yesterday of the passing in her sleep of another one of our trailblazing leaders on June 17 in Michelle Claire Myers.   She was president of TATS for several years in the late 90's when she lived here in Houston and I was on the board of the organization, and I had much love and respect for this kind woman who was missed in H-town when she moved to San Antonio.

She was a retired chemical engineer who spoke three languages, knew several computer languages and served on the boards of several organizations in San Antonio.   She had some health challenges recently prior to her death.

Her memorial service was held June 22 and I wish I'd known about it so I could have paid my respects to her well lived life and posted about Ms. Myers at that time. 

Better late than never.   

Michelle was a beloved figure in San Antonio and also on our end of I-10 who mentored, guided and advised many people who were embarking on this gender journey with wise counsel that she role modeled every day.

She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.  Rest in power and peace, Michelle.  

Darn, Still No South American Trans National Legislators Yet

While South American nations have made outstanding progress on trans issues over the last few years and leaders are emerging like Venezuela's Tamara Adrian who are garnering international recognition, looks like the international trans community will have to wait a little longer before we see a trans legislator elected on the South American continent.

Colombia's Shelcy Sanchez attempted to make that giant electoral leap for transkind back in 2010 when she became the first open transperson on the South American continent and first in her nation to run for a seat in their national legislature but was unsuccessful in her Colombian House of Representatives race. 


Back in February 30 year old Diane Rodriguez became the first out transperson in Ecuador to run for a seat in her nation's national legislature.  

The election was held on February 17 and unfortunately the psychology student came up short in her history making run as a member of the leftist Ruptura 25 party for a seat in Ecuador's National Assembly.

The eyes of the international trans community turned to Chile's Valentina Verbal as she picked up the baton in the attempt to make international trans history as the South American continent's first trans national legislator 

Verbal was also making history as the first open trans candidate in Chile.  She was running for the seat in Chile's national legislature representing northern Santiago’s Recoleta-Independencia district as a member of a center-right political party with a campaign message focused on achieving equality rather than her district’s specific needs.

Chile's parliamentary election isn't until November, but unfortunately Verbal announced she is dropping out as a candidate for a reason that is painfully familiar to trans people world wide:  documentation issues. 

Verbal ran for office having applied for a legal name change that isn't official yet.   She is a well known activist in the country and active in her party but was told by Chilean election officials she either had to run for her seat with her old male name on the ballot or pull out of the race.  


“I thought, perhaps naively, that given the vacuum of electoral laws, and filling in that space with the anti-discrimination law, there wouldn’t be trouble getting what I asked,” Verbal said.

The reason Verbal pulled out is she felt that having been in Chilean politics for  several years and risen to prominence as Valentina Verbal, voters wouldn’t recognize her old male birth name on the ballot and connect it with the person she is now and the campaign would be a wash.

While she may have been sidelined for this election cycle by the name change issue, Verbal said, "I’m sure of one thing: I will continue in politics.”

Verbal also said something that I and a lot of folks have made the case for here in the States and on this blog in terms of having more trans people get involved in electoral politics and running for office at all governmental levels. 

“In order to get strong social changes, it’s necessary to make them from a position of power, in particular from Parliament. Because Chile is a very legalistic country, it’s important to have laws to provoke these changes.”

While the first South American, first in the Western Hemisphere and fourth trans person worldwide elected to their national legislature won't happen in this election cycle unless there's somebody running I'm not aware of yet,  it's only a matter of time before it does.   

HRC, You STILL Have A Problem

“It is not true to suggest that any person or organization was told their flag was less important than another – this did not occur and no HRC staff member would ever tolerate such behavior. To be clear, it is the position of the Human Rights Campaign that marriage is an issue that affects everyone in the LGBT community.   Michael Cole-Schwartz HRC Communications Director

After declaring to the world the incident at the SCOTUS rally didn't happen, circling the wagons and basically calling National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Jerame Davis and John Becker liars, The  Human Rights Campaign flip flopped faster than Mitt Romney in 2012 campaign mode and released a statement admitting what Trans and Bi World believes happened and a plurality of LG World suspects did by issuing an apology    

Human Rights Campaign Statement on March 27 Events
From Fred Sainz

In the midst of a tremendously historic week for our community, two unfortunate incidents at the United for Marriage event at the Supreme Court last week have caused pain in the community. In one case, a trans activist was asked to remove the trans pride flag from behind the podium, and in another, a queer undocumented speaker was asked to remove reference to his immigration status in his remarks.

