News 2012
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NCTE Welcomes Obama Administration's Endorsement of Safe Schools Bills
Executive Director Mara Keisling: "Congress must act quickly to protect our transgender young people."In response to President Obama's endorsement of the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) and the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA), NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling said:
"These two safe schools bills are just tremendously important to trans youth and President Obama's endorsement is another example of his broad commitment to trans people and trans issues. We are thankful to Senators Al Franken and Bob Casey and Representatives Jared Polis and Linda Sanchez for their leadership on these issues. According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, trans and gender nonconforming young people face startling amounts of harassment, assault and sexual violence at school, with more extreme rates of harassment and violence among trans youth of color. Trans kids are hurting and we have a way to stop that. Congress must act quickly to protect our transgender young people."
To speak to Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at vvillano@transequality.org / 202-631-9640.
Updated Advisory: NCTE's Mara Keisling to be a Featured Guest on MSNBC's Melissa Harris-Perry Show
Keisling joins a panel of advocates talking about the trans movement, employment nondiscriminationWhen
Sunday, April 15, 2012, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
What
For the first time in recent memory, a major television network will dedicate an hour-long panel to discussing transgender social and political issues. NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling will be a featured guest on the show joining other recognized experts on trans issues. The panel will focus broadly on advancing transgender equality and other political issues.
Mara Keisling is the founding Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. Mara is a transgender woman and a parent. As one of the nation’s leading voices for transgender equality, Mara has appeared on news outlets such as CNN and CSPAN, and is regularly quoted in the New York Times, the Washington Post and hundreds of other national and local print and electronic media.
Keisling will be joined by:
- Kate Bornstein, a writer and performance artist
- Joy-Ann Reid, MSNBC Contributor and Managing Editor of TheGrio.com
- Allison Kilkenny, reporter for The Nation
- Mel Wymore, openly trans candidate to the New York City Council, and
- Kai Wright, Editorial Director of Colorlines.com
To speak to Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at vvillano@transequality.org / 202-631-9640.
Victory for Trans Immigration Documents and Marriage Benefits
NCTE and Immigration Equality Applaud President Obama for Taking Important ActionToday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Policy Memorandum revising the treatment of gender designations for transgender people on their immigration documents. The new guidance also make clear that if a couple has married as a different-sex couple under state law, the federal government will not deny that recognition regardless of a person’s prior or subsequent gender transition.
The revisions will be updated in the Adjudicator’s Field Manual, a guide binding all USCIS staff overseeing immigration procedures.
NCTE Policy Counsel Harper Jean Tobin said, “Today’s announcement is another example of the Obama Administration’s long-term commitment to equality. These revisions mean that trans people and their families can obtain accurate identification while maintaining their privacy. It’ll also reduces bureaucratic delays, intrusive questions, and wrongful denials of immigration benefits.”
Significantly, the gender designation change is modeled after the U.S. State Department’s updated passport policy, which does not require sex reassignment surgery. “This Guidance is an important step forward for transgender immigrants and their families,” said Victoria Neilson, legal director for Immigration Equality. “It brings USCIS in line with DOS in its guidance for updating gender markers on identity documents – no longer requiring any specific surgery, but instead allowing a doctor to certify the individual’s gender."
NCTE has been working with Immigration Equality to advance these urgently needed policies, part of our comprehensive agenda for the fair treatment of transgender immigrants. Neilson added, “The memo affirms existing law and precedents, and recognizes that if a marriage is considered valid and opposite sex under state law, it is valid for immigration purposes.”
“And while these two revisions aid trans immigrants, U.S. Citizens who marry immigrants, they only highlight the need to eliminate the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act,” said Tobin.
For specific questions about taking advantage of this guidance, please contact Immigration Equality here.
For more information or to speak with Harper Jean Tobin or Victoria Neilson, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-631-9640 / vvillano@transequality.org or Steve Ralls at 202-347-7007 / sralls@immigrationequality.org
NCTE Statement on Federal Contractors Executive Order: Expansion of Policy Urgently Needed
Washington, D.C. - Today, NCTE responded to news that the White House is not yet ready to issue the executive order banning discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation for employees of federal contractors. NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling said:
“NCTE joins national LGBT advocates, countless numbers of businesses, and three-quarters of the public in urging President Obama to expand existing workplace protections to include trans employees of federal contractors. It’s a problem we’ve documented in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey showing that 97 percent of transgender people have been harassed at work. Twenty-six percent said they were fired because they are trans or gender nonconforming.”
Over the last several years, NCTE has joined national advocates from the Center for American Progress, the Williams Institute, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Freedom to Work, and the Human Rights Campaign in pressing President Obama to expand Executive Order 11246 to include gender identity and sexual orientation. In response to reports that movement on this executive order would be delayed, Mara Keisling said:
“President Obama right now has the power to stop trans employees of federal contractors from getting fired on the job. Of course, we also need the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, but we can solve a small but important part of the problem now. What we know is that the White House is going to take a more active role in addressing anti-LGBT discrimination in the workplace. But trans people and their loved ones can’t wait. We need to get this done as quickly as we can, and NCTE will continue to work with the White House to make sure that we do.”
For more information or to speak with Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-631-9640 / vvillano@transequality.org.
NCTE Recognizes Miss Universe Organization for Commitment to Transgender Inclusion
In response to news that the Miss Universe Organization will announce a final policy allowing transgender women to participate in its beauty pageants, NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling said:
"No one likes it when they're left out of something because of who they are. This is especially true for transgender people—people like Jenna Talackova—who are denied opportunities because they're told that who they are is 'unnatural.' So I get that Jenna probably still doesn't feel good about the situation. But it's a noteworthy thing for a group like the Miss Universe Organization and Donald Trump to switch positions allowing Jenna to participate, and to commit to developing transgender inclusive rules. This is a good thing, and it's a sign of how more and more people get trans issues."
