52 Ways to Help Transgender Equality

A friend of mine and I were gabbing on the phone about some things we’d like to do to better the transgender community where we live. We were brainstorming discussion groups we’d like to lead, organizations with very focused missions, and the general state of how to better the transgender community in the Boston area.

Well, wouldn’t you know that this same topic would come up while I was reading Helen Boyd’s blog, (EN) Gender.  I stumbled upon her post entitled “Three More Ways” which talked about how the National Center for Transgender Equality is in the process of listing a total of 52 Things You Can Do for Transgender Equality. I’ve posted a few here to wet your reading appetite:

#1: Take a Trans Person to Lunch

Or dinner, coffee or afternoon tea. Where and when you go doesn’t matter, but connecting with another person does. Networking strengthens our activism and reminds us why we are doing this work, plus you might make a new friend. So, maybe think of that person in your support group, the cross dresser who doesn’t always talk but is such a great listener—why not get to know her better? What about the transman who volunteered at that event you went to—what about saying thanks to him? How about that college student from the genderqueer organization—seems like an interesting person? Or a person from a group that’s very different than your own—how about finding out what makes them tick? You get the idea. Think of folks you don’t yet know well and drop them an e-mail or give them a call. Let’s start our year of activism with that all important human contact. In future weeks, we’ll include resources on how to put the ideas into action, but we’re sure you’ve got this one covered. So, make plans this week to take a trans person to lunch.

Here’s another one that is a real issue for trans-folk but to which you can really help:

#25: Make a Restroom More Accessible to Trans People

Recently I walked into the offices of a very transgender-friendly group, and yet there was still a restroom problem. There were two single use restrooms, one labeled for men, the other for women. When I pointed it out, they said that they thought transgender people could just use whichever one they felt comfortable with. They were very flexible about restroom usage but hadn’t thought through what their signs conveyed.

The Transgender Law Center has a great resource on bathroom issues called, “Peeing in Peace: A Resource Guide for Transgender Activists and Allies.” It has a wealth of information on everything from how to handle difficult situations in restrooms to how to take action to make policy changes. You can go to their website and click on the box marked “Peeing in Peace” or follow the link above to view or download download the whole document or a summary.

This issue is important because we need safe places to use the restrooms and because it challenges the assumption that everyone fits neatly into a category. When agencies, schools, and groups make clear that their restrooms are safe places for transpeople, they send a message that they are genuinely welcoming to trans people, they’ve considered our needs and planned ahead for our participation.

The group I mentioned at the beginning has already started talking to the other agencies they share space with about their intentions to change the signs. This week, let’s take steps to make restrooms more accessible to trans people.

Other neat ideas include:

• #2: Ask your library to carry books that deal positively with trans people
• #11: Hold a workshop on how to effectively advocate for yourself when seeking medical care or therapy
• #14: Preach or speak at a local community of faith, such as a synagogue, church or mosque
• #18: Educate a local homeless shelter about how to be trans inclusive
• #21: Start a local support or education group

You can find this work in process article at the National Center for Transgender Equality web site by clicking to this link HERE.

By the by, this is not about special rights. This is only about equal rights. Indeed for many of us these are simply the same rights we had prior to coming out. We just want them restored that’s all.

(52 Things graphic used courtesy of National Center for Transgender Equality website)