We all struggle to become comfortable in the
skin we were born into; We all try to uncover an
identity beneath what was assigned to us at birth
An introduction to Transgender and gender variant
discrimination within our communities.
Judith Reichman, Transgender Program Coordinator, Florida
Department of Health-Broward.
“Physical Sex" refers to the biological
and physiological characteristics that
define men and women.
“Gender Identity” refers to your
personal sense of being a man or
women, boy or girl
“Sexual Orientation” person’s
attraction, emotional, physical and
romantic-to members of the same
and/or opposite gender.
”Gender Expression” visible aspects
such as appearance, clothing,
speech and behavior of a persons
gender identity rather than birth
sex.
The “T” in GLBT Stands for Transgender
An umbrella term for a person whose genitals,
gender identity and/or gender expression expected
or differing from the sex assigned at birth.
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Gender Bender
Androgynous
Bi-Gendered
Gender Variant
Post Op,
Pre Op
Pansexual
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1st 360 degree picture in
the U.S.
Over 7000 participants.
Transgender and gender
non-conforming.
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70 Questions.
6 months to complete.
50 states, District of
Columbia, Puerto, Guam
and U.S. Virgin Islands
It is estimated that Between ¼ and
1% of the population (700,000) is
transsexual. …. UCLA 2013
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EMPLOYMENT
55% Lost employment due to bias
Extreme Poverty : 4 times more likely to have household income of less than
$10,000 as compared to general population.
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HOUSING
19% experienced homelessness at some point
JAILS/CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS
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37-65% have been incarcerated
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Few states have anti discrimination laws protecting.
transgender individuals.* (18 states, the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico, have statutes that protect against both sexual orientation and gender
identity discrimination in employment in the public and private sector.)
*California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon,
Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
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Low Income jobs Fired for coming out/transitioning.
(26%)
The regulation of LGBT employment discrimination in the United States varies by
jurisdiction. Many, but far from all, states and localities prohibit bias in hiring, promotion,
job assignment, termination, and compensation, as well as harassment on the basis of
one's sexual orientation. Fewer extend those protections to cover sexual identity. At this
time there is no federal statute addressing employment discrimination based on sexual
orientation or gender identity in the public sector.
“I was very excited when I got the job offer, because
I would be making more money doing something I
had experience in.”
I put in notice to my employer of five years and
counted down the days. Then the HR assistant at
the new place called me. She said, ‘We thought you
were a woman but you are not. The background
report states you are a male, so you misrepresented
yourself.’
National Center for Transgender Equality/National Gay and Lesbian Task Force -2010
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Few states have anti discrimination laws explicitly
prohibiting both gender identity and sexual orientation
discrimination in housing (18 states and the District of Columbia)
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois,
Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico,
Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington
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Little if any transitional housing.
(42% forced to stay in facilities designated for wrong gender)
Homeless Shelters-42%, Rhode Island, Vermont,
Approximately 20 states, and the District of Columbia, and over 60 cities, towns and
counties across the nation have additional protections that specifically prohibit
such discrimination against LGBT individuals. however,….
Gender identity and sexual orientation are not specifically included among the Fair
Housing Act's protected categories. (2014 Transgender Legal Defense & Education
Fund, Inc)
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“I am now being evicted from the garage I have
been living in the last several months, and in
parting fashion, this afternoon I was informed that
I have been denied access to renting a two-decade
old mobile home, the only place I could find with
my limited income”
National Center for Transgender Equality/National Gay and Lesbian Task Force -2010
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Homeless Shelters
Most cases based on birth sex.
Lack of gender specific medical treatment
Lack of appropriate Jail release housing.
Insufficient drug and Rehab Facilities/ programs.
( In most cases respondents were forced to stay in facilities while incarcerated and
upon release designated for the wrong gender)
In June 2012, the federal Department of Justice enacted regulations pursuant to the
Prison Rape Elimination Act that require determination of appropriate housing for
transgender inmates on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors like personal
preference and safety needs, not solely based on their genitals
“ I was arrested one day regarding something minor. Due to my gender
marked as male, I was put in with the men. Within 15 minutes, I was
raped by 3 different men. My mother even called and warned the officers
NOT to put me in with the general population as I would be an easy
target. When I got out I tried to seek help from Victims Services but
was denied. I was also discouraged from trying to press charges on the
men”
National Center for Transgender Equality/National Gay and Lesbian Task Force -2010
Actual Quotes used were taken from various
survey responses provided by individuals
across the nation. In respect to confidentiality
disclosure of name and location is not
available. These statements have been used to
reflect the effects of discrimination within the
transgender and gender variant communities.