The National Center for Transgender Equality, a social justice policy and advocacy organization, recognizes the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and other groups for quickly engaging senior levels of the organization including its owner, Donald Trump, to update the policy. NCTE has spoken out about Jenna's experience and has provided GLAAD with resources to assist the Miss Universe Organization in developing their final policy.
In a statement issued today, GLAAD clarified their work with the Miss Universe Organization. GLAAD spokesperson Herndon Graddick said, “Jenna and all of the LGBT advocates who have called for this change and spoken out in support of transgender women are to be commended. At a time when transgender people are still routinely denied equal opportunities in housing, employment and medical care, today’s decision is in line with the growing levels of public support for transgender people across the country.”
Keisling added, "We thank Jenna for standing up for herself and for all of us. Her case is just one in hundreds of examples where a person has something taken away—a job, a house, or a loved one—because they're trans. And not every trans person gets access to legal representation to help them. There are too many other stories of trans people who experience unbearable circumstances. The support Jenna has received must also support other trans people. And I believe that progress here can influence change in other places that impact our lives."
NCTE understands the legitimate position that beauty pageants reinforce narrow standards of women's beauty. However, we will always support any trans person who is facing discrimination.
For more information or to speak with Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
New LGBT Housing Discrimination Rule Now In Effect
NCTE Releases “Know Your Rights” Resource for Transgender PeopleYesterday, new Obama Administration housing regulations went into effect strengthening protections for transgender and LGBT people. The regulations, announced by U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan, make discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation in federal housing programs illegal.
NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling said, “We are pleased that Secretary Donovan heard our concerns, and moved quickly to protect our community.”
The new rule, having completed a mandatory 30-day waiting period, updates current federal housing and housing-related programs prohibiting owners and operators of federally-funded or federally-insured housing, as well as lenders offering federally-insured mortgages from discriminating based on gender identity or sexual orientation; and clarifying the definition of "family" to ensure that LGBT families are not excluded from HUD programs.
With the rule now in effect, NCTE released a new resource to assist transgender people in understanding their rights. NCTE Policy Counsel Harper Jean Tobin said, “These regulations are a significant advancement in fair housing access for transgender people. The next step is ensuring that transgender people know their rights and can educate housing administrators about them.”
The guide, called “Know Your Rights: Fair Housing and Transgender People,” identifies transgender protections in current law, and outlines the process for reporting discrimination claims. Research from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey show that 19% of transgender and gender non-conforming people had been refused a home or apartment and 11% had been evicted because of their gender identity or expression. The study also showed that 19% of transgender people have been homeless at some point in their lives, and 29% of those had been turned away from homeless shelters and a majority were harassed when they could get in to a shelter.
“It is our hope,” Tobin said, “that this guide helps empower transgender people to assert their rights, and add to the strength of the regulations and the recent guidance on the Fair Housing Act to ensure that no one is denied housing because of who they are.”
For more information or to speak with Mara Keisling or Harper Jean Tobin, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
NCTE Welcomes Transgender Protections in Immigration Detention
PREA rules and other reforms still needed
The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) welcomes the release of revised standards for immigration detention from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. These new standards are an important step forward in the treatment of transgender people in detention facilities. However questions remain about how and when the standards will be implemented, and about ICE's commitment to implementing a law to prevent sexual abuse, and moving away from a prison-like detention model.
ICE's new detention standards incorporate for the first time key principles for protecting the health and safety of transgender detainees. These principles include making housing decisions on an individual basis that looks to protect the individuals rather than focusing on their sexual anatomy - a change that should permit transgender women to be more frequently housed in women's facilities. The new standards also require that all transgender people have access to hormone therapy and other necessary medical care.
"These new standards, if fully implemented have the potential to create meaningful improvements in detention conditions," said Harper Jean Tobin, NCTE Policy Counsel. "That can only happen if they are fully implemented and facilities that contract with ICE face real consequences for noncompliance. And, reform cannot stop there. The new standards are still based on a prison model where individuals lack privacy, dignity, and freedom of movement."
NCTE has worked with a broad and diverse coalition of human rights groups to advocate for improvement in the often harsh conditions for detained immigrants, including many who came to the U.S. fleeing persecution because of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
These improvements, consistent with the Administration's call to overhaul the immigration detention system, marks significant progress but does not fully address the concerns facing transgender immigrant detainees. The standards are also not an adequate substitute for applying the forthcoming rules to implement the Prison Rape Elimination Act, which comprehensively address the prevention of sexual abuse, to all immigration detention facilities.
NCTE calls on ICE to undertake the following, lifesaving changes:
- Work swiftly to fully apply the new standards to all facilities and impose strong sanctions for noncompliance;
- Fully adopt and abide by forthcoming national rules to implement the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003; and,
- Develop and implement new, binding standards for civil confinement that are not based on a correctional model.
NCTE will continue to advocate with ICE and other relevant government agencies to enforce these new standards, make them even stronger, and making sure the forthcoming Prison Rape Elimination Standards are applied to immigration detention centers.
For more information or to speak to Harper Jean Tobin, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
NCTE Statement on the 9th Circuit Court Ruling
Mara Keisling: “This is an important victory for transgender people.”
