November is Transgender Awareness Month with Transgender Awareness Week being the week that Nov. 20 falls in. November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance, Transgender Awareness Month is a newer month that we at Ohio University as well as at many other places stemmed from Transgender Awareness Week. Making it a month gives us 30 days to discuss the issues that trans individuals face on a daily and highlight trans identities rather than the seven that fall in a week.
There is a lot to talk about this year there have already been at least 24 reports of transgender people being murdered as tracked by The Human Rights Campaign. Majority of the people being trans women of color. These murders go undiscussed about and are rarely reported by the media. One of the individuals who has been murdered this year is from our own state of Ohio and majority of Ohioans don't even know it happened.
Violence is not the only issue that is plaguing the trans community. Discrimination but particularly in the workplace is an issue that is alive and well today. There are still no policies in place at the federal level that stop discrimination based on gender identity. In 30 states trans people can be fired for just living their lives, this is 30 states to many.
On the topic of discrimination, in July of this year, the President of the United States tweeted that Transgender individuals could no longer serve in the Military citing “tremendous medical costs and disruption.” Thankfully at the end of October a federal judge temporarily blocked the ban stating that there is “no argument or evidence suggesting that being transgender in any way limits one’s ability to contribute to society,” as well as citing the lack of facts being the tweets that were sent out by the president in her opinion.
There have been many firsts this year for trans individuals. Laverne Cox was cast in The Trustee. This is the first time that she has ever being cast in a role that was not written for a trans character. (She holds the title of being the first trans actress to star in as a trans main character when she was cast in Doubt).
2017 was a year of first when it came to legal documents as well. Oregon became the first state to allow for a third gender on drivers licenses. The genders now are male, female and X. and California became the first state to allow for a third gender on birth certificates.
We at the center have events planned all month long. We will screening movies that discuss trans identities, hosting a Dine-N-Discuss on different trans identities and observing Transgender Day of Remembrance by hosting a Vigil on Thursday, Nov. 16th. Our social media will be full of content that spotlights trans people and their fierceness.
delfin is the Director of the LGBT Center, faculty advisor to the Latino Student Union, and adjunct lecturer for the Social Work Program and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
