Transgender Day of Remembrance 2013
Our Babs Casbar Siperstein, who participated in the Transgender Day of Remembrance at the White House last year, was called upon to speak at two recent TDOR events. The following post is made up or her remarks at both occasions. By the way, happy birthday Babs!
Every year as November 20th approaches, I tend to ride an emotional roller coaster and it is not because it is my birthday and I’m a year older, but because the candles we light to remember our dead consistently exceeds the candles on my own cake. As TDOR has become international, more countries now report the murders and the numbers have become so much higher…. But that is only the tip of the iceberg.
As shocked, saddened and angry I get as we read the names (if they have a name) and the descriptions of the senseless brutality they have suffered, we do see this year an even brighter glimmer of light, of hope. The mere acknowledgement that these horrors exist against transpeople, that we “exist” and we are counted, we are recognized and remembered is a big step forward.
We are counted! How ironic that this statement is a “big deal”! But why were we now counted? Because we counted, we honored our dead and our friends took notice and joined us. More and more people and organizations now celebrate a Trans Awareness week which culminates in TDOR. When we show respect for ourselves we earn the respect of others.
Elections matter and in 2012 the one candidate, Barack Obama who has actually recognized and championed transpeople like no other, won! After working with the administration for more and more direct engagement, a promise was kept and on November 20, 2012, for my 70th birthday present, I was honored to present for the very first observance of TDOR at the White house! This year we anticipate a direct statement from the President! The door for more direct engagement, more empowerment, more progress, is already open.
This month the US Senate has already passed a trans-inclusive ENDA 64-32. Unlike in previous years when our inclusion was a negotiating point — it no longer is. Jared Polis, the new prime sponsor in the House, does not bear the burden of Barney Frank, who at times gave unclear messaging and actions regarding transgender inclusion. Jared has been a consistent supporter of trans rights and is proactively seeking a bipartisan approach to bring ENDA to a vote in the House where WE do have the votes!
We have much to build upon. The Justice Department has been taking steps to educate and enforce the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act.
We know about the State Department and the new rules that make changing the gender markers much more practical and trans friendly, but we should also know that they now report on the state of LGBT citizens in the annual country reports in order to better identify abuse and state sanctioned homophobia and transphobia overseas.
President Obama banned employment discrimination based on gender identity in the federal government.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission clarified that Title VII sex discrimination law covers transgender workers. President Obama fought long and hard to keep Chai Feldblum’s nomination as Chair of the EEOC alive, and under her leadership ruled that transgender workers were covered on a national level. This ruling theoretically is extremely profound and wide in scope.
The Affordable Care Act bans discrimination on the basis of gender identity in operating insurance exchanges.
So much more has already been done in schools, housing, health care, general education and even trans pilots!
As we see how much has been accomplished in the last 4 plus years, even this past year, we soon realize how much more still must be done.
But the door is open, already the Obama administration has reached out to continue the direct engagement with trans advocates and policy experts. There have been transpeople recruited by the Administration from senior lever staff to White house interns.
We do anticipate being counted in the 2020 census.
Now that the new DSM-V is formally adopted we already have seen a step up in the subtle movement to change the regulations that prevent transpeople to openly serve in our military.
There is much that has happened, is now happening and can happen in the future to eliminate the hate, fear, violence and discrimination. Laws and rules are great, but unless they are enforced and we step forward to engage, to educate and help those who would enforce those laws, the problems will remain.
WE are the “canary in the coal mine”! See how transpeople are treated to determine how truly civilized a particular culture actually is. It is societal inhumanity. Unlike canaries we have the ability to un-cage ourselves and step up and help ourselves. The question is, “will we?” … and when?
Category: All TGForum Posts
About the Author (Author Profile)
Babs at 76 passed away in 2019. She was a member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee, Deputy Vice Chair of the NJ Democratic State Committee and Political Director of the Gender Rights Advocacy Association of NJ. She served on the Executive Committee of Trans United 4 Obama. She has served as Vice Chair of the DNC Eastern Caucus, was President of NJ Stonewall Democrats, Co-Chair of National Stonewall Democrats Federal PAC Board, Vice-Chair of Garden State Equality, Executive Board member of National Stonewall Democrats as Chair of the DNC Relations Committee and a member of the NJ Civil Unions Review Commission.Subscribe
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