This is the door that opens for y'all. Not me. For y'all. It just made me realize that I'm not alone and that I don't have to go through this one. This is what success looks looks like. This is what community looks like. Mm hmm. Mm hmm. What does it mean to be transgender for a prom queen? It means leaving the football team to become the woman she's always wanted to be for a high school soccer player. It means fighting to play the game she loves. And for hundreds of others, it means striving to find peace and safety in a world that's not always accepting. MJ Rodriguez has just made history becoming the first transgender actress to win a golden globe for her role on pose. A show that's broken barriers by portraying storylines with trans characters played by trans actors. That recognition is a long time coming for the transgender community. Rodriguez and her peers bring visibility and awareness nationwide. These two high school students are doing the same thing in their communities. So I played football for about like six years, 6-8. And I remember, you know, during practices, I'd stare at the cheerleaders because I wanted to be with them. Evan bile. Asuka Nia was crowned Olympia High School's first transgender homecoming queen in the fall of 2021 in florida. She started transitioning just a few months before and when her classmates voted to give her the crown and Sash, it meant everything. And so did having a supportive date by her side. It just made me feel like I was actually I actually belong, not just like a joke because I was one of my fears. I was like in bed one night and just like what if they're just doing this to laugh at me. He made me feel just like any other girl. I was talking to a person that's on prom committee and they said that you won prom queen And I was just like, are you being serious in 2018 at homestead high school in Wisconsin. Then jr Nikko Nelson was crowned Prom Queen. She transitioned in junior high and said that she had her family and best friends support something that not all trans teens are fortunate enough to have. I was a boy when I met her and then when I started transitioning, she, I didn't think of me differently. People love makeup. Like love her and I'm like glad people can see her as the way I see her. I didn't win prom queen for being a transgender girl. I went prom queen for being Nico nelson. These young women have found support in their communities, but that's not always the case for many others across the country who face discrimination and violence Around the country. There's been an epidemic of murder of trans people. In fact, this year is the highest year, 48 murders that we've been able to count this year since we've been recording trans murders. The human rights campaign began keeping track in 2013 Since then at least 250 transgender or gender nonconforming people have been killed, The majority being women of Colour. One was Marquesa Lawrence. She was shot and killed in Greenville South Carolina on November 4, 2021. I just wish people stop being so heartless, care more love more understand, we love our family and she was a big part of it. Another was bee, love slater who was murdered on september 4th 2019 and Clewiston florida. She was such a kind heart and for someone that young and so kind spirited to be taken away so early is very devastating to anyone transgender day of remembrance honors their memory and the other victims of violence. But activists say the true number is much higher than what we know they're very common. And the reason that they're not seen in the headlines is that trans people often go unnoticed. Their stories are not heard. The story that often gets attention. The effort to ban transgender students from playing sports. I think it sends a really dangerous message to trans Children. I think the message that is being sent right now is that they are not worth protecting and that and that they're somehow less than or wrong states are introducing legislation to ban transgender athletes from competing as young as elementary school students. We believe in the state of florida of protecting the fairness and the integrity of women's athletics florida is one of several states that have passed laws, supporters say it's about fairness. But opponents say these bills do the opposite. The biggest problem with this issue is that you're underestimating how how good girls are at sports. Like that is. The worst part about saying it's unfair is you're telling girls they're already weaker. Please don't deny other transgender girls the opportunity to have these experiences and ability to be on a team. Just having fun and being active and learning about sportsmanship. Everybody should be able to participate regardless of their gender identity. The Justice Department, the Human rights Campaign and the w have all challenged these bands in court on behalf of transgender teens who may have been sidelined. Many of the lawsuits are still pending as these lawsuits go forward. Members of the trans community are undeterred using their voices to fight for acceptance by having that flag being up where it is. It shows that we're not alone, that there is folks that support us that support our friends and family that support our community. We're just people right. We are people like everyone else and we want to feel safe and feel inclusion in our communities. Just know that there are people out there like me who love you and accept you for who you are and you will be forever loved by everybody out there. Mm hmm. Mm hmm
Clarified: Experiences of transgender teens in American schools
Throughout Pride Month, the Clarified series will explore the experiences of LGBTQ people.
