Our Values Are

Historical Context

The phrase "Transgender Rights Now" represents an urgent call for the recognition, protection, and advancement of transgender people's fundamental human rights. This demand for immediate action comes after decades of struggle for transgender visibility, dignity, and equality—a struggle that continues to face both significant progress and intense backlash.

The modern transgender rights movement in the United States is often traced to the Compton's Cafeteria Riot in 1966 and the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, where transgender women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera played pivotal roles in resisting police harassment.1 However, transgender people have existed throughout human history across diverse cultures, often with recognized and sometimes revered social roles, such as the hijra in South Asian cultures, two-spirit people in many Native American traditions, and the kathoey in Thailand.2

Early transgender advocacy in the United States was frequently marginalized even within LGBTQ+ movements. After Stonewall, some gay and lesbian organizations distanced themselves from transgender issues in hopes of gaining mainstream acceptance, a strategy that frequently left transgender people without allies in their struggle for rights.3 Despite this isolation, pioneers like Lou Sullivan, Virginia Prince, and Reed Erickson worked to build community and advocate for transgender people's needs from the 1950s through the 1980s.4

Medical recognition and treatment for transgender people evolved significantly during the 20th century. In 1952, Christine Jorgensen became one of the first Americans widely known to have undergone gender-affirming surgery, bringing unprecedented public attention to transgender experiences.5 The establishment of gender identity clinics in the 1960s and the development of Standards of Care by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (originally the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association) in 1979 helped formalize medical approaches to gender-affirming care.6

Legal recognition and protections developed more slowly. In 1975, Minneapolis became the first city in the United States to pass an ordinance protecting transgender people from discrimination.7 However, most jurisdictions lacked such protections for decades. Transgender people often faced barriers to changing their identification documents, accessing appropriate healthcare, securing employment and housing, and enjoying basic safety in public spaces.

The 1990s and early 2000s saw increased visibility and organization within transgender communities. In 1992, Leslie Feinberg published "Transgender Liberation: A Movement Whose Time Has Come," helping articulate a distinct transgender politics.8 Organizations specifically dedicated to transgender rights, such as the National Center for Transgender Equality (founded 2003) and the Transgender Law Center (founded 2002), emerged to advocate for policy changes at local, state, and national levels.9

The 2010s brought unprecedented visibility to transgender issues, with public figures like Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, and Caitlyn Jenner bringing transgender experiences into mainstream conversation. This decade saw significant policy advances, including the Obama administration's interpretation that Title IX protections against sex discrimination in education extended to transgender students.10 In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII's prohibition of employment discrimination "because of sex" protects employees from discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.11

Nevertheless, these advances have been met with organized opposition. Beginning around 2015, so-called "bathroom bills" sought to restrict transgender people's access to facilities matching their gender identity.12 From 2021 onward, a wave of state legislation has targeted transgender rights, particularly focusing on restricting gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth, limiting participation in sports, and controlling how gender identity can be discussed in schools.13

The demand for "Transgender Rights Now" emerges from this context—acknowledging both the progress that has been made and the urgent need to secure and advance rights that remain precarious or denied. It represents a call not just for future improvements but for immediate recognition of transgender people's humanity and right to live with dignity, safety, and equal protection under law.

Current Challenges

Despite some progress in legal protections and social acceptance, transgender people continue to face numerous significant challenges:

Unprecedented Legislative Attacks

The years since 2021 have seen an explosion of anti-transgender legislation across the United States. According to the Human Rights Campaign, 2023 became the worst year on record for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, with over 550 bills introduced in state legislatures, many specifically targeting transgender people.14 These bills have primarily focused on:

• Restricting or criminalizing gender-affirming healthcare, particularly for transgender youth, despite major medical organizations supporting such care as medically necessary

• Banning transgender students from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity

• Restricting bathroom and facility access based on birth-assigned rather than lived gender

• Prohibiting or limiting education about gender identity in schools

• Restricting the ability to update identification documents to reflect one's gender identity

By mid-2024, over half of U.S. states had enacted restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors,15 creating a patchwork of policies where transgender people's rights vary dramatically depending on their location.

