PFLAG is proud of our long history of support for the transgender community. We were the first LGBT organization to include transgender allies in our mission statement, and our national board made a commitment - in 2002 - to only supporting legislation that is fully inclusive of every member of our families, including our transgender loved ones, too.
Today, we are reminded of just how important that commitment is, and how much work remains to be done, in an article from the Nashua Telegraph, highlighting the up-hill struggle our transgender friends face in their battle for full equality. "Some say this could be the next civil rights battle of our time," reporter Ashely Smith writes, "following the path set out by women in the 1910s and African-Americans in the 1950s," noting that many gay civil rights organizations "have broadened the scope of their political agendas over the yearst to include the transgender community."
PFLAG is proud to be a leader in that movement, and salutes the hard and ground-breaking work of groups like The National Center for Transgender Equality, The Transgender Civil Rights Project and the Transgender American Veterans Association for their critical work on behalf of the transgender community. And a quick look at the facts in Sunday's Telegraph article clearly shows just how essential it is to have all hands on deck in the struggle for transgender equality. Consider, for example, that only 13 states and the District of Columbia have passed a transgender-inclusive anti-discrimination law. Or that it remains especially difficult for transgender people to obtain a proper driver's license or passport. Or that many transgender people face extraordinary barriers to proper, quality healthcare. Or the high rate of anti-transgender hate crimes in our country. Or that, in 37 states, it's perfectly legal to fire someone based on their gender identity.
The list of goals yet realized goes on and on."The trans movement is probably where the gay movement was 20 or 25 years ago," PFLAG's New England regional director, Roberta Barry, points out in Sunday's story. "It was frightening to think about coming out." But progress, at last, may finally be getting off the ground, thanks to the remarkable work of advocates like NCTE's Mara Keisling, which has resulted in several truly significant breakthroughs for the community.
In addition to the 13 states (and Washington, D.C.) that have passed transgender-inclusive anti-discrimination laws "more than 100 jurisdictions . . . have added a transgender provision" to their existing laws, Smith writes. And "Soon, New Hampshire may be the last New England state without such a law," the article reminds us. "Vermont, Rhode Island and Maine have passed them, whiel Massachusetts and Connecticut have bills pending that seem likely to pass." And that's good news indeed.
But until our transgender family and friends are able to enjoy the full civil rights that every American deserves, PFLAG will continue to fight with our allies . . . stand up with our friends . . . and transform the movement for equality into one that embraces everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
For more information on PFLAG's commitment to the transgender community, click here.
This entry was posted on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 3:15 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
4 Responses (as of May 08, 2008) to "Standing with our Transgender Friends"
1. Denise Holliday says (May 6th, 2008 at 3:57 am):
I also write for Wayves Gay newspaper and Volunteer with PFLAG Canada as their transgender communications Co-ordinator and answer their toll free Canadian Gender Information Line at 1-888-822-9494. Only available nationally from anywhere in Canada. My web site is http://deniseholliday.com/CKDU 88.1.htm.
I am a 60 year-old M2F post-op who is still with my female spouse of 37 years and I have 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren. Thanks for your time. Denise Holliday
Coincidentally, I noticed something funny (dejas vous) about the first two comments, above. Denise:- I am currently in North Carolina, but I am a Dalhousie University graduate; I used to listen to the "Dark End of the Street" (Lamont McLaughlan?) back in the late 1980's. Second, I see that Kelli - a fellow member of TransAdvocates (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transadvocates/), has replied. Kelli is a tireless advocate; I'm not surprised that she has already been here and commented! It's a small (wonderful) world!
Hugs, Victoria :-)
[ Note (Victoria S.): Like myself and Kelli, Jinian is also a TransAdvocates discussion group member! :-) ]