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Updated: 4:12 PM CDT Jun 6, 2022
Project CommUNITY is an ongoing initiative across Hearst Television to put a spotlight on diverse voices in our communities. The initiative is built around regular coverage of people who are working to make a difference and stories detailing the history of the battle for Civil Rights, inclusion and social change across America.This Clarified episode was originally published on March 30, 2022, as a part of the Women's History Month series. What does it mean to be transgender? For a prom queen, it means leaving the football team to become the woman she wants to be; for a high school soccer player, it means fighting to play the game she loves; and for hundreds of others, it means striving to find peace and safety in a world that is not always so accepting.Violence against the transgender community has continued to rise. In 2021, 48 transgender or gender-nonconforming people were killed, according to the Human Rights Campaign. That is the highest yearly total since the organization began tracking the data in 2013. The majority of the victims were people of color. National Transgender Day of Remembrance honors these victims and their memory every year on November 20.The transgender community has also faced growing discrimination. Thus far 14 states have passed laws banning transgender athletes from participating in sports. Several lawsuits on behalf of transgender athletes are pending to challenge those bans.In 2022, Florida's controversial Parental Rights in Education bill, also known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill was passed. Shortly after, 20 other states introduced similar bills. Also in 2022, Texas attempted to restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. Gov. Greg Abbott also ordered the state's Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate families of transgender youth for child abuse. This order was later upheld by the Texas Supreme Court. Recently, Florida has made moves to ban gender affirming medical care for youth and medicaid recipients of all ages. In his first State of the Union, President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass the Equality Act, a federal law that would protect those who identify as LGBTQ from discrimination. According to Congress.gov., "this bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Specifically, the bill defines and includes sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation. The bill expands the definition of public accommodations to include places or establishments that provide (1) exhibitions, recreation, exercise, amusement, gatherings, or displays; (2) goods, services, or programs; and (3) transportation services. The bill allows the Department of Justice to intervene in equal protection actions in federal court on account of sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill prohibits an individual from being denied access to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual's gender identity." Throughout Pride Month, Clarified will explore the experiences of LGBTQ people.
Project CommUNITY is an ongoing initiative across Hearst Television to put a spotlight on diverse voices in our communities. The initiative is built around regular coverage of people who are working to make a difference and stories detailing the history of the battle for Civil Rights, inclusion and social change across America.
This Clarified episode was originally published on March 30, 2022, as a part of the Women's History Month series.
What does it mean to be transgender? For a prom queen, it means leaving the football team to become the woman she wants to be; for a high school soccer player, it means fighting to play the game she loves; and for hundreds of others, it means striving to find peace and safety in a world that is not always so accepting.
Violence against the transgender community has continued to rise. In 2021, 48 transgender or gender-nonconforming people were killed, according to the Human Rights Campaign. That is the highest yearly total since the organization began tracking the data in 2013. The majority of the victims were people of color. National Transgender Day of Remembrance honors these victims and their memory every year on November 20.
The transgender community has also faced growing discrimination. Thus far 14 states have passed laws banning transgender athletes from participating in sports. Several lawsuits on behalf of transgender athletes are pending to challenge those bans.
In 2022, Florida's controversial Parental Rights in Education bill, also known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill was passed. Shortly after, 20 other states introduced similar bills.
Also in 2022, Texas attempted to restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. Gov. Greg Abbott also ordered the state's Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate families of transgender youth for child abuse. This order was later upheld by the Texas Supreme Court.
Recently, Florida has made moves to ban gender affirming medical care for youth and medicaid recipients of all ages.
In his first State of the Union, President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass the Equality Act, a federal law that would protect those who identify as LGBTQ from discrimination. According to Congress.gov., "this bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Specifically, the bill defines and includes sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation. The bill expands the definition of public accommodations to include places or establishments that provide (1) exhibitions, recreation, exercise, amusement, gatherings, or displays; (2) goods, services, or programs; and (3) transportation services. The bill allows the Department of Justice to intervene in equal protection actions in federal court on account of sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill prohibits an individual from being denied access to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual's gender identity."
Throughout Pride Month, Clarified will explore the experiences of LGBTQ people.
