Log #3

Topic:Problems that trans people face

"Bathrooms issue" let us know that most of the transgender people face mental health problem, such as gender dysphoria. However this is not the only challenge that trans people face in their lives. Thus, in addition to health care, I search for more information about obstacles that is common seen in trans community. The result have surprised me a lot.

I believe the biggest problem transgender face is discrimination, especially on job. The shock moment is when I found out that in U.S.A 33 of the 50 states have no state-level gender identity protection. Which means it is legal for employer to fire their trans employees just because they are transgender. Furthermore, unemployment of transgender is at twice the rate of the population as a whole. Without a job, trans people might face two major problems. First,according to research 11% of transgender have been evicted, with no economic base these people might can't afford to buy or even rent a house and this will lead to homelessness. Second, they are probably lack of health insurance, which mean they can't accept sex reassignment surgery, and this is serious because without the surgery they might experience self-hatred. This is what I never thought about while read Becoming Nicole. Not every trans is as lucky as Nicole, she has a family who support her and have the ability to afford the cost of the therapy, but most of them don't.

"A lack of understanding is at the root of all the levels of discrimination" said the policy director from National Center for Transgender Equality in Washington, D.C. Transgender people are everywhere among us, they exist and are the underprivileged who need our help. After knowing the major obstacles they face during their lifetime, we can let the society understand more about transgender community through our voice. Decrease the misunderstanding, they can gain help not only from us but the whole world.

Link: http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/transgender-people-face-unique-problems/article_636c92f0-891c-11e2-8ed4-001a4bcf6878.html