Washington, D.C. – Today, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Proposition 8, a 2008 California ballot measure banning marriage equality in the state, is unconstitutional. In response, NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling said:“Transgender people, their partners and their families are too often caught in the middle of these kinds of laws. And today, the Ninth Circuit Court joined our community in recognizing Proposition 8 for what it is–a discriminatory attack on decency and common sense, motivated by prejudice and discrimination. Today’s ruling is about ensuring that our laws are clean of prejudice, and truly protects us all. Regardless of the make-up of our relationships, the ruling once again shows that justice and equality are advancing.”
We congratulate the plaintiffs, their counsel, and all Californians on this important victory.
For more information or to speak to Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
In Response to Crackdown on Occupy Encampments, NCTE and Allies Issues a Trans Direct Action Resource
Trans People May Face Increased Risk of Mistreatment, Violence, and Arrest
Washington, D.C. - Today, two blocks from our office, the National Park Service planned to evict Occupy D.C. protestors in McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza in accordance to a D.C. "no camping" rule. While many protestors have complied with the eviction notices, other demonstrators have ignored the National Park Service and have hunkered down in continued protest.
As reported by Gay City News, transgender people have been central figures from the beginning of the Occupy Movement, adding to a long history transgender people participating in direct actions.
According to Mara Keisling, "Because of this historical participation by transgender people in direct actions, NCTE wants to make sure trans people are well informed as they exercise their free speech and political power."
The removal of Occupy D.C. encampments comes on the heels of Occupations facing increasing tensions from police authorities across the country, with one DC protestor being Tazed by a Park Police officer yesterday and over four hundred arrests in demonstrations in Oakland, CA and New York, NY last week.
The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) welcomes the conversations sparked by the Occupy Movement. Transgender people who face twice the rate of unemployment in the United States are among the 99% who will be well served by efforts to correct the imbalance of economic opportunity and political power in this country.
Keisling said, "From here in the nation's capital, even when we've seen solutions to the problems and inequalities, we've seen them ignored. Our economic and political conditions worsen as our country goes in circles about the details of various policies and which powerful interests are in the way. And smart non-violent direct actions can be an equally powerful way to bring attention to policies that can help everyone."
However, NCTE also urges transgender people and their allies participating to consider the consequences. Participating in direct actions may put transgender people at increased risk of mistreatment, violence, and arrest. This resource, which was co-created with our allies at the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, is a basic guide to understanding a range of factors including detainment procedures, identity documents, and the associated risks participating in a demonstration as an undocumented trans person, or as a trans person with a disability.
Keisling added, "From the Compton Cafeteria riots to Stonewall, transgender people have been at the forefront of our struggle for transgender equality, and the equality of opportunity for others in our country. That isn't going to change and trans people should be aware of their rights and the risk they take when continuing to advance these rights through direct action."
For more information or to speak to Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
NCTE Commends LGBT Military Magazine for Addressing Open Transgender Service
NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling Interviewed Extensively Alongside Groundbreaking Profiles of Transgender Service Members and Veterans
Washington, D.C. - In their groundbreaking January edition, OutServe Magazineprofiles six current transgender service members and veterans, some sharing their stories in public for the first time. The article, entitled "The New DADT: Transgender Service," highlights the daily challenges transgender people face serving in silence, and the urgently needed policy changes necessary for ending this ban.
Despite the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," open transgender military service remains banned due to outdated military medical regulations. Mara Keisling spoke with the author of the article, Katherine Miller, about how to change these regulations. Keisling noted the significant progress federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs have made that could be foundational for the Armed Forces to begin making these changes.
Keisling told Miller that there is no reason why the military cannot be objective about using rational criteria to determine if a trans person is fit to serve. Keisling said, "the range of trans people is huge. Some people may have already transitioned entirely by the time they want to serve. Some people may identify as trans but have no desire to physically transition. But they're still not allowed to serve because the disqualification is condition-based, not dependent upon the individual."
Commenting on the article, Keisling added, "Stories of transgender service members are crucial to getting the military to end this ban. NCTE commends Outserve for telling these important stories, and I am hopeful that this will start the conversations that will lead to social and cultural changes making it safe for anyone who wants to serve our country do so proudly."
To view the article in its entirety, please visit www.outservemag.com.
While the ban on open transgender service exists, NCTE urges current transgender service members to read our guidance issued with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network to understand the consequences of coming out.
For more information or to speak to Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
NCTE Praises New Federal Regulations Ensuring Fair Access to Housing
New Rule Makes LGBT Housing Discrimination Illegal
Baltimore, MD - Today, the Obama Administration announced historic new federal rules that will strengthen housing discrimination protections for transgender and other LGBT people. The new regulations were announced by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan at the 24th National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change, and will be officially published this coming week.
Secretary Shaun Donovan said, "Today, I am proud to announce a new Equal Access to Housing Rule that says clearly and unequivocally that LGBT individuals and couples have the right to live where they choose."
The new rule makes several urgently needed changes to current federal housing and housing-related programs including: prohibiting owners and operators of federally-funded or federally-insured housing, as well as lenders offering federally-insured mortgages from discriminating based on gender identity or sexual orientation; and clarifying the definition of "family" to ensure that LGBT families are not excluded from HUD programs.
Secretary Donovan said, "If you are denying HUD housing to people on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, actual or perceived, you're discriminating, you're breaking the law, and you will be held accountable. That's what equal access means, and that's what this rule is going to do."
The Obama Administration has previously clarified that people who face any housing discrimination based on gender identity or gender stereotypes can file complaints under the federal Fair Housing Act.
