India Clarke, a 25-year-old black trans woman who was studying cosmetology, was found dead in a park in Tampa, Florida earlier this week. She is the tenth trans woman to be murdered this year. From Autostraddle:
This news comes the same week when another black trans woman, Ashley Diamond, is reported being raped in the same prison she’s been trying to escape due to safe housing concerns and another black trans woman, Megan Taylor was arrested for being black and trans. These stories have been a harsh reminder of just how little society values the lives of black trans women, even at a time when trans people are experiencing more coverage and supposedly, more acceptance, than ever before.
Clarke joins 17-year-old Mercedes Williamson, 20-year-old Papi Edwards, 30-year-old Lamia Beard, 24-year-old Ty Underwood, 33-year-old Yazmin Vash Payne, 36-year-old Taja de Jesus, 21-year-old Penny Proud, 47-year-old Kristina Grant Infiniti and 21-year-old London Kiki Chanel on the list of trans women murdered so far this year. Twenty-two-year-old Bri Golec might also be on the list, but there have been mixed reports from friends on whether or not they were trans. More than half of these women have been black. Last year there was a total of twelve trans women reported murdered in the US, just two more than those murdered in the first seven months of this year.
Rest in power, India. We won’t stop fighting for you.
In our present day world of ‘instant’ communication, could it be that Caitlyn Jenner has become a ‘medium,’ as we have witnessed that just a single cover picture of her has seemed to have a huge impact on our society? Has she once again become a symbol, just as she was 40 years ago, and again the content has perhaps less meaning than even she desires? I can feel for Caitlyn, I can empathize for her, as I have myself walked in her shoes. I know the shame, the fear, the confusion of hiding for so many decades.
For most of us, the time of transition is the deeply personal work of rediscovery and reinvention. It is hard enough to do it in private, as these discoveries are often not quick in coming to our awareness. Doing this in public takes either a certain courage or bravado, and I sincerely hope that in Caitlyn’s desire to 'do good’ it is the former.
" — My Transgender Life: What Makes a Hero? | Grace Anne Stevens for the Huffington Post(via gaywrites)
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray has proposed legislation that would make all single-occupancy public bathrooms gender-neutral, as opposed to designated just for men or for women.
The city of Seattle already provides for trans people to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. However, this doesn’t solve the problem for those who don’t feel comfortable in male or female bathrooms. Gender-neutral single-stall bathrooms are an easy solution for accommodating trans and nonbinary people, as well as people like parents with different-gender children or people who require the assistance of a caregiver of a different gender.
“The transgender community deserves the dignity and respect that most people take for granted,” Murray said. The legislation would affect bathrooms in such public places as restaurants, parks, stores, and City Hall, though it would only affect bathrooms that are designed for use by one person at a time.
The move follows similar actions taken in Portland, Oregon’s Multnomah County and in Philadelphia, which has passed legislation mandating all-gender restrooms in city or county-controlled buildings, Murray’s office said.
The District of Columbia and California’s West Hollywood have passed laws requiring gender-neutral signage on all single-occupant restrooms in public places, it said.
It’s not certain if or when the city council will take up the issue, but the fact that it’s been successfully implemented in other cities is definitely a good sign. This is super exciting and I can’t wait to see it become the norm.
I hate that the Charleston shooting is becoming about the confederate flag and not about a white man killing 9 people
Like removing the flag is well and good an all. Destroy racist symbols and what not
But id rather we talk about how he was able to kill 9 unarmed black people walk away in a blulletproof vest and taken to burger King afterwards
“Feminism? no thanks, i prefer gender equality”
Water? no thanks, i prefer H2O
idc if someone changes their pronouns twenty times. they are finding themselves and you need to fucking respect that and get over yourself
Same with names. Don’t refuse to call someone by their preferred name because they’re changing it often. They’re finding what they like and what they’re comfortable with. Don’t be an asshole.