How Trans rights are at risk and what You can do to Help

Published Saturday, October 27, 2018

There has been a lot of concern going on recently due to the Trump Administration trying to define transgender out of existence. This will remove trans people’s official recognition by defining gender as male or female, and unchangeable once given at birth. The Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS for short, has put an effort to establish a legal definition of sex under Title XI. Title XI, for those unaware, is under the Educational Amendments Act of 1972 as a federal law and states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance,” according to the NCAA. The definition that the HHS would put under Title XI would interpret that there are only two genders -- male and female -- and that the gender you’re born with is what you have to stick with. This interpretation would reverse Obama’s expansion of transgender rights.

Some may say that Donald Trump is only doing this to remove everything the Obama administration put forward regardless of it’s right or wrong context, others say Trump’s doing this because of his own transphobic beliefs, and others say it’s both. However, now is not the time to be debating Trump, as much as we all would like to. Now is the time to fight for trans rights, because trans rights are human rights. You may not be concerned with trans rights because you’re not trans and no one you care for is trans. But please believe me when I say that doing nothing is still doing something. By watching a bully beat up a little kid, you are part of the problem by not doing anything. You choose to watch, and by doing so you are indirectly participating in the diminishment of trans rights. You may not have anything against trans people, but by doing nothing you are showing that you truly do not care for human rights. So if you’re fine with trans rights being stripped away from them -- if you’re fine with this injustice -- then keep watching, just like all the other sheep in the herd, but know this, soon, the wolf will come to slaughter.

So, what can you do to help? You can use your voice and say, “Trans rights are human rights!” Convince your friends and family members to vote and donate to organizations that support trans rights and trans equality. You can use #WontBeErased or #TransRights when tagging your posts for trans rights. Spread the word, inform others, protest, post.

Don’t know which organizations to donate to? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s 15 organizations that support trans rights and trans equality that you can donate to. If 15 links aren’t enough for you, there’s more organizations to donate to if you scroll down, right above the sources:

National Center for Transgender Equality | https://transequality.org/about

“The National Center for Transgender Equality, the nation’s leading social justice advocacy organization for transgender people, works at the local, state, and federal levels to change laws, policies, and society.”

Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund | http://www.transgenderlegal.org/

“The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is committed to ending gender identity discrimination, and seeks to achieve equality for transgender people through public education, test-case litigation, direct legal services, and public policy effort.”

Trans Lifeline | https://www.translifeline.org/

“Trans Lifeline, a non-profit dedicated to the wellbeing of transgender people, is a hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people. Trans Lifeline volunteers listen and support people from the trans community.”

Transgender Law Center | https://transgenderlawcenter.org/

“The Transgender Law Center is committed to changing laws, policies, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.”

The Trevor Project | https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

“The Trevor Project is a national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ teens and young adults.”

GLSEN | https://www.glsen.org/learn/about-glsen

“GLSEN (pronounced "glisten") was founded in 1990 by a group of teachers in Massachusetts who came together to improve an education system that too frequently allows its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning students to be bullied or discriminated against. It's now a national organization committed to ensuring safe schools for all LGBTQ students.”

Trans Student Educational Resources | http://www.transstudent.org/

“Trans Student Educational Resources is a youth-led organization dedicated to transforming educational environments for trans and gender nonconforming students through advocacy and empowerment. Additionally, TSER educates the public and teaches trans activists how to be effective organizers.”

The Sylvia Rivera Law Project | https://srlp.org/

“The Sylvia Rivera Law Project works to guarantee freedom for all people to self-determine gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination, or violence.”

Gay-Straight Alliance Network | https://gsanetwork.org/support-gsa-network/

“GSA Network fights for educational justice by working with grassroots, youth-led groups and Gay-Straight Alliances to empower them to educate their schools and communities, advocate for policies that protect LGBTQ youth from harassment and violence, and organize in coalition with other youth groups across identity lines to address broader issues of oppression.”

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) | https://www.pflag.org/

“PFLAG unities people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer with families, friends, and allies. Since 1972, PFLAG has been committed to advancing equality through its mission of support, education, and advocacy.”

TransWomen of Color Collective | http://www.twocc.us/

“The TransWomen of Color Collective supports the narratives, lived experiences, and leadership of trans and gender non-conforming people of color, and their families and friends, as they work toward collective liberation for all oppressed people.”

Gender Spectrum | https://www.genderspectrum.org/

“Gender Spectrum creates gender sensitive and inclusive environments for all children and teens by providing help to families, organizations, and institutions to increase understandings of gender.”

National LGBTQ Task Force | http://www.thetaskforce.org/

“The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice, and equality for all LGBTQ people by training and mobilizing millions of activists across our nation to deliver a world where everyone is free to be themselves.”

Human Rights Campaign | http://www.hrc.org/

“The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer civil rights organization. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.”

TransTech Social Enterprises | http://transtechsocial.org/

“TransTech Social Enterprises, an incubator for LGBTQ talent with a focus on economically empowering transgender people, is a co-working, co-learning community dedicated to empowering trans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer people, and allies with practical, career-ready skills.”

See more: 20 Transgender Rights Organizations To Donate To If You're Mad About Trump's Reported Memo by Joseph D. Lyons via Bustle

Sources:

Credits:

Written by Naomi Sullivan
Edited by Jane Flaherty
For Condom-USA
“Trans Rights Are Human Rights” Featured image photo design by @katrinawaffles via Redbubble

Thank you for reading, for more information check our sources. Remember to do your research and vote!

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