According to Harper Jean Tobin, NCTE Policy Counsel, "this is a major and urgently needed advancement in basic protections for transgender people. NCTE is calling on other federal departments to follow HUD's common-sense approach and use existing legal authority to prohibit discrimination against LGBT people in the programs they fund and administer. We applaud Secretary Donovan and the Obama Administration for this much needed relief for transgender people."
Mara Keisling added, "We are very pleased that, just as he said at NCTE's Awards Ceremony in November, HUD has clearly listened to our concerns with earlier drafts of the regulations and made them even stronger."
In announcing the draft rules early last year, HUD cited The National Transgender Discrimination Survey conducted by NCTE and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, showing that 19% of transgender and gender non-conforming people had been refused a home or apartment and 11% had been evicted because of their gender identity or expression. The study also showed that 19% of transgender people have been homeless at some point in their lives, and 29% of those had been turned away from homeless shelters and a majority were harassed when they could get in to a shelter.
The new rule will be officially published this coming week and will take effect 30 days later. NCTE will release an analysis of the new rule and what it means for transgender people once the final rules are published.
For more information or to speak to Harper Jean Tobin, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
Obama Administration Ups its Support of Human Rights for LGBT People Worldwide
NCTE Applauds Secretary Clinton Speech and White House Commitment
Washington, D.C. - In response to Secretary Clinton's speech at the United Nations calling for global support of basic LGBT human rights, and President Obama's Memorandum to federal agencies abroad, NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling issued the following statement:
For more information or to speak to Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 /vvillano@transequality.org.Secretary Clinton spoke about LGBT rights at the UN in Geneva and expressed a strong U.S. position in support of respect and fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people worldwide, making a case that ensuring our human rights is a basic responsibility of the United States and the world. Concurrently, President Obama released a Presidential Memorandum directing all federal agencies abroad to promote and protect the human rights of LGBT people in U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance work.The National Center for Transgender Equality applauds their continued leadership in this area.
New analysis shows startling levels of discrimination against Latino/a transgender people
Download the report in English and in SpanishSpanish language release below.
Washington, D.C. - Latino and Latina transgender and gender non-conforming people face some of the highest levels of discrimination of all transgender people according to a new analysis released today, Injustice at Every Turn: A Look at Latino/a Respondents in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey.
This report by the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is a supplement to the groundbreaking national study, Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, which was published in February and revealed widespread discrimination experienced by transgender and gender non-conforming people across the board.
A key finding of the original report was that even given the unconscionable levels of discrimination against all transgender people in the U.S., people of color including Latinos/as experienced heightened levels of discrimination and had worse outcomes than the sample overall. Additionally, the findings reveal that immigration status also plays a role in these outcomes with non-citizen Latino/a respondents often reporting even worse experiences.
"This study shows how devastating multiple discrimination is for Latino and Latina transgender people," says LULAC Executive Director Brent Wilkes. "We are committed to ensuring that all people, regardless of race, sexual orientation and gender identity are respected and treated fairly. We call upon other Latino groups to join us as we fight for the right of transgender people to live without fear of discrimination, harassment or violence. We will not stand idly by in a society where equality is not within everyone's reach."
Among the key findings from the report:
- Latino/a transgender people had a very high unemployment rate at 20 percent, higher than the overall transgender sample (14 percent) and nearly three times the rate of the general population at the time the survey was fielded (7 percent).
- Latino/a transgender people often live in extreme poverty with 28 percent reporting a household income of less than $10,000/year. This is nearly double the rate for transgender people of all races (15 percent), over five times the general Latino/a population rate (5 percent), and seven times the general U.S. population rate (4 percent). The rate for Latino/a non-citizen respondents was 43 percent.
- Latino/a transgender people were affected by HIV in devastating numbers. One in twelve Latino/a respondents were HIV-positive and an additional 10 percent reported that they did not know their status.
- Forty-seven percent of Latino/a respondents reported having attempted suicide.
"This report is a critical call to action," says Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "The numbers make clear the way that racism, anti-immigrant and anti-transgender bias all work together, often with devastating results in the lives of Latino and Latina transgender people. We must ensure that we continue to work toward an LGBT movement that prioritizes immigration, racial and economic justice."
Also among the findings:
- Latino/a respondents who attended school as transgender people reported alarming rates of harassment (77 percent), physical assault (36 percent), and sexual assault (13 percent) in K-12; harassment was so severe that it led 21 percent to leave school. Nine percent were also expelled due to bias.
- Twenty-seven percent of Latino/a respondents said they had experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, nearly four times the rate of the general U.S. population (7.4 percent).
- Twenty-three percent of Latino/a transgender people reported being refused medical care due to bias.
"This report paints a devastating picture of the treatment of our Latino and Latina transgender brothers and sisters who, on a daily basis, endure extreme poverty, unemployment and discrimination just to live out their full lives," says Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. "We have long known that race and citizenship status have a very real impact on transgender people. And for the first time, we can identify in specific terms, what these painful realities are. Documented or not, these numbers tell us that the LGBT movement must have an immigrant-inclusive agenda."
For more information or to speak to Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
Nuevo estudio presenta dramáticos niveles de discriminación en contra de las personas transgéneros latinas
Baje el reporte en Inglés aquí y en Español aquí.
Washington, D.C. - Las personas transgéneros y que no conforman el género latinas sufren de los más altos niveles de discriminación en comparación con toda la población transgénero de acuerdo a un nuevo estudio publicado hoy, Injusticia a cada paso: Un vistazo a Latinas/os encuestadas/os en la encuesta nacional sobre discriminación de personas transgéneros.
