The three terms LGBTQ, youth and homelessness upset me when put together. Last week, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless hosted a panel on LGBTQ youth homelessness as part of their education series, bringing light and resources to a struggling community.
Sitting in the room as a straight, cisgender woman surrounded by allies and advocates, all I felt was support for those who were not privileged enough to be in that room too. Those in attendance sought resources for LGBTQ youth and asked difficult questions that some of the panelists could not fully answer. My peers were educated on these issues, and sometimes knew more than the panelists did.
The hot topic in the room was the quality of life for people who are transgender. It became evident that these folks have a lot more difficulty throughout life than those who identify as LGBQ. As youth, they are misplaced in homeless shelters. At medical facilities, they are misgendered and do not receive adequate treatment, or their treatment is uncomfortable for them. When checking into shelters, they can be denied based on that shelter's religious affiliations. At nursing homes, their gender is often not recognized and they become mishoused. As transgender folks age, there are less and less resources available to them -- 20 to 40-year-olds have a relatively numerous amount at their disposable, while those from the Baby Boomer and Generation X eras are out of luck.
What struck me as disconcerting was fact that studies and measurable statistics about people who are transgender are being discontinued at an alarming rate. Under the current administration, this is the norm. One of the panelists summed it up when they said, "What you don't measure doesn't exist." However, one cannot wish away people because of their gender identity. Those who are transgender are human beings and, I'd like to think, deserve to have adequate medical treatment, equal employment opportunities and equitable civic engagement opportunities as those who are cisgendered.
It's scary that human beings are increasingly treated less than they are. What does that mean for other marginalized folks? Near the three-year anniversary of marriage equality, what does this trend mean for them? What about those whose identities cross many marginalized intersections -- youth and elderly folks, those discriminated by race and gender, people seeing economic disparities, (I could go on forever) etc.?
The upside is that, as allies, we can do something about it. The Church has a theological obligation to love and care for all of creation (see the Human Sexuality social statement). This means that we can educate our neighbors, advocate for our LGBTQ friends and (the easiest one) vote in any and all elections. So, why not use our privilege to make a difference?
-Intern Katie
The hot topic in the room was the quality of life for people who are transgender. It became evident that these folks have a lot more difficulty throughout life than those who identify as LGBQ. As youth, they are misplaced in homeless shelters. At medical facilities, they are misgendered and do not receive adequate treatment, or their treatment is uncomfortable for them. When checking into shelters, they can be denied based on that shelter's religious affiliations. At nursing homes, their gender is often not recognized and they become mishoused. As transgender folks age, there are less and less resources available to them -- 20 to 40-year-olds have a relatively numerous amount at their disposable, while those from the Baby Boomer and Generation X eras are out of luck.
What struck me as disconcerting was fact that studies and measurable statistics about people who are transgender are being discontinued at an alarming rate. Under the current administration, this is the norm. One of the panelists summed it up when they said, "What you don't measure doesn't exist." However, one cannot wish away people because of their gender identity. Those who are transgender are human beings and, I'd like to think, deserve to have adequate medical treatment, equal employment opportunities and equitable civic engagement opportunities as those who are cisgendered.
It's scary that human beings are increasingly treated less than they are. What does that mean for other marginalized folks? Near the three-year anniversary of marriage equality, what does this trend mean for them? What about those whose identities cross many marginalized intersections -- youth and elderly folks, those discriminated by race and gender, people seeing economic disparities, (I could go on forever) etc.?
The upside is that, as allies, we can do something about it. The Church has a theological obligation to love and care for all of creation (see the Human Sexuality social statement). This means that we can educate our neighbors, advocate for our LGBTQ friends and (the easiest one) vote in any and all elections. So, why not use our privilege to make a difference?
-Intern Katie
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