The Issues:
Transgender Issues
Personal Stories: Letitia Hall
This testimony was delivered at the 8th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20, 2006.
Hi! I’m Tish. I am here tonight to speak in support of adding to the state's human rights laws language which will extend protections to transgender people.
I am a hatchback-driving Kung-Fu Mom, which is a subset of the minivan-driving Soccer Mom demographic. I live in a position of privilege simply because I am a straight married woman. Several years ago I committed to using that privilege in consistent and intentional support for full civil rights for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people. Shortly after that, my sister came to me and told me that she is a transgender person, so my advocacy became very personal. Now my sister is living as a woman full-time. I am very proud of my transgender sister.
When I talk to people I know, I find that while they do support full rights for Transgender people, they don't take action because they assume that transgender rights are assured by laws that bar sex discrimination. They aren't aware that transgender people are not guaranteed the right under our state's laws to transition and live in their correct gender while keeping their jobs. When my sister was out of work, she interviewed with people who told her she was qualified but that they weren't going to hire her because they didn't know if the rest of the staff would like it. The law prohibits an employer from making that choice based on sex, religion, race, and several other factors, but not gender expression or gender identity.
People tell me that my sister should sue, but I think there's a better way. Let's add gender identity and gender expression to our anti-discrimination laws. Let's help people get jobs, get homes, and get health insurance, and let's help them keep them.
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