Violence and Safety Concerns

Transgender people, particularly transgender women of color, face disproportionate levels of violence. The Human Rights Campaign reported that at least 59 transgender or gender non-conforming people were killed in the United States in 2022, continuing a trend that has made recent years the deadliest on record for transgender Americans.16

Worldwide, hundreds of transgender people are murdered annually, with actual numbers likely much higher due to misgendering in reports and lack of data collection in many regions. The Transgender Murder Monitoring project by Transgender Europe documented 327 reported killings of transgender people globally between October 2022 and September 2023.17

Beyond fatal violence, transgender people regularly experience harassment, threats, and non-fatal assaults. According to the 2023 National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health by The Trevor Project, 54% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported having been physically threatened or harmed due to their gender identity.18

Healthcare Access and Disparities

Access to both gender-affirming care and routine healthcare presents significant challenges for transgender individuals. Barriers include:

• Insurance exclusions that deny coverage for gender-affirming procedures and medications

• Provider discrimination and lack of knowledge about transgender health needs

• Geographic disparities in availability of knowledgeable providers, particularly in rural areas

• Economic barriers resulting from employment discrimination and higher rates of poverty

• Legal restrictions on gender-affirming care, particularly for youth

These barriers contribute to significant health disparities. Studies show transgender people experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, suicidality, and substance use disorders compared to cisgender populations, largely due to minority stress and lack of appropriate care.19

Employment Discrimination and Economic Insecurity

Despite the Bostock v. Clayton County ruling establishing federal employment protections, transgender people continue to face workplace discrimination and economic challenges. The 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey found that the unemployment rate among transgender respondents was twice the national average, with 30% of respondents who had been employed in the past year reporting being fired, denied a promotion, or experiencing other forms of mistreatment due to their gender identity.20

These employment challenges contribute to economic insecurity, with transgender people experiencing poverty at higher rates than the general population. Housing discrimination further compounds these issues, with many transgender people reporting difficulty securing stable housing.

Youth Rights and Family Rejection

Transgender youth face particular vulnerabilities, including:

• Family rejection, which significantly increases risks of homelessness, depression, and suicide attempts

• School discrimination and harassment, despite some protective policies

• Restricted access to gender-affirming healthcare due to parental consent requirements and legislative bans

• Limited access to accurate information about gender identity due to educational restrictions

• Challenges in foster care and juvenile justice systems that may not respect their gender identity

Research consistently shows that transgender youth with supportive families and access to gender-affirming care experience significantly better mental health outcomes.21 However, the growing restrictions on such care directly threaten these positive outcomes.

International Disparities

Globally, transgender rights vary dramatically by region. While some countries like Argentina, New Zealand, and Spain have enacted comprehensive protections and recognition for transgender people, in others being transgender is effectively criminalized through various laws against "cross-dressing," "impersonation," or "unnatural acts."22

Even in countries with legal protections, implementation often lags, leaving transgender people vulnerable despite formal rights. This creates a situation where transgender people's safety and dignity depend heavily on where they happen to live, with many facing the difficult choice between hiding their identity or risking persecution.

Media Representation and Public Discourse

While media representation of transgender people has increased, harmful tropes and inaccurate portrayals persist. Additionally, public discourse about transgender rights has become increasingly polarized, with transgender people's lives and identities often treated as abstract political debates rather than lived realities.

Misinformation about transgender identities, gender-affirming care, and the content of proposed legislation spreads rapidly through traditional and social media, complicating efforts to build understanding and support for transgender rights.23

What We Can Do

Advancing transgender rights requires action at multiple levels:

Individual Actions

• Educate yourself about transgender experiences and issues through resources created by transgender people rather than relying on mainstream media representations.

• Use correct names and pronouns for transgender people, and apologize and correct yourself if you make a mistake rather than making it about your own discomfort.

• Speak up against anti-transgender jokes, slurs, or misinformation when you encounter them in conversations or social settings.

• Support transgender-owned businesses and creators through your purchasing decisions and social media engagement.

• Examine your own assumptions about gender and work to recognize when you're making judgments based on stereotypes rather than seeing people as individuals.

Family and Community Actions

• Create affirming environments for transgender family members, friends, and community members by explicitly communicating respect for their identities and standing up for them when others don't.

• Advocate for inclusive policies in schools, workplaces, religious communities, and other organizations you're part of.

