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Transgender Today – The New York Times describes the challenge in the US
I have posted the link to this media article here as it speaks to the current challenges of being transgender in the USA.
From the New York Times opinion pages
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/04/opinion/the-quest-for-transgender-equality.html?smid=fb-share&_r=2The Quest for Transgender Equality
Quote:generation ago, transgender Americans were widely regarded as deviants, unfit for dignified workplaces, a disgrace for families. Those who confided in relatives were, by and large, pitied and shunned. For most, transitioning on the job was tantamount to career suicide. Medical procedures to align a person’s body with that person’s gender identity — an internal sense of being male, female or something else — were a fringe specialty, available only to a few who paid out of pocket.Coming out meant going through life as a pariah.
Being transgender today remains unreasonably and unnecessarily hard. But it is far from hopeless……
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3 Replies
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Hi Adrian,
I have just finished reading the article, it is very good. I agree with the article that it is or can be hard being trans, but I think the article showed that there has been good progress in gaining equality and breaking down the barriers. Much more can and needs to be done but there was also a message of hope in the article.
Cheers Jenn
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The article is well-written and, I suspect, gives an accurate portrayal of the current situation in America. Australia is one step ahead of America in having legislation at the federal level aimed at protecting the LGBT community from discrimination. Recent “religious freedom” legislation in some states of America allows people to discriminate on the basis of their religious beliefs which is a really backward step, but that is perhaps another topic.
I agree that the article is positive and encouraging and at least demonstrates how increasingly more visible the transgender community is becoming and that can only be a good thing. However, and I have said this before, I don’t like the continual media focus on those that desire transition rather than the transgender community at large.
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Hi Martina,
I fully agree, not all trans people want to fully transition or have the need to. I think it’s one of the misconceptions that the general population needs to understand. More education is needed.
Moderator: Another topic please! 👿
