Also, remember: “transgender” is an adjective, not a noun or a verb. Say “transgender people” or “a trans person,” not “transgenders” or “transgendered.”
However, there have been notable triumphs. The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw the passage of legislation aimed at protecting transgender rights. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) of 2013, for example, prohibited discrimination based on gender identity or expression in federal contracting and employment. More recently, the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County (2020) interpreted Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protections against employment discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Also, remember: “transgender” is an adjective, not a
| Myth | Reality | |------|---------| | "Being trans is a mental illness." | Gender dysphoria is in the DSM, but being trans is not an illness. The distress comes from social rejection, not identity. | | "Kids are transitioning too young." | Social transition (name/pronouns) is reversible. Medical care for youth involves puberty blockers (reversible) and later hormone therapy (after extensive evaluation). | | "Non-binary isn’t real." | Non-binary identities are recognized globally across cultures (e.g., Two-Spirit, Hijra, Māhū). | | "You can always tell if someone is trans." | No. Trans people pass, don’t pass, or choose not to pass. Passing is not the goal for many. | | "Trans people are a threat in bathrooms." | No evidence. Trans people are far more likely to be assaulted in bathrooms than to assault anyone. | The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) of 2013, for
22% avoid medical care entirely due to fear of discrimination [24]. Clayton County (2020) interpreted Title VII of the
If you ask the average person what sparked the modern LGBTQ rights movement, many will correctly point to the Stonewall Riots of 1969. What is less commonly taught is who threw the first punches, the first bricks, and the first high-heeled shoes.