HRC joined in a coalition statement on Friday apologizing for these incidents and the individuals involved have personally offered their apologies to those affected. But to be perfectly clear, HRC regrets the incidents and offers our apologies to those who were hurt by our actions. We failed to live up to the high standard to which we hold ourselves accountable and we will strive to do better in the future.

Yeah, right.  I have some waterfront property along I-10 between Breaux Bridge and Baton Rouge I'd like to sell you if you believe that statement was sincere.   It's an apology that Kat Rose at ENDA Blog 2.0 noted comes on April Fool's Day.

You STILL have a problem HRC, and this time I'm just going to spell out what your problems are with the trans community that have led to the extremely low level of confidence in your organization from the trans community.  

Your shady past transphobic history plays a major part in this.   It is also the fact you have had only two trans people sit on your board, which is the exact number of out transpeople that you have hired to work for you in your entire existence.  Your penchant (when you deign to do so) to hire transpeople who have no grassroots organizing experience or background with the history of the trans rights movement is also troubling to us..

That plays into the already negative perception that elements of the trans community have of HRC that you don't care about us or our issues.  It is also a trans community perception that it's in your organizational DNA to treat transpeople as less than equal.

It was interesting to read the press release bragging about the support you mustered and the millions spent to get marriage equality passed in Maryland, but couldn't (or wouldn't) commit to the same level of support and effort to pass a statewide trans rights bill pending in the Maryland state legislature at the same time.

Actions speak louder than words.  The SCOTUS rally flag kerfluffle said to the trans community that you really don't think of trans people as equals and you don't consider our issues important despite the fact we transpeople are fighting tooth and nail for the same basic human rights that you gay and lesbian peeps already enjoy.

And too many times you gay and lesbian folks gained those rights by repeatedly throwing trans people under the human rights bus.  We saw our stories appropriated, us getting cut out of legislation in the name of 'incremental progress' that eventually passed and protects GL people.

And it infuriates us when you euphemistically call GL only rights laws 'equality'.

Yep HRC, that's the hole that you're trying to climb out of, and March 27 only restarted the ossification of those beliefs held by the trans community.   As I said in that March 29 post, you had zero room for errors, misspeaking, or mistakes, and this one is a doozy.

What we're going to need to see this time is a concrete plan to permanently fix the internal HRC issues with transpeople so that you DON'T have another incident like this again.   I would suggest hiring talented transpeople across the board in all ethnic and age demographics in our community and keep them there a minimum of five years as a first step.

It not only makes a dent in our unemployment numbers, but it's painfully obvious you need to have some transpeople at Rhode Island Ave.  You don't know, are unaware or clueless on how to talk to us.  You don't have intimate knowledge of the issues that affect our diverse trans community and it ain't going to get any easier as time passes and the country becomes more diverse.   

And the second thing that needs to happen now is you need to start treating the trans community as a respected partner because our power is only going to continue to grow.   That means you are going to need to get used to having honest communications with us and the people we designate as our leaders, not the ones you choose to talk to.

HRC, you STILL have a problem.  The onus is on you to decide whether you wish to solve it. 

Chicago Trans 100 Kickoff Event Live Feed

If you're in the TransGriot's shoes and couldn't be in Chicago (or Phoenix darn it), or couldn't get tickets for the sold out Trans 100 Launch Event featuring the talents of KOKUMO, Janet Mock, Dr Kortney Ryan Ziegler, Namoli Brennet and Joe Stevens, now you can be in the room.

When the Trans 100 event starts at 7 PM CDT it will have a live feed you can watch.  You knew Moni was going to make it easy on you TransGriot readers to find it, so just click on this link to watch the action LIVE from the Mayne Stage.

And yep, I'm wondering myself who will be the folks on the initial Trans 100 List.   Looking forward to the day when we get to see multiple national and international trans lists.

You can tune in tonight to find out the 100 trans people who were honored for the inaugural US list. 

