Hagen: We must work to protect the sexual freedom of all

By Hagen

Wednesday, April 5, 2006

Right now in San Francisco, a city long notorious for it’s loving embrace of the LGBT community, a battle is raging.

In the Bay Area during spring break, the cover story of the San Francisco Bay Guardian featured a photo of a dark-haired woman, the title floating above the woman’s head read “Transjobless.” Intrigued by the title’s play on words and the bold statement, I picked up the paper and found that inside the cover an even bolder statement was being made.

Guardian reporter Tali Woodward’s cover story brought to light a number of alarming statistics about the plight of transgender individuals in San Francisco’s workforce. A survey of 194 transgender San Franciscans conducted by the Transgender Law Center found that only one of every four transgender individuals had a full-time job. What’s even more shockingly brutal is that 59 percent of those surveyed reported that they made no more than $15,500 a year and only four percent made more than the city’s median income of $61,200. An annual income of less than $15,500 in any metropolitan city like San Francisco is virtually living in poverty.

So why are these people having so much trouble? Discrimination. Woodward reported that though overly qualified, many transgendered individuals were snubbed in job interviews and employment applications because of their gender identity. And the lucky few that make it past these obstacles are discriminated against by their colleagues once they land a job.

I can’t help but wonder, if it is this appalling in an accepting city like San Francisco, how bad can it be on the flat wheat plains of Kansas?

A 2001 U. S. Census Bureau study found that same-sex couples lived in all 105 Kansas counties, even those that were most rural and underpopualted. That number was a 514 percent increase from previous data, and that was five years ago. Though numbered, the Kansas transgender community faces discrimination. A Wichita Eagle article from February reported that Kansas law did not allow birth certificates to be changed to accommodate gender reassignment.

Some of this discrimination seems to stem from a lack of awareness: Statistics typically aren’t kept that proclaim the cold, hard truth about the life of the LGBT community. When others don’t know about injustices being done, it is hard to fight them.

A week ago, on our very own campus, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight students rallied in support of LGBT awareness. Last Wednesday, hundreds of students and members of the community gathered at a performance held by Anthony Rapp, star of “Rent,” to hand out awards to both exemplary LGBT and straight individuals and to raise awareness about sexual freedom.

We shouldn’t need a special week or awards night to protect sexual freedom and choice. In our own communities and around the country, people are working to face oppression and discrimination based on their sexual orientation. Whether you are gay, straight or transgender this just isn’t right. What happens behind our closed bedrooms doors is our business and our business alone. No matter who you are or what you do within the confines of your own home, when the rights of one are violated, the rights of everyone are. Whether it’s trangender individuals not being able to get a job in San Francisco, or your classmate facing persecution for being gay, no one should lose a job or a friend because of the choices made in the bedroom.

The good news is that we can change minds and attitudes in a very grass roots sort of way: By listening and accepting all. We must work to protect our sexual freedom and accept those who have different sexual orientations from our own.

With enough time and tolerance, the front-page story — in any city — won’t ever be about suffering for your sexual orientation or gender identity again.

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