#trans_SOTU

[eniyatheelf]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/08/17/federal-judge-blocks-trump-administration-ending-transgender-healthcare-protections/%3foutputType=amp

This article talks about how the Trump administration tried to reverse the protections Obama's adminstration put in place against gender identity in healthcare. Thankfully this article reflects more of how a federal judge blocks the administration from ending those protections, but it strongly emphasize how it was trying to end those protections to allow healthcare works to discriminate against gender identies, leaving the transgender community particular vulnerable if it had come to pass especially during the pandemic. In the reading by Cava on Trans Activism it talks about how in the health care system manypeople have been turned away, or had been discriminated against due to them being transgender, it also stressed how not only general health care but mental and transitional helath care have been denied over the years. If this had passed it would have brought us right back into the ages where doctors and healthcare officials would be allowed to bring their biases and not treat people just because of how they identify. I'm glad this judged blocked this from happening, but also as a doctor, nurse, or anyone in the health field you take an oath to help people, there should be no bias.

[rubyreadingtrees]

Healthcare is one of the eight priorities for trans activism that Peter Cava shared in his article, Activism, Politics, And Organizing. In June of this year, on the fourth anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting, the Trump administration announced it would end non discrimination protections for LGBTQ people in the Affordable Care Act. They are removing it on the basis that sex discrimination is only for being male or female, not on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. They are saying it is biologically based only, which is a very heteronormative way of viewing it. According to Cava in his article, “Trans people face massive roadblocks to obtaining quality healthcare.” The removal of this rule would create even more roadblocks for trans people. Thankfully this decision was challenged in court and a federal judge blocked it in August shortly before it was set to go into effect. It is still upsetting and discriminatory that the administration would remove such protections. Trans people are humans too and all humans deserve equal rights.

[cottagetwigs]

Cava’s Article in Association with Workplace Discrimination

I decided to focus on this specific point of Cava’s due to having a personal story attached to it- and hoping ya’ll would enjoy hearing about it! But firstly-

 I found a very good article to attach this reading to done by NBC news. Although that is a more common news source, the story they did about trans woman Aveda Adara and the discrimination she has faced in the workplace along with the interview environment was something I wanted to share with ya’ll. She spoke on constant misgendering- specifically by those at a position of power over her. I found that when reflecting on it- those who believe they have that power dynamic over an individual are usually the ones that hold these biases and disgusting discriminatory views. Adara spoke about being laughed out in interviews, and the pain that has brought when it comes to preparing for interviews. Having to fear that you don’t pass, or if you should simply try to pass as an assigned gender. 

I worked customer service for a large branch craft store last year, where I made friends with Sam. I automatically saw the differences in interactions people had towards him. He would be excluded in lunch sitting arrangements, biases were thrown towards him, etc. To the point in which we had a situation with another employee getting reported for the slurs they threw at Sam. It was hard to watch, as a friend. But even harder knowing I could never imagine that kind of pain, of the invalidity of a gender identity.

Edit: I realize I did this assignment slightly wrong with not including an article about specifically Trump’s administration so I apologize lol

[kadebiti]

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/reports/2020/09/03/490004/trump-administrations-latest-attack-transgender-people-facing-homelessness/

The Trump administration has proposed a rule change in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that would undermine the Equal Access Rule, which grants protections to trans people who were eligible for their programs. This new rule by the Trump administration would allow sex-segregated shelters to discriminate against trans people and, furthermore, it would also make it difficult for trans people to have access to emergency shelter. This is very callous because members of the LGBTQ community, according to polling, have expressed that they have limited access to alternative shelter options. This is one data point that shows Trump’s hostility towards trans people and the LGBTQ community overall. I think this relates to Cava’s article because they note that “...29% [of trans people] have been turned away [from shelters] all together and 42% have been forced into gender-inappropriate facilities...” (579).