Working to be more trans inclusive long after Pride Month is over - Beth’s Corner
I wish everyone happy Pride Month!?Pride Month is a time of celebration for me and my family, as we?raise a glass each year to acknowledge that this activism has led to the opportunity for us to be a family.?Particularly, this year, it is a joyful time for many to be reuniting in person.
Pride Month is also an important time to reflect on where the LGBTQ+ rights movement began, how far we've come, and where we still need to fight for equity. Trans women of color, such as?Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera who were instrumental in the Stonewall Uprising, have been long-time?leaders in LGBTQ+ activism. Yet, due to?racism, sexism, and?transphobia, they are too-often erased from this history and excluded from the progress made.?
It is easy to claim that Massachusetts is on the right side of trans inclusion. Unlike?many states which?are enacting new laws to prevent trans girls from playing sports on girls' sports teams, Massachusetts is considered to have?friendly policies?for K-12 athletes. And, with?Yes on 3?passing a few years ago, we upheld protections for trans people in places of public accommodation. But these policies are just the floor - an important step?to prevent harm, which we need to build on to foster equity and inclusion.?
领英推荐
We continue to face a crisis of violence against trans women of color, and Black trans women in particular. Last month, Boston lost activist?Jahaira DeAlto, who was killed in her home in Dorchester. She was one of 29 trans or gender non-conforming people who have been killed in the US?this year.
We all most call out and fight against transphobia, even in our activist spaces. Show up for trans-led activism, such as?Trans Resistance MA, which was created in response to calls that Boston Pride has?not centered?the experiences and leadership of trans people of color. We also must support our youth. Despite protections in place for trans youth in MA, the anti-trans bills introduced nation-wide have an effect on youth mental health. In particular,?mental health and housing stability?have worsened for LGBTQ+ youth as a result of the pandemic.
And we can all work to ensure our workplaces become more?trans inclusive. Now that June is almost over, don't hit pause on conversations about LGBTQ+ in the workplace until next Pride Month comes. Instead, build a plan to ensure you are listening to the needs of your LGBTQ+ colleagues and community members?and implementing policies that center those who have led this movement, trans women of color.
"We can all work to ensure our workplaces become more?trans inclusive." YES, Beth Chandler! Thank you for sharing and Happy Pride from our family to yours :)
Beth, thank you so much for sharing this sentiment! Your leadership helps many so many good people pause, reflect, and ultimately take daily action to make our society more equitable.
Strategic advisor to innovative entrepreneurs and mid-cap companies. Creative, compassionate leader with extensive volunteer board director experience and deep commitment to giving back to my communities.
3 年Well said Beth Chandler! There is still so much work to be done.
Independent Consultant, Regulatory Operations
3 年Super article! Because it's well worth reading, I'm reposting one of your article's opening paragraphs. It perfectly reflected reality. "Pride Month is also an important time to reflect on where the LGBTQ+ rights movement began, how far we've come, and where we still need to fight for equity. Trans women of color, such as?Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera who were instrumental in the Stonewall Uprising, have been long-time?leaders in LGBTQ+ activism. Yet, due to?racism, sexism, and?transphobia, they are too-often erased from this history and excluded from the progress made."