Este reporte por el National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), el National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, y la Liga de Ciudadanos Latinoamericanos Unidos (LULAC) es un suplemento al estudio nacional sin precedentes, Injusticia a cada paso: un reporte de la encuesta nacional sobre discriminación de personastransgéneros, que fue publicado en febrero y que reveló grandes niveles de discriminación en todas las áreas en contra de las personas transgéneros y que no conforman el género.
Un hallazgo importante del estudio original fue que aún con los niveles desmedidos de discriminación en contra de toda la población transgénero, las personas transgéneros Latinas experimentaron mayor y peor discriminación que la muestra en su totalidad. Además, los hallazgos encontraron que el status inmigratorio también tiene un rol que empeora la situación para los/as encuestados/as que no son ciudadanos/as.
"Este estudio demuestra cuán devastador es la discriminación múltiple en contra de las personas transgéneros latinas", dijo Brent Wilkes, director ejecutivo de LULAC. "Estamos comprometidos con asegurar que todas las personas, independientemente de su raza, orientación sexual e identidad de género, sean respetadas y tratadas justamente. Hacemos un llamado a otros grupos latinos para que se unan en esta lucha por el derecho de las personas transgéneros a vivir libre de discriminación, hostigamiento o violencia. No nos mantendremos de brazos cruzados en una sociedad en la cual la igualdad no esté al alcance de todos y todas".
Algunos de los hallazgos más importantes del estudio incluyen:
- La gente transgénero latina/o demostró un índice de desempleo muy alto en el 20 porciento, más alto que la muestra total de transgéneros (el 14 porciento) y casi tres veces más que el índice de la población en general en el momento que esta encuesta fue tomada (el 7 porciento).
- La gente transgénero latina/o a menudo vive en pobreza extrema con el 28% reportando una tasa de ingresos de menos $10,000 anuales. Esto es casi el doble para la gente transgénero de todas las razas (el 15 porciento), cinco veces mayor a la tasa general de la población latina (el 5 porciento), y siete veces la tasa general de la población latina de los EE.UU. (el 4 porciento). La tasa para encuestadas/os inmigrantes latinas/os fue el 43 porciento.
- La gente transgénero latina/o tiene tasas devastadoras de ser positiva/o al VIH. Casi uno/a de cada diez de las personas latinas/os que respondieron dijeron ser VIH-positiva/o y adicionalmente el 10 porciento divulgó que no sabíansu estatus.
- El cuarenta y siete porciento de encuestadas/os latinas/os divulgó haber atentado el suicidio.
"Este reporte es un crítico llamado a la acción", dijo Rea Carey, directora ejecutiva del National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "Los números demuestran claramente la manera en que el racismo y el prejuicio en contra de los inmigrantes y las personas transgéneros se unen con resultados devastadores en las vidas de las personas transgéneros latinas. Tenemos que asegurarnos de continuar trabajando por un movimiento que le dé prioridad a la justicia inmigratoria, racial y económica".
Otros hallazgos incluyen:
- Las personas encuestadas/os latinas/os que fueron a la escuela como transgénero divulgaron índices alarmantes de hostigamiento (el 77 porciento), de asalto físico (el 36 porciento), y de asalto sexual (el 13 porciento) en K-12; el hostigamiento fue tan severo que resultó en que un 21 porciento dejó de ir a la escuela. También el nueve porciento fue expulsada/o debido al prejuicio.
- El veintisiete porciento de encuestadas/os latinas/os dijeron que habían experimentado falta de vivienda en un cierto punto en sus vidas, casi cuatro veces más que el índice de la población general de los EE.UU. (7.4 porciento).
- El veintitrés porciento de las personas transgéneros latinas/os divulgaron el ser negadas/os la asistencia médica debido al prejuicio.
"Este reporte pinta un cuadro devastador en el trato que reciben nuestros hermanos y hermanas transgéneros latinos, quienes a diario enfrentan la pobreza, el desempleo y la discriminación al tartar de vivir sus vidas plenas", dijo Mara Keisling, directora ejecutiva del National Center for Transgender Equality. "Hemos sabido por mucho tiempo que la raza y el status de ciudadanía tienen un impacto real en las vidas de las personas trasnsgéneros. Y por primera vez, podemos identificar en términos específicos, cuáles son estas dolorosas realidades. Documentados o no, estos números nos dicen que el movimiento LGBT tiene que tener una agenda inclusiva de la lucha por la reforma inmigratoria".
NCTE's World AIDS Day Statement; Trans People Face Dire Risk
Washington, D.C. - As we remember loved ones - living and dead - who have been touched by HIV and AIDS, NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling issued the following statement:
"For transgender people, World AIDS Day is a time for both quiet reflection and focused action. The truth is sobering--trans people have contracted HIV at rates four times the national average, with rates especially high among trans women and trans people of color. This epidemic, made worse by harassment, violence and unemployment, spells the tragic loss of trans people around the world.We must put an end to this crisis. Part of that is directing health research and resources to trans people. But the other part--the important part--is fixing the conditions that force trans people into unhealthy outcomes."
Keisling continued, "The National HIV/AIDS strategy (NAHS), for the first time, ushered in coordinated efforts to address this problem. Trans health experts were part of the team that developed this strategy, and because of that, trans people are among the communities that the NAHS has targeted for research and support."
