challenges faced by transgender people of color

Background:

As most of you may not know, this past week was transgender awareness week! Transgender awareness week serves as a time to raise awareness about the issues faced by transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, as well as to advocate for their rights and visibility. As the week is ending, we also have TDoR which is transgender day of remembrance. This day honors the memory of those who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender violence and discrimination. In this year alone, 26 transgender or gender-nonconforming individuals have passed from violent means. The Human Rights Campaign has reported that of these individuals, 88% were people of color and 54% were black transgender women. In an article by Forbes, it was found that between October 1st of 2022 and September 30th of 2023, that 94% of transgender or gender-nonconforming people that passed were trans-women or trans-feminine people. 80% of those killed were trans people affected by racism, which is a 15% increase from the year priorly observed. Also, between the ages of 19 to 25 has the most victims of anti-transgender violence and discrimination. 

Importance:

While taking in all of these statistics and information, I want to remind you all that it is important to continue advocating and paying attention to ongoing anti-trans violence. Particularly, I want to highlight the challenges that transgender people of color face. From the statistics alone, we can see that most of the anti-trans violence also coincides with racism. This is because trans people of color may face discrimination and prejudice based on both their transgender identity and racial background. This can manifest in various forms such as verbal abuse, physical violence, or systematic discrimination. Here are some other challenges faced by transgender people of color:

1. Limited Access to Resources: trans people of color may face challenges in accessing healthcare, education, and employment opportunities due to systemic barriers and discrimination. This can lead to disparities in health outcomes, economic stability, and educational attainment.

2. Lack of Representation: the underrepresentation of trans people of color in mainstream media, politics, and other influential spheres can contribute to feelings of isolation and a lack of visibility. Representation is crucial for breaking down stereotypes and fostering understanding.

3. Mental Health Challenges: dealing with the intersection of transphobia and racism can contribute to higher rates of mental health issues among trans people of color, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

4. Criminalization: dealing with the intersection of transphobia and racism can contribute to higher rates of mental health issues among trans people of color, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

5. Family Rejection: trans individuals, especially those from conservative or culturally traditional backgrounds, may experience rejection and estrangement from their families, leading to social and emotional challenges.

How to Help:

It is important to know that the work being done to ensure a better world for transgender people needs to be done by everyone. There are many organizations that can be donated to and spoken about or posted more on social media. To name a few of them there are The Trevor Project, Kind Clinic, Trans Lifeline, Out Youth, and many more ranging from state to state. Interpersonally, there are a couple things I would like to highlight that we can all implement in our lives, found from The National Center for Transgender Equality. 

1. You do not have to understand someone’s identity to respect it.
2. Be careful and considerate about what questions you ask.
3. Someone’s transgender identity is for them to share or not.
4. Think about how you use gendered language.
5. Push for support and inclusivity, not just tolerance.
6. Show up in your community.

As this week concludes, it is important to shine light on the violence and discrimination transgender people experience, especially transgender people of color. Say their names and hear their stories.