We all need money. So we can pay bills, go see movies, eat, have a roof over our heads, means of transportation. Everyone needs money so they can do the things they need to do and want to do. Trying to make ends meet can be hard for the average American as is, but try being trans and being passed up for a promotion you're obviously qualified for or being frowned upon during an interview because the manager doesn't know how to address you. I've had both happen to me. One while I was still employed under my birth name, the other obviously after my name change.
There was a point in time where I considered joining the military because my grandpa and mom were in the military. I thought of joining the Army. It obviously didn't happen, for many reasons, but I've always supported our troops. I may not agree with the agenda that our military has, but the men and women fighting for our freedoms matter to me. I've heard a lot of crap spewing from people about a RETIREE who had her gender changed on her paperwork at the Pentagon.
She changed her name in the state of California after having her surgery and wanted her paperwork to match. This is "the first time" that a member of the military, retiree or active, has been acknowledged positively. If you're an active member and come out as transgender, you will be discharged. Sound familiar? Gay, lesbian and bi-sexual members have been openly allowed to serve since 2011 only. It's going to be a while before transgender men and women are allowed to openly serve.
Equality for transgender is very important. It's not going to go away. There are going to be trans people regardless of their acceptance. You think gay people have only been around since the 50s? Did you know that you can be fired in 29 states for being gay? It's also "legal to fire someone" for being transgender in 34 states. Not only is it incredibly difficult for me to get a job (when there are TONS of jobs in my area available), but I can get fired from a job simply because of who I am?
We work to provide for our families, for ourselves, to go on vacations, to buy groceries, to take care of our pets, to ensure our cars run properly. Things that are very important to our every day living. And a lot of us work in jobs that we may not love, but we enjoy simply because of our co-workers. We make money and put it back into the economy. Yet we get ridiculed for trying to make the world a better place, for making our bodies match our minds, for loving someone, for simply being honest about who we are?
When we lose our jobs for these reasons, we also stop putting as much into our economy, we lose faith in establishments for being so abrasive, and in my case, we lose a little bit of faith in society. It's time that faith be restored, and every little step in the right direction matters.
Resources:
"Pentagon recognizes transgender service members for first time in 'symbolic' move for LGBT community", Mail Online, Helen Pow, 2013
"29 States Can Fire You For Being Gay. Is Your State One Of Them?", Human Rights Campaign via upworthy.com, Rebecca Eisenberg and Martha Pettit, 2013
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