FAST FACTS: HIV RATES AMONG TRANSGENDER AMERICANS
In NCTE's groundbreaking National Transgender Discrimination Survey,conducted with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, our sample of nearly 6,500 trans people reported a 2.6 percent HIV infection rate, over four times the rate of the general adult population (.6 percent). An additional 8 percent did not know their status. HIV infection rates increased substantially for transgender people of color:
Race |
Trans Respondents |
General Population |
African Americans |
25% |
2.4% |
Latino/as |
11% |
.O8% |
American Indians |
7% |
<1% |
Asian Americans |
3.7% |
.01% |
Rates of HIV infection were greatly exacerbated by other social and economic factors including education, violence, income, employment, citizenship status, and gender:
- 13.5% among those without a high-school diploma
- 10% among those who had been sexually assaulted due to bias for being trans
- 6.4% among those with household incomes below $10,000
- 4.6% among those who lost a job due to bias for being trans
- 4.7% among those who are unemployed
- 8% among trans documented non-citizens, and 7% among trans undocumented people, compared to 2.4% infection rate among U.S. Citizens
- 4.3% among MTF trans respondents, compared to 0.51% among FTM respondents
For more information about the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, or to speak to Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
NCTE's Statement on Congressman Barney Frank's Retirement Announcement
Washington, D.C. - In response to news of Congressman Barney Frank's retirement announcement, NCTE's Executive Director Mara Keisling issued the following statement:
"While the relationship between Congressman Frank and transgender people has not always been smooth, the truth is that he has pushed very hard for trans rights in Congress and the administration over the last few years.Social justice work is largely about winning people to our side. As they become stronger allies, we have a moral and common sense obligation to embrace them and acknowledge their good work.
The effort and influence he has exerted for trans people has mattered and has moved us down the field. It will be somewhat harder to advance our cause in Congress with the Congressman gone, but justice will be won for trans, gay and bi people and Congressman Frank will have been a very important part of that."
For more information or to speak with Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
Transgender and LGBT Anti-Violence Advocates Brief Administration on Epidemic of Violence
Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, transgender and LGBT anti-violence advocates met with Obama Administration officials to offer strategies for addressing the epidemic of violence against transgender people. Recognizing that violence is an especially horrific reality in so many transgender people's lives, the Administration heard a broad range of policy ideas from the National Center for Transgender Equality and eight other organizations.
The meeting at the White House was facilitated by NCTE's Executive Director and the team included, among others, Gwendolyn Smith, the founder of the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Smith shared with the Administration real life stories of transgender people who have faced violence.
According to Mara Keisling, "Meeting with the White House at all, especially the week prior to Transgender Day of Remembrance, says a lot about the President's commitment to making America safer and better for transgender people."
Topics covered included crime data collection, cultural competency for law enforcement and funding issues, as well as insuring that federal and federally-funded anti-violence programs and processes are transgender-inclusive. Special focus was given to violence against youth, homeless trans people and trans women.
Keisling continued, "So many kinds of violence are epidemic for transgender people: hate violence, domestic violence, sexual violence, school bullying, and violence by police. And though certain categories of trans people are more likely to face violence, especially people of color, working class people, young people, women and immigrants, all demographic categories of trans people are more likely to be victims than non-trans people."
NCTE and our allies will continue to push the Administration to address the violence that is such a part of transgender lives.
For more information or to speak with Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
GLSEN and NCTE Jointly Release Model School Policy on Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth
Washington, D.C. - The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) today jointly announced the launch of their groundbreaking Model District Policy for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students.
The first-ever national policy resource co-authored by GLSEN and NCTE offers solutions for school districts to incorporate into existing policies and procedures that create safer and respectful school environments for all students regardless of their gender identity or gender expression.
Data from GLSEN's Harsh Realities: The Experiences of Transgender Youth in Our Nation's Schools revealed that two-thirds of transgender students felt unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation (69%) and how they expressed
 |
"Educators work every day to offer all of their students a safe and respectful school atmosphere that ensures their healthy development and growth, but transgender and gender nonconforming students frequently remain unsupported and ultimately left behind in the school system," said GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard. "This model policy was developed out of a growing need for addressing issues related to gender identity and gender expression within a school setting. Research has shown that a comprehensive district policy is a tangible solution for improving the school experience for transgender and gender nonconforming students."
"We're so proud to work with GLSEN on this policy," said NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling. "Transgender youth are everywhere, and schools are beginning to understand that providing for their safe and fair treatment is not a burden, but a core part of the educational mission. Schools are increasingly attuned to providing a safe and supportive environment for a diverse school community, and gender diversity has to be part of that picture. This groundbreaking model policy is here to help schools find the right solutions to support and educate all students."
The guide contains model language that can be used in drafting district policy and is designed to be flexible for school districts to comply with their own specific needs and respective state laws and policies. Examples and policy recommendations are included in the resource that address issues commonly faced in school by transgender and gender nonconforming students.
Key issues covered in the model policy include:
- Polices that address bullying, harassment and discrimination
- Privacy and confidentiality
- Documentation (e.g., school records)
- Names and pronouns
- Dress codes
- Training and professional development
"There is a real interest and hunger among school administrators and teachers to create a welcoming climate for transgender youth," said Keisling. Schools across the country have already taken leadership on protecting transgender students, and this resource builds on their experiences to assist other schools that are looking for answers for how to change school policies that affect transgender people."
In addition to the Model District Policy on Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students, GLSEN has developed a suite of policy tools that support anti-bullying measures for local school districts and the passage of safe schools laws and policies on the state and federal level. GLSEN also partners with local, state and national coalitions to ensure that the best and most inclusive safe schools policies are considered, passed and implemented.
"The model district policy and other resources that we regularly produce are designed with the mindset that a quality K-12 education is a fundamental right for all students," said Byard. "GLSEN will continue to lend its expertise, perspective and support for ensuring this right is extended to every student in school regardless of their gender identity/expression or sexual orientation."
About GLSEN
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN's research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.