• Support organizations providing direct services to transgender people, especially those focused on transgender youth, elderly transgender people, and transgender people of color.

• Organize community education events that increase understanding of transgender experiences and rights.

• Help create transgender-inclusive spaces in your community, such as gender-neutral restrooms, inclusive athletic programs, and housing options.

Political and Legal Actions

• Vote for candidates who support transgender rights and hold elected officials accountable for their positions and actions.

• Contact legislators to express opposition to anti-transgender bills and support for protective legislation.

• Advocate for comprehensive non-discrimination protections that include gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, healthcare, and education at all levels of government.

• Support legal organizations challenging anti-transgender laws and representing transgender people facing discrimination.

• Push for transgender-inclusive healthcare policies that ensure coverage for gender-affirming care and prohibit discriminatory exclusions.

Educational Actions

• Support comprehensive, age-appropriate education about gender diversity in schools that helps all students understand and respect different gender identities.

• Advocate for school policies that protect transgender students' privacy, respect their names and pronouns, ensure facility access, and prevent bullying.

• Promote transgender-inclusive curricular materials that include transgender historical figures, authors, and perspectives.

• Support teacher training on creating inclusive classrooms and addressing the needs of transgender students.

• Defend academic freedom for researchers and educators studying gender identity against political interference.

Healthcare Actions

• Support the medical consensus that gender-affirming care is medically necessary and should be accessible to transgender people of all ages as appropriate.

• Advocate for insurance coverage of gender-affirming treatments and procedures.

• Promote cultural competency training for healthcare providers on transgender health needs.

• Support research on transgender health that centers transgender experiences and needs.

• Oppose restrictions on gender-affirming care that contradict medical expertise and harm transgender people.

Media and Cultural Actions

• Support authentic transgender representation in media, including transgender actors playing transgender characters and transgender creators telling their own stories.

• Challenge misrepresentations of transgender people and issues in media coverage.

• Amplify transgender voices and perspectives by sharing, citing, and engaging with content created by transgender people.

• Promote positive cultural narratives about gender diversity that celebrate rather than stigmatize transgender identities.

• Create and share content that contributes to understanding transgender experiences rather than perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

Organizations Working for Transgender Rights

If you're looking to support or learn more about transgender rights initiatives, these organizations are doing important work:

National Transgender Rights Organizations

• National Center for Transgender Equality - Advocates for policy changes to advance transgender equality

• Transgender Law Center - Largest transgender-led civil rights organization in the United States

• Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund - Committed to ending discrimination against transgender people

• GLAAD Transgender Media Program - Works to increase transgender visibility and improve media coverage

• Gender Justice - Works to eliminate gender barriers through litigation, policy advocacy, and education

Support and Service Organizations

• The Trevor Project - Provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ young people

• PFLAG - Organization for LGBTQ+ people, their families, and allies, providing support, education, and advocacy

• Trans Lifeline - Peer support hotline run by and for transgender people

• National LGBTQ Task Force - Works to advance full freedom, justice, and equality for LGBTQ+ people

• Point of Pride - Provides financial aid and direct support to transgender people in need

Organizations Focused on Transgender People of Color

• TransLatin@ Coalition - Advocates for the needs of transgender Latinx immigrants

• Black Trans Advocacy Coalition - Leads social justice initiatives for Black transgender people

• TGIJP (Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project) - Works to end human rights abuses against transgender people in prison

• NBJC (National Black Justice Coalition) - Civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black LGBTQ+/SGL people

• APIENC (API Equality - Northern California) - Builds transgender, non-binary, and queer Asian and Pacific Islander power

Conclusion

The call for "Transgender Rights Now" represents not just a demand for future progress but an urgent imperative to secure basic dignity, safety, and equality for transgender people facing immediate threats. In a political climate where transgender lives are increasingly used as wedge issues and where legislative attacks proliferate, affirming transgender rights becomes not just a matter of social justice but of life and death for many.

As we display the Our Values Are image with its declaration of "TRANSGENDER RIGHTS NOW," we assert that transgender rights cannot wait for more convenient political timing or broader consensus. We recognize that while progress has been made in some areas, transgender people continue to face discrimination, violence, and denial of basic rights that others take for granted.

