I know what you’re thinking after reading the title to this. You’re thinking I’m writing about stimulating the economy and universal healthcare. While I’m all for job growth and better healthcare, that’s
not exactly what this article is about. So what am I talking about? I’m
talking about how bent and focused the LGBT community is on marriage
equality, when there is still a sector of the LGBT that isn’t even
afforded basic protections for employment, housing and medical care.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy whenever I see any part of our community gain rights and acceptance. But I hesitate whenever I’m asked to participate in an event or a promotion that only benefits marriage.
Why? Because we T’s have already been thrown under the bus at least
once by the rest of the community and we’re a little weary of it. The
phrase “don’t worry, we’ll come back for you” is a little worn out,
especially here in NY where typically we have lobbied for three pieces
of legislation; marriage, GENDA and Dignity For All Students, but after
15 years GENDA just barely made it through the Assembly.

Tell you what. How about we turn this around, now that marriage has been rejected by the Senate… How about the LGB’s help us fight for our BASIC protections — you know, the ones you already have and have had
for years. When GENDA is passed and us T’s no longer have to worry so much about getting kicked out of our homes, losing our jobs, and being refused medical care, then we’ll help you fight for marriage. Sound
fair? I think it is.

The LG&B have had SONDA in place since 2003. SONDA gives the LGB’s those precious basic protections, but transgender people were left out of it, just like T’s got left out of ENDA at the federal level
the first time around and is rumored to happen again when the
legislation is brought to the floor, possibly sometime this year. Once
marriage is passed, either at the state or federal level, how many of
LGB activists are going to continue to fight for transgender
protections? If history is any indicator, not many.

I remember vividly, spending eight months out full time but hiding my transition from my landlord. I would call him using my old voice, telling him that his check was in my mailbox, just before leaving for
work, so he would have no idea what was going on. One of the other
tenants in my apartment building told me he was old-school and would
have an issue with it, so I was pretty terrified of losing my home.
Fortunately it turned out OK, but it could have been a disaster and
there are many transgender people who DO lose their homes because of
transition and lack of laws to protect them.

At my job I used an anonymous email to inquire about whether a transgender person would be protected or not. Again, it was OK at first, but ultimately I ended up leaving in part because of the lack of
laws protecting us.  There are documented cases of police and medical personnel mistreating transgender people, and again, there are no protections for us.

So while marriage equality is great and I’m all for it, how about we set our priorities in the right direction? We as transgender people, and the gay and straight community who do support us, need to gather
some steam and start working toward gaining for ourselves what gay community already has.

Posted by Marilyn J. Rodgers on February 15, 2010
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