About NCTE
The National Center for Transgender Equality is a national social justice organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people. By empowering transgender people and our allies to educate and influence policymakers and others, NCTE facilitates a strong and clear voice for transgender equality in our nation's capital and around the country. For more information about NCTE and its work, please visit www.transequality.org.
For more information, or to speak with Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
Injustice at Every Turn: A Look at Black Respondents in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey
New analysis shows startling levels of discrimination against Black transgender people
Black transgender and gender non-conforming people face some of the
highest levels of discrimination of all transgender people according to a new analysis released today, Injustice at Every Turn: A Look at Black Respondents in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey.
This report by the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) is a supplement to the groundbreaking national study, Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, which was published in February and revealed widespread discrimination experienced by transgender and gender non-conforming people across the board.
Discrimination was pervasive for the entire sample, but anti-transgender bias coupled with structural racism meant that transgender people of color experienced particularly devastating levels of discrimination, with Black respondents often faring worse than all others. Among the key findings of the analysis released today:
- Black transgender people had an extremely high unemployment rate at 26 percent, two times the rate of the overall transgender sample and four times the rate of the general population.
- A startling 41 percent of Black respondents said they had experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, more than five times the rate of the general U.S. population.
- Black transgender people lived in extreme poverty with 34 percent reporting a household income of less than $10,000 per year. This is more than twice the rate for transgender people of all races (15 percent), four times the general Black population rate (9 percent), and eight times the general U.S. population rate (4 percent).
- Black transgender people were affected by HIV in devastating numbers. More than one-fifth of respondents were living with HIV (20.23 percent), compared to a rate of 2.64 percent for transgender respondents of all races, 2.4 percent for the general Black population, and 0.60 percent of the general U.S. population.
"From education to employment and housing discrimination, from police brutality to health care disparities, Black transgender people are suffering at extremely high rates due to bigotry and transphobia," said National Black Justice Coalition Executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks. "Nearly half of all Black transgender respondents report being harassed at work and at school. Twenty-six percent are unemployed and 34 percent report annual incomes of less than $10,000 per year. These numbers are appalling and these living conditions are unacceptable for any human being - gender conforming or not. NBJC is committed to bringing visibility to the gross inequities faced by our transgender brothers and sisters, and to creating a world where gender non-conforming individuals can work, love and seek medical attention without fear of discrimination, harassment or violence."
Also among the findings:
- Half of Black respondents who attended school expressing a transgender identity or gender non-conformity reported facing harassment.
- Nearly half (49 percent) of Black respondents reported having attempted suicide.
- On a positive note, many Black transgender people who were out to their families reported that their families were as strong as before they came out. Black respondents reported this experience at a higher rate than the overall sample of transgender respondents.
"This report is a critical call to action for our policymakers to confront these horrifying realities by enacting protections without hesitation," said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "The stark truth is that the multi-layered effects of poverty, race and class discrimination are devastating for Blacks. These findings show just how profoundly harmful it is when discrimination based on gender identity is also in the mix. These data make it clear that racial and economic justice are among the most critical issues facing LGBT people."
Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said, "This report confirms what we've long known to be true: being transgender and Black in the United States presents unique challenges on the path to full equality. This problem is deeply important to me and to NCTE where every day we hear from transgender people of color who survive in the face of racism and transphobia. This report should be a lesson to all of us that a world with transgender equality is a world with racial equality."
Findings from Injustice at Every Turn: A Look at Black Respondents in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey spotlight the vital need for social justice advocates to address a racial and an LGBT dimension within their social justice work. The analysis is a resource for those advocating for policy changes at every level of government.
For more information, or to speak with Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
Social Security Administration No Longer Notifying Employers About Gender
Obama administration ends practice that led to job loss and outing of transgender workers
Washington, D.C. - The Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed that it has ended the practice of allowing gender to be matched in its Social Security Number Verification System (SSNVS). This will result in the immediate cessation of SSA sending notifications that alert employers when the gender marker on an employee's W-2 does not match Social Security records.
The extent of the problem was made crystal clear when NCTE's Freedom of Information Act request was answered showing 711,488 gender no-match letters were sent in 2010 alone. Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality says, "Ending this practice, which has endangered transgender people and our jobs, has been a priority for NCTE and we are pleased that the SSA has updated its policy."
Keisling continued, "Alerting employers about differences in someone's gender threatened people's jobs and did not accomplish what this verification system was designed for. There was absolutely no reason for it and it was extremely dangerous for transgender people, who still face significant disrespect, discrimination and violence in the workplace."
For years, transgender employees have been contacting NCTE seeking advice about how to manage the difficult position that the Social Security Administration had placed them in with their employers. "Many people have been able to retain their jobs, but not all of them," Keisling noted, "and not one of them should have been fired just because the Social Security Administration outed them at a workplace where someone was prejudiced against transgender people."
The Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS) allows employers to match their record of employee names and Social Security numbers (SSNs) with Social Security records for payroll reports. The notification letters alerted individuals and employers when information in a person's employment records is inconsistent with SSA's records for that employee. It was designed to ensure that people receive the benefits to which they are entitled and that they are using a valid Social Security number for employment purposes. Unfortunately, this unfairly impacted transgender people whose name and/or gender marker had not been changed with the SSA and who were employed using a different name or gender.
NCTE has asked the SSA to stop sending employers these notices, and today, the SSA has made great progress in fixing the complex systems that generate such notices. In the event that you or someone you know does receive a gender no-match letter in the future, please contact us.
