capstone course presentation - discrimination against transgender people
TRANSCRIPT
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
BACKGROUND INFORMATION▸ Sex = The biological characteristics of an individual▸ Gender = A construct composed of gender roles and
gender identity / expression▸ When an individual’s sex and gender don’t align they
often identify as transgender
TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION
POLICY▸ Should Texas pass a statewide law protecting LGBT
people from discrimination regarding gender identity and expression in public facilities?
▸ This law would explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression in public facilities
▸ A violation of this law would be a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500
TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION
SOCIAL PROBLEM▸ Proponents: The discrimination and violence that
transgender people experience ▸ Opponents: Loss of freedom of speech and religion
TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION
PROPONENTS▸ Mostly liberals▸ Values: Human rights, equality, and the wellbeing of
transgender people
TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION
OPPONENTS▸ Mostly conservatives▸ Values: Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and
family values
TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION
ARGUMENTS▸ Proponents
▸ This law will protect transgender people from discrimination resulting from the existence of gender-specific public facilities
▸ This law will make transgender people more safe when using public facilities
▸ Opponents▸ This law will violate the privacy of women in public facilities and
endanger them because of sexual predators and rapists who wish to gain access to these facilities
▸ This law will award rights to a special interest group: Transgender people
TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION
INTERVIEW▸ Daniel Williams, Regional field organizer and
legislative specialist at Equality Texas
TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION
CONCLUSION▸ Should Texas pass this law? …Yes ▸ Underrepresented people, vulnerable people, and
people who cannot protect themselves should be protected
▸ Principle of equality: Individuals should be treated equally
▸ Transgender people should be held as equal to other members of society and awarded the same basic rights
TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION
SUPPORT FOR CONCLUSION▸ Argument: This law will make transgender people more safe
when using public facilities▸ Evidence: The study conducted by Jody Herman and published by
the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles▸ 68% experienced some form of verbal harassment: “Told they
were in the wrong facility, told to leave the facility, questioned about their gender, ridiculed or made fun of, verbally threatened, or stared at and given strange looks”
▸ 9% experienced physical assault “including being forcibly removed from the restroom, hit or kicked, intimidated or cornered, or slapped”
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
FINAL SOLUTION▸ This law wouldn’t necessarily end discrimination on
the basis of gender identity / expression in public facilities
▸ Although this law would be a step forward for the transgender community, this issue could be addressed through two different approaches
TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION
FIRST APPROACH▸ Modify single-occupancy public facilities to be
gender-neutral instead of gender-specific▸ Counterargument: Men are more dirty / messy than
women
TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION
SECOND APPROACH▸ Modify multi-occupancy facilities to be more private▸ Counterargument: Too expensive
TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION
FEASIBILITY▸ It is important to be realistic when considering the
passing of such a law in a state like Texas▸ Therefore, efforts of proponents of this law may be
better focused on implementing smaller changes▸ They will meet less political resistance by
opponents of this debate▸ They will add up in the long-run, making significant
impacts on the lives of transgender people
TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY▸ Transgender Day of Remembrance ▸ Annual observance on November 20th to honor those
who have lost their lives in acts of anti-transgender violence
▸ http://tdor.info/