6 Ways Trans Women Are Helping Deliver Gender Equality

This is where the trans community makes all the difference, with its unprecedented legal and legislative inroads at the state and federal level over the past couple of years.I believe this community — particularly trans women — will deliver gender equality to us all on a federal level.

It's critical to note that the most powerful voices on this front come from trans women of color. Already oppressed by systemic racism, their intersectional existence has undoubtedly caused a feeling of urgency: Gender equality is a life or death matter for them. According to a recent report from The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), titled Hate Violence Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) and HIV-Affected Communities in the United States in 2012, trans women encounter disproportionate amounts of violence relative to cisgender women: “53.8% of [25] anti-LGBTQ homicide victims in 2012 were transgender women and 73.1% were people of color."

To attain its ultimate goal of an equal rights amendment, the women’s movement must rise from a coalition of diverse communities. It must include and accept all women, cis and trans gender, to achieve endgame. So far, the victories won with the help of transgender women are extraordinarily impressive, especially for such a marginalized community:


1. Creation of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

2. Passing a trans-inclusive ENDA in the U.S. Senate.

3. Expansion of the Affordable Care Act.

4. Growing protections for trans and gender non-conforming children.

5. Big wins in health care discrimination.

6. Increased awareness of gender equality issues on social media.


http://www.policymic.com/articles/85835/6-ways-trans-women-are-helping-deliver-gender-equality