Trans Awareness: Resources, being an ally, and how to support

Written by Samira Rauner

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11/16/2020

The transgender flag

Each year in November, countries around the world celebrate Transgender Awareness Week. This week is marked by the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which serves to commemorate all transgender people that have been lost to violence. Transgender Awareness Week is dedicated to spotlighting the transgender community and educating the public about issues transgender people face. 

We at Safe Harbor want to raise awareness for the transgender community, provide you with information on how you can support trans individuals close to you, and learn how to become an ally.

Pride Parade

Photo by Rosemary Ketchum from Pexels

What does it mean to be transgender?

‘Transgender’ is an umbrella term referring to people whose gender identity varies from the one they were assigned at birth. In its narrowest sense, the term ‘transgender’ applies to men and women whose biological make-up would traditionally label them as females and males respectively.
However, ‘transgender’ may also refer to transgenderists, non-binary, agender, gender-non-conforming or bi-gender people, or individuals who identify as genderqueer or genderfluid. 

Some trans individuals choose to take hormones or undergo surgery so that their body matches their gender identity. This, however, is a very personal choice and something that each trans person needs to decide for themselves. 

Issues the transgender community faces

Even though trans people have gotten a lot more visibility in recent years, they nonetheless still face severe systemic inequality, stigma, and discrimination. Here are just a few issues facing the transgender community in the United States:

  • Violence: Trans people experience more violence than the average person. more than a majority of transgender people have experienced some form of intimate partner violence and 47% of trans individuals have reported that they have been assaulted at some point in their lifetime. In 2020 alone, close to 30 trans and gender non-conforming people in the United States have reportedly lost their lives to violence. 
  • Lack of Healthcare Coverage: A data analysis by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation found that more trans people have no health insurance coverage than the average cisgender person. Around 22% of trans people and 32% of trans people of color do not have health insurance coverage. Shockingly, 29% of trans adults report that they have been refused health care due to their gender identity. 
  • Lack of Legal Protection: Even though the Supreme Court has recently decided that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting sex discrimination, also applies to gender identity, there is still no comprehensive federal non-discrimination law including gender identity. 
  • Stigma and Discrimination: Stigma surrounding the trans community plays out in a variety of ways, including both personal connections and politics. For instance, even though transgender people face a higher rate of domestic violence than cisgender individuals, only 30% of women’s shelters are willing to house trans women. Furthermore, also close to 30% of trans people have reported that they have been not hired, fired, or denied a promotion due to their gender identity. 

 

A large rainbow flag held by many people during Pride Parade

Photo by Mercedes Mehling on Unsplash

Being an ally: Educating yourself

While there is no one way to be a “perfect” ally, the most important thing is education. That includes learning about what it means to be transgender, but also educating yourself on the nuances of identity, language, and other issues. Helpful websites are abundant online; here are just a few resources where you can educate yourself on the transgender community: 

 

Being an ally: Dos and Don’ts

As mentioned above, there is no one way of being a “perfect” ally, and remember that often, there is no one “right” thing to say or do. 

DOs

  • Listen to the person and see what pronouns they use for themselves rather than assuming. 
  • If you accidentally use the wrong pronoun, apologize, correct yourself, and move on instead of making a big deal out of it. 
  • Respect the terminology and language a transgender person is using to describe their identity (i.e. transgender, transsexual, non-binary, genderfluid, genderqueer, etc.)
  • Understand and respect that there is no “right” way of transitioning. 
  • Challenge anti-transgender remarks or “jokes” in public spaces.
  • Set an inclusive tone.
  • Listen to transgender people.
  • Continue to educate yourself.
  • Know your limits as an ally: It is better to admit that you don’t know something than saying something incorrect or hurtful. 
  • Recognize and respect someone’s gender identity, regardless of whether or not they chose to have surgery or take hormones. 
  • Remember that it’s okay to make mistakes or to not understand. Continue to learn and act in a respectful way – even when you might not understand.

DON’Ts

  • Don’t make assumptions about a transgender person’s sexual orientation.
  • Do not assume a person’s pronoun.
  • Don’t assume someone’s gender identity. 
  • Do not ask a trans person what their “real” name is. Instead, simply respect the name they are using. 
  • Don’t ask about a transgender person’s genitals or surgical status. Just like it would be inappropriate to ask a cisgender person about these things, it is just as private and personal for transgender folks. 
  • Avoid backhanded and transphobic “compliments”/comments. Here are some examples:
    • You look just like a real woman/man.
    • I would have never known you were trans. You are so pretty
    • You’re so brave.
    • You’d pass so much better, if …
    • But you made such an attractive …
  • Don’t say “transgenders” – instead, use “transgender people” or “the trans community”.
  • Don’t place labels on individuals – instead, mirror their language and self-identification.

 

Two people during Pride Parade, covered in the transgender flag

Photo by Delia Giandeini on Unsplash

Helpful resources

Whether you are trans yourself, whether you might be questioning, or whether you are a friend or family member of a trans person: Here we have listed resources that might help you:

Resources for trans people

How to support a trans person close to you

How to support your trans child

Hotlines and Helplines

Click here to find a very comprehensive guide for support hotlines, mental health resources, legal resources, immigration, refugee and asylum resources, domestic violence resources, employment advice, veteran resources for LGBTQIA+ people, and more.

Equality

Photo by Delia Giandeini on Unsplash

Conclusion

Even though the visibility and awareness around the transgender community have increased in the last few years, trans people nonetheless still face stigma, harassment, and discrimination both on an individual and a systemic level. 

Though Transgender Awareness Week is important in raising awareness, there is still a lot that needs to be done to achieve not only social and political acceptance but equality. We at Safe Harbor hope that the information and the resources provided in this article help you, whether you are a person questioning their gender identity, a trans* person, an ally, or a friend/family member of a person identifying as trans. Feel free to share this article and help raise awareness.

Written by Samira Rauner, blogger at Safe Harbor International Ministries. For more articles, visit our blog page at https://safeharborim.com/articles/.

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