It’s Election season! That means the Trump administration has been doing a lot lately and it’s hard to keep up at times.
Some may forget that just last week the administration made three moves to suppress rights for transgender people. First, the New York Times reported that there was a move to establish a legal definition of sex under Title IX that would open trans people up to discrimination in publicly funded education. Then, it was argued that trans people aren’t guaranteed protections in employment discrimination cases. Finally, US officials are attempting to remove the word “gender” from United Nations documents.
The trans community in Bushwick however, isn’t going to be quiet.
“Transgender people like me will not stand by while Trump tries to erase us. As the current administration continues the attacks on our communities — this time against trans and gender non-conforming communities — we will stand together and show that our fights are connected,” said Biany Garcia, a TGNCIQ (Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, Intersex, and Queer) organizer at the Bushwick based organization Make the Road New York in a statement representing their 23,000 members.
“Our Trans Immigrant Project will continue to elevate and uplift Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, Intersex, Queer and Non-Binary lives, and take to the streets, the courthouse, and the halls of government, to resist these attacks,” she said.
This is how our Trans Immigrant Project celebrates Dia de Los Muertos — a gathering of family & friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey.
This year’s theme was the movie Coco. #DayoftheDead pic.twitter.com/wRLWbSGppQ
— Make the Road NY (@MaketheRoadNY) October 30, 2018
Trans activists aren’t the only ones speaking up. Brooklyn Community Pride Center (BCPC) reflected this sentiment.
“This is most egregious, pernicious act of tyranny to the transgender community to date,” said Floyd Rumohr of BCPC. “You are not alone. We stand with you. Call us or come in to the Brooklyn Community Pride Center – a safe, inclusive space for you.”
The proposal to change Title IX definition of sex would specifically affect the protections against gender discrimination in education programs that accept public assistance under Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972. Title IX explicitly protects from discrimination “on the basis of sex,” which since 2016 has been interpreted to include gender identity. The Trump administration wants the sex to be defined as unchangable.
The American Medical Association disagrees. Their 2014 Resolution 122 states that “Gender Identity Disorder (GID) is a serious medical condition recognized as such in both the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International Classification of Diseases.”
Nydia Vasquez, who represents the 7th Congressional district which includes Bushwick, tweeted her support of the trans community last week.
To our transgender friends and neighbors -- please know we stand with you and will fight back against this Administration's hateful, discriminatory and backward looking proposals! Trans people #WontBeErased.https://t.co/624oc3EenO
— Rep. Nydia Velazquez (@NydiaVelazquez) October 22, 2018
Transgendered community members can reach out for support through Make the Road and BCPC. Both organizations offer programming specifically for local trans community members.
Make the Road’s GLOBE (TGNCIQ Youth Power Project) meets Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and TRIP Trans Immigrant Project (TGNCIQ Justice) on Mondays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Cover photo courtesy of Matteo Paganelli