Two Transwomen Nominated For DC Human Rights Commission

Was happy to hear that Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray has nominated trans activists and 2010 IFGE Trinity Award winner Earline Budd and Alexandra Beninda for seats on the D.C. Commission on Human Rights.


The 15 member commission is only operating with three member at the current time, and if the two are confirmed as expected by the D.C. City Council, they would become the first trans persons ever to serve on it.

The Human Rights Commission rules on discrimination complaints brought under the D.C. Human Rights Act that was passed in 1977.   The comprehensive act bans discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and other areas based on an individual’s sexual orientation and gender identity and expression as well as other categories such as race, religion, national origin, and ethnicity.

“To be getting one transgender person on the commission would be great, but to be getting two is fantastic,” said Beninda to the Washington Blade.  

“I’m really excited and looking forward to serving,” said Budd while attending Saturday’s LGBT Youth Pride festival in Dupont Circle. “This is important for the entire community.”

It most certainly is 'Number 4' and Alexandra.  It's vitally important to have our perspectives and lived life experiences on boards and commissions such as this, and especially one that investigates human rights complaints.   

I have no doubt you ladies will do a wonderful job in representing the Washington D.C. trans community on the Human Rights Commission.

TransGriot Update: Here's the Washington Blade story about their swearing in

First 2012 Houston TG Center Social

Last night I took a moment to get out of the house and check out the first Houston TG Center social of 2012.  I had a blast getting to meet and greet some of my Houston TransGriot readers who attended the event.

Hey, I had to show up since I posted it on my Facebook page I was going and didn't want to disappoint anyone.  

The TG Center socials happen on the first Friday of every month through the fall and usually have barbecue chicken, burgers, chips, dips and covered dishes for people to eat.   They even have stuff to eat for you vegan peeps for a $10 donation to the cause.

I had a great time and many wonderful conversations on a wide variety of subjects with the folks who did show up.   It's one of the ways we build community here in H-town, and I hope you'll consider attending the next TG social next month if your schedule allows it or a subsequent one.

The May social is scheduled to happen on my birthday.   Hmm...

Phyllis Frye-Our Trailblazing Community Godmother

If you're wondering who were some of my influences in terms envisioning a unified and inclusive trans community, one of them is my activist mentor Phyllis Frye.  

I loved this recent post by Cristan Williams from her blog that gave me a little more insight into her.

It's history from the TFA archives that Cristan Williams posted on her blog about that evolution and how Phyllis' thinking shaped the Houston trans community and beyond

I can't say it enough how much we owe to our trailblazing trans human rights warrior

Black Transpeople's Burden-The NBJC Report On The NTDS Findings

As I've talked about over the last five years on TransGriot, the way a gender transition is experienced for African descended transpeople is vastly different from the way our white counterparts do.

The National Black Justice Coalition recently sent me a copy of the report they compiled based on the recently released National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS).  Of the 6,456 people who completed the survey that the data was based on, 381 of them were Black or Black multiracial.

This NBJC report focused on the findings for African-American trans people.  While the eye opening general survey results show that trans people face discrimination that affects all areas of their lives, when it is combined with structural and individual racism, as I am painfully aware of, the levels of discrimination faced by transpeople of color are devastating and particularly egregious. 

The key findings:

*The combination of anti-transgender bias and persistent, structural and individual racism was devastating for Black transpeople and other transpeople of color.

* Black trans people live in extreme poverty with 34% reporting a household income of less than $10,000 a year.

That's more than twice the rate (15%) for transgender people of all races, four times the rate of the general  African American population (9%) and over eight time the general US population rate.

* Black transgender people are affected by HIV in devastating numbers, with over one-fifth of the African American trans respondents (20.23%) being HIV+ and an additional 10% reporting they did not know their status.  

The rates for transgender respondents of all races were 2.64%, 2.4% for the general Black population and 0.60% for the general US population.

* Nearly half (49%) of the Black respondents reported having attempted suicide.

* Black transgender people who were out to their families found acceptance at a higher rate than the overall sample of transgender respondents.