While we celebrate the end of gender no-match letters, the SSA still has an outdated policy for changing gender markers in SSA records. To change gender markers, SSA requires an unfair, unobtainable and unnecessary standard for transgender people that include proof of specific sex reassignment surgery. Mara Keisling says, "These requirements, particularly surgery, are far too expensive for many transgender people and present a major financial hurdle for a group of people who already face significantly high levels of under-employment and unemployment." NCTE will continue to work with the SSA to make changes to this policy so that transgender people are able to update their information with Social Security and ensure that they have equal access to the benefits Social Security provides.
For more information or to speak with Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
NCTE and SLDN Advise Transgender Service Members: Coming Out May Lead to Discharge
Wednesday, September 14, 2011Washington, D.C. - As the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" makes open service possible for gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members, transgender people are still unable to serve openly. Existing military medical regulations, unrelated to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," classify transgender people as unfit to serve. Service members who publicly or privately identify as transgender, access transition-related care or have a related medical diagnosis remain at risk for being discharged. Transgender people interested in serving in the armed forces are barred from entry.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) urge transgender service members to examine the implications if they choose to come out to fellow service members.
Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality says, "While we are happy to see the end of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' we are troubled that the military still expels some members of our community simply because of who they are. Transgender people continue to serve our country honorably, and our country needs to do the same for transgender service members by reexamining this outdated ban."
"Transgender Americans defend our nation every day, serving with pride and distinction at home and abroad. As we celebrate the end of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' on September 20, we also recognize that ending this terrible law is not enough to secure full LGBT equality in the military, and at SLDN, we are committed to ensuring that every qualified American who wishes to serve our nation is able to do so," said Army Veteran and SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis.
Guidance for Transgender Service Members
Read SLDN's full guidance here.
The military can discharge transgender service members in two ways:
1. You may be considered medically unfit because of Gender Identity Disorder;
2. You may be considered medically unfit if you have had genital surgery.
Transgender people are also impacted by other rules and regulations:
It can be considered prejudicial to good order and discipline to act or dress in ways that don't meet stereotypes of men and women. For example, service members can be court-martialed for cross-dressing.
There is also a duty to report any change in your medical status. If, for example, you take hormones, or if you have top surgery, there is a duty to report that "change in medical status" to the military. That information could lead to your discharge for being transgender.
Warning about talking to medical professionals and chaplains:
There are currently no protections for coming out as transgender to military mental health, medical and religious professionals. It is not safe to reveal that you are transgender or that you have questions about whether you may be transgender. Some transgender service members have accessed counseling and transition-related care with civilian medical providers without reporting these developments to the military; however current regulation bans this practice. You can speak confidentially to a civilian religious professional, provided that you are specifically seeking spiritual services, such as confession or pastoral care.
Transgender Service Members and VA Health Care
The Department of Veterans Affairs is independent of the military and not subject to the transgender ban. A June 2011 directive from the Department of Veterans Affairs confirms that transgender veterans have access to medically necessary healthcare including sex-specific care, and transition-related procedures. The only exception is for sex-reassignment surgery. Discharged service members should note that the classification of a discharge, whether administrative or medical, should not affect access to VA health facilities. Read NCTE's guide for further explanation of transgender healthcare in VA facilities.
For more information, or to speak with Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
"NCTE Celebrates HHS Enforcement of Hospital Visitation Rights for Patients
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Washington, D.C. - Today, the Department of Health and Human Services announced new guidance that steps up enforcement of rules that allow patients to designate their own hospital visitors, and empowers patients to identify a person to make medical decisions should they become incapacitated. In response to these developments, NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling says:
"This continued commitment by the Obama Administration isn't only important for transgender people in same-sex relationships, or even transgender people who are perceived to be in a same-sex relationships. This is a victory for anyone who believes that, in times of need, we should all get to choose who to surround ourselves with. Transgender people who face alarming rates of abandonment from their families can now be sure they can have their loved one by their side."
While this is an important enhancement of rules, local and state advocates must be vigilant about the implementation and enforcement of these rules at their local hospitals.
For more information, or to speak with Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
"NCTE Applauds Federal Appeals Court Ruling Upholding Transgender Inmates' Right to Medical Care
Friday, August 5, 2011
Washington, D.C. - Today, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Wisconsin Department of Corrections' ban on medically necessary transition-related care for transgender inmates is unconstitutional. Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) said:
"This court ruling signifies the fast growing acceptance of transgender people, including those who are incarcerated. The court upholds access to medically necessary care for transgender people. And they've done this to address both the distressing safety conditions of transgender inmates, and the need to honor the private health decisions between doctors and patients. We needed this court ruling, and more importantly, we need other public services to follow suit."
In the national survey called Injustice at Every Turn, released with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, we found that 12% of transgender people incarcerated were denied routine health care. Another 17% were denied medically necessary hormones. Denying transgender inmates the care recommended by medical professionals is a psychological and physical danger, which, as the court says, "amounts to torture."
NCTE thanks the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal for their hard work and expertise on this case.
For more information about the Injustice at Every Turn report, or to speak to Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-901-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.
Amid DADT Repeal, Transgender People Still Cannot Serve Openly
July 22, 2011
Washington, D.C. – In response to reports that the U.S. Armed Forces is ready to repeal the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling says:
“NCTE rejoices whenever discriminatory laws end and ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was a discriminatory law and it needed to go. However, as repeal is certified, transgender servicemembers continue serving in silence. NCTE looks forward to the day when the U.S. Armed Forces ends discrimination in all its forms.”
NCTE calls on repeal advocates, the Pentagon and the Obama Administration to address the gap in “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal.
For more information, or to speak to Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano at 202-903-0112 / vvillano@transequality.org.