Organizations Supported
Trans Lifeline
The nation's first suicide hotline for, and by, Transgender people, based in Oakland. Answered over 100 K calls, and distributed $ 1 MM in microgrants. The high incidence of attempted suicide among Trans people is truly horrific, reportedly more than 40%, which is beyond words. Thankfully, at Trans Lifeline, they are not. There is help, and hope.
Transgender Law Center
The Oakland based Transgender Law Center is a forceful and effective advocate for Trans Civil Rights in every sense. Beyond their critical legal work, they are also dedicated to the important and difficult work of movement building.
“You’re telling me I can’t be me.”
“Remember my face, because the statistics will tell you that in the next decade, I will have died violently.”
“Regardless of what obstacles come before me, regardless of what hatred or ignorance or discrimination I face, I will be fine, because I have love on my side.”
Transgender: The Best of all Worlds
It has been a cruel fate to be born feeling “trapped in the wrong body since birth.” Society's reactions can leave someone struggling with their gender identity, often at a young age, feeling like a pariah. You can find many compelling personal stories of the difficult years it took before many summoned the courage to embrace their true selves, and begin to transition to the gender they had always known they were. A courageous decision in itself, often made terrifying by the likely rejection of family, friends, co-workers, and society at large.
See “Trump Administration Eyes Defining Transgender Out of Existence”, New York Times, 10/’18
“…the most drastic move yet in a government-wide effort to roll back recognition and protections
of transgender people under federal civil rights law.”
We have come a long way since U.S. Army vet and hero Christine Jorgensen underwent a very visible and public gender change in the 1950s, and brought widespread media attention to Trans issues. The LGBTQ Civil Rights movement has finally embraced the marginalized Transgender cause, with changes to civil rights, equal employment opportunity, healthcare reform, and hate crimes legislation all being tirelessly fought for. Along with some Transgender heroes and celebrities frequently in the media, and less irrational fear within society, it is a hopeful time to be sure. But as the above NYTimes article reminds us, the politics of fear is perhaps more blatant, unguarded and pernicious as ever before.
All signs point to neighbors in our community suffering immensely. Discrimination (housing, healthcare, employment, schools, public facilities), physical abuse, homelessness, incarceration, violence, humiliation, and family and societal rejection, have led to horrific suicide attempt rates. It is estimated that there are 1.4 million who identify as Transgender in the U.S., and they are far more likely to attempt suicide than the average person–leading to an incomprehensible 41% attempted suicide rate(1).
As some turn to a mental health professional for help, too many professionals have long believed that a desire to transition is a result of a mental illness, and the American Psychiatric Association, as recently as its DSM-IV manual, had shamefully considered this a gender identity “disorder.” Many mental health professionals believe in conversion therapy, which creates further internalized oppression and shame.
A society should do everything it can to create the conditions within every single person for self-love: for without it, one can never truly love thy neighbor. To discourage the unity of mind and body within someone, based on irrational fears and a closed heart, will not only eliminate any chance for their self-love, but will create a painful life of torment from within.
No one deserves that for any reason.
To our Transgender friends: You were beautiful as you were. You are beautiful as you are.
We Are: You.
“The things that make us different, those are our superpowers”
Source: @photosbygooch, and SF Transgender District (world’s first!)
Transgender Law Center: The Trans Agenda for Liberation:
is a community-led guide towards the world we deserve. Trans people hold the knowledge, power, and joy to create a future where we can all not only survive but thrive. This agenda addresses the urgent political, legal, and social violence enacted against our communities, while channeling trans imagination to bring our boldest visions to life. The Trans Agenda grows out of the work that communities and individuals are already doing, and points toward work that still needs to be done.
MAR ‘23: “Eradicating Transness”: ACLU’s Chase Strangio on GOP’s Assault on LGBTQ Rights at CPAC & Nationwide,” Democracy Now
At least 150 bills have been filed by Republican lawmakers across the United States that target transgender people, with at least seven states enacting bans on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth. Other bills have targeted drag performers, doctors and trans adults seeking transition-related care. For more on growing conservative attacks on transgender people and the LGBTQ+ community, we speak to Chase Strangio, deputy director for trans justice with the ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Project, who says the backlash “at its core has always been about pushing trans people out of public life and eradicating transness.”
AUG ‘21: “August declared Transgender History Month in S.F.”
JUN ‘21: “Honey Mahogany, San Francisco Democratic Party’s first trans leader”
became the first transgender leader of San Francisco’s Democratic Party — or any local party nationwide.
JUN ‘21: “Florida Signs Anti Transgender Bill Into Law on First Day of Pride Month 2021”
the eighth state this year to pass discriminatory legislation against transgender youth.
AUG '18: Congratulations to Christine Hallquist for becoming the first openly transgender candidate to win the primary election for a major party for Governor (D- Vermont). See NYTimes, 10/’18 “Christine Hallquist Would Like to Talk”.
OCT ‘18: New York Times: “Helping Pediatricians Care for Transgender Children”
CA Assembly Bill AB2943 Unlawful business practices: sexual orientation change efforts
Help make it more difficult for tortuous "conversion therapy" to continue.
NOV '17: Heartfelt congratulations to Lisa Middleton (1st openly Trans elected City Council member in CA, in Palm Springs), Andrea Jenkins (1st openly transgender black woman elected to public office in the country, Minneapolis), Phillipe Cunningham (also Minneapolis), and Danica Roem (Virginia) for deservedly earning the support of your community in your recent elections.
OCT ‘16: Congrats to Audrey Tang, activist, for being appointed Taiwan’s Digital Minister