Education findings:

The key to breaking the cycle of discrimination and getting Black trans people in a better position to become fully functioning taxpaying members of society is a good quality education.   But according to the NBJC report:


*  Black people who attended school as transgender persons people reported alarming rates of harassment (49%), physical assault (27%) and sexual assault (15%) at school.  Harassment was so severe it lead 21% of respondents to leave school with 6% being expelled due to bias.

*  Respondents who were harassed and abused by teachers in K-12 settings showed dramatically worse health and other outcomes than those who did not experience such abuse.   Peer harassment and abuse also had highly damaging effects.

Employment Discrimination findings.

A J-O-B is essential because without it, in the US you can't get access to or pay for the health care you'll need to transition, much less feed, clothe and house yourself   It's why ENDA passage and trans civil rights employment coverage at every level of government is essential and these NTDS numbers only underscore why I'm so hard line about it.:

* Black transgender people have a 26% unemployment rate, two times the rate of the overall transgender sample and four time the rate of the general population.
*  32% of Black transpeople lost a job due to bias and 28% were not hired for a job due to bias.

*  46% of Black transgender people were harassed, 15% were physically assaulted and 13% were sexually assaulted at work.

* Half of the respondents (50%) reported that had been compelled to sell drugs or do sex work for income at some point in their lives.

Housing Discrimination and Homelessness findings:

This is another reason I'm adamant about comprehensive trans civil rights bills. Quoting from the NBJC report:  

*  Black trans people reported various forms of direct housing discrimination- 38% reported having been refused a home or apartment due to bias and 31% reported being evicted due to bias.


*  41% of Black respondents said they had experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, over five times the rate of the general US population.   Of those who experienced homelessness and tried to access shelters,  40% were denied access altogether.   Of those who managed to get into those shelters, 61% experienced harassment, 32% physical assault and 31% sexual assault.

* Black trans people are less likely than trans respondents of other races to own homes with a home ownership rate of 14%.  That compares to 32% percent for transpeople of any race and 67% of the general US population.   The minority home ownership rate according to HUD was 47% 


Health Care Discrimination findings 


It's a major issue with transpeople of all races, and one that has a negative impact on a community that already has a deep distrust of the medical profession due to the odious Tuskegee Experiment.   Black transpeople haven't forgotten that DC transwoman Tyra Hunter died of survivable injuries from an August 1995 car crash due to transphobia experienced at the hands of a transphobic EMT and emergency room doctor.  Quoting from the NBJC report:: 

* The health outcomes for African American respondents show the heinous effects of the social and economic marginalization that include higher HIV infection, smoking, drug and alcohol use and suicide attempts  than the general population.
  
* 21% of Black trans people reported being refused medical care due to bias.

* 34% of Black trans people reported having postponed care when sick or injured due to fear of discrimination.



* While African Americans in general have lower suicide rates than other racial groups as shown by research, nearly half (49%) of the Black transpeople in the NTDS survey reported having attempted suicide.   It's higher than the 41% rate for transgender people of all races and 1.6% of the general US population

Abuse by Police and In Prison findings

s As I've reported here on TransGriot, Amnesty International has discovered in its reports and the multiple lawsuits filed by transpeople of color against police departments around the country, Officer Friendly ain't so friendly to transpeople of color, and that does have deleterious effects on how we view law enforcement in our neighborhoods. 

*  38% of Black transgender people who interacted with the police reported sexual harassment, 14% reported physlical assault and 6% reported sexual assault.

*  35% of Black trans people have been arrested or held in a cell due to bias at some point in their lives.

*   Half of the respondents (51%) reported discomfort in seeking police assistance



Physical and sexual assault in prison/jail is a serious problem, and transpeople are affected by it.  

*  29% of the African American respondents who had been to jail or prison reported being physically assaulted and 32% reported being sexually assaulted while in custody.

So when the TransGriot and other African descended trans people tell you that in various forums, panel discussions and other venues that being an African descend transperson isn't easy and we have serious problems that demand attention and legislative relief, none of us are sellin' you woof tickets on that.

And it's why we go ballistic every time we get dissed, dismissed or ignored when we try to tell our stories or are excluded from venues and forums that would allow us to do so.


TransGriot Note:  The National Transgender Discrimination Survey was compiled by NCTE and the Task Force