Transgender People Fighting to Be Who They Are
By Devon Pizano
There has been an increase in anti-trans legislation over the last year. For example, bathroom bills forcing trans people to use the restroom that conforms to their sex assigned at birth, and school districts such as Chino Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) attempted to pass school board policy forcing school officials to out trans students to their parents. Most recently, states have begun banning access to gender-affirming care such as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and surgery for minors.
These laws have detrimental consequences on the trans community. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest civil rights organization for the LGBTQ+ community, released a state of emergency advising LGBTQ+ people to be aware of the shifting laws that vary from state to state, with Florida being among the most restrictive. The laws banning gender-affirming care like HRT for minors is especially troubling.
Gender-affirming care has the opportunity to save lives; treatment such as HRT allows the individual to live authentically in the body they have. HRT is commonly started during adolescence before the individual reaches puberty. This ensures that they develop physically in a way that aligns with their gender identity. While HRT is commonly associated with adolescents, it can be started into adulthood as well.
Having the ability to transition and live as your authentic self is lifesaving. LGBTQ+ people already face higher instances of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Denying a trans person access to HRT can increase the instances of depression and suicide due to developing physical characteristics that do not align with their gender identity.
Another instance of anti-trans sentiment that is troubling is the CVUSD attempted to pass a school board decision to out transgender students to their families. I had the opportunity to witness this moment as it was unfolding; I was watching the live stream of the school board meeting where my friend Deana was speaking. This decision had the potential to cause harm to trans students by alerting to their change in name and pronouns within the classroom to their families.
While we want to think that all families would be accepting of their children telling them who they are, this is not always the case. Trans students make this shift at school because there is freedom to explore a new name or test out different pronouns in a safe space. Students form connections with their teachers as people they can trust.
Informing parents of a change in name or pronouns used at school can pose a problem if that parent does not accept their child. Lack of acceptance can cause higher rates of depression, homelessness and suicide. The idea of outing trans students by informing the parents of their child’s identity can open the lines of communication between the family and the school.
If the student is coming to a teacher to test out a new name or pronouns, it may be due to feeling concerned that they may not be accepted and worried about the response from their family. School is supposed to be a safe space where you can be accepted for who you are. Teachers who use a student’s new name and pronouns are being seen by parents as indoctrinating their children. It is not indoctrination to honor someone’s request when they tell you who they are, it is being open-minded and respectful.
As a trans person myself, I understand firsthand the struggle of being afraid of all the legislation that is being passed to discriminate against trans people. I am always aware of the fact that my existence as my authentic self has the potential to make people uncomfortable. Constantly walking on eggshells, wondering if it is okay to share my pronouns or safe to use the restroom that aligns with my identity.
I worry about being harassed because I am existing in spaces that may not be safe for me. I am proud to have people in my life who accept me as I am, but I am still afraid when I am out in public. As trans people, we are trying to exist in the world just like everyone else. We should not have to justify ourselves.