By understanding the historical context of transgender activism, recognizing current challenges, and taking concrete actions at multiple levels, each of us can contribute to building a world where transgender people are fully respected, protected, and celebrated. This work is not just for the benefit of transgender individuals but serves to create a more just and compassionate society that values all people's authenticity and dignity.

In a time when transgender rights are under sustained attack, visibly declaring support for "TRANSGENDER RIGHTS NOW" represents a necessary stand against dehumanization and a commitment to immediate action. It acknowledges that transgender people deserve to live in safety and dignity today—not at some undefined future date when society might be more accepting.

Through education, advocacy, policy change, and cultural transformation, we can work together to ensure that transgender rights are recognized and protected. By doing so, we help create a world where all people can live authentically as their true selves, free from discrimination, violence, and unnecessary barriers to their full participation in society.

References

1. Stryker, S. (2017). Transgender History: The Roots of Today's Revolution (2nd ed.). Seal Press.

2. Nanda, S. (1999). Neither Man nor Woman: The Hijras of India. Wadsworth Publishing.

3. Meyerowitz, J. (2002). How Sex Changed: A History of Transsexuality in the United States. Harvard University Press.

4. Stryker, S. (2017). Transgender History: The Roots of Today's Revolution (2nd ed.). Seal Press.

5. Meyerowitz, J. (2002). How Sex Changed: A History of Transsexuality in the United States. Harvard University Press.

6. Denny, D. (2006). Transgender Communities of the United States in the Late Twentieth Century. In P. Currah, R. M. Juang, & S. P. Minter (Eds.), Transgender Rights (pp. 171-191). University of Minnesota Press.

7. Currah, P., Juang, R. M., & Minter, S. P. (Eds.). (2006). Transgender Rights. University of Minnesota Press.

8. Feinberg, L. (1992). Transgender Liberation: A Movement Whose Time Has Come. World View Forum.

9. Taylor, J. K., Lewis, D. C., & Haider-Markel, D. P. (2018). The Remarkable Rise of Transgender Rights. University of Michigan Press.

10. U.S. Department of Education & U.S. Department of Justice. (2016, May 13). Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students. Retrieved from https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201605-title-ix-transgender.pdf

11. Bostock v. Clayton County, 590 U.S. ___ (2020).

12. Kralik, J. (2019, July 17). "Bathroom Bill" Legislative Tracking. National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved from https://www.ncsl.org/research/education/-bathroom-bill-legislative-tracking.aspx

13. Movement Advancement Project. (2023). Equality Maps: Bans on Care for Transgender Youth. Retrieved from https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/healthcare_bans_for_transgender_youth

14. Human Rights Campaign. (2023, March 31). 2023 State Legislative Attacks on LGBTQ+ People. Retrieved from https://www.hrc.org/resources/2023-state-legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-people

15. Movement Advancement Project. (2023). Equality Maps: Bans on Care for Transgender Youth. Retrieved from https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/healthcare_bans_for_transgender_youth

16. Human Rights Campaign. (2023). Fatal Violence Against the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Community in 2022. Retrieved from https://www.hrc.org/resources/fatal-violence-against-the-transgender-and-gender-non-conforming-community-in-2022

17. Transgender Europe. (2023). Trans Murder Monitoring Update: Trans Day of Remembrance 2023. Retrieved from https://tgeu.org/tmm-update-tdor-2023/

18. The Trevor Project. (2023). 2023 National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2023/

19. Valentine, S. E., & Shipherd, J. C. (2018). A Systematic Review of Social Stress and Mental Health Among Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People in the United States. Clinical Psychology Review, 66, 24-38.

20. James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The Report of the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey. National Center for Transgender Equality.

21. Turban, J. L., King, D., Carswell, J. M., & Keuroghlian, A. S. (2020). Pubertal Suppression for Transgender Youth and Risk of Suicidal Ideation. Pediatrics, 145(2), e20191725.

22. International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. (2023). Trans Legal Mapping Report: Recognition Before the Law. Retrieved from https://ilga.org/trans-legal-mapping-report

23. Billard, T. J. (2019). Setting the Transgender Agenda: Intermedia Agenda-Setting in the Digital News Environment. Politics, Groups, and Identities, 7(1), 165-176.