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Hailey Cilano

12/7/15

Journalism

Cluster #3 (Option #1)

Transgender Discrimination

Caitlyn Jenner, Chaz Bono, Laverne Cox, Carmen Carrera, Brandon Teena, Sylvia
Rivera, Lili Elbe. All of these names mentioned, whether recognized or not, are important in
reflecting on those who fought for transgender rights and/or faced violence, sexual assault,
and/or discrimination for being transgendered. This is a battle that has been going on and been
reported, for at least 100 years, and is still being fought today. Transgenders are inflicted with
rape and told they deserve it, face job discrimination and are deemed as unprofessional,
experience hate crimes for being different, and have a high suicide rate due to not being
accepted. Their voice needs to be heard. This is the time for a change, for them to be seen as
people. They deserve to not be labeled as unordinary, but extraordinary because they have the
courage to be who they are.
In 1969 the LGBTQ community rallied at Stonewall Inn, a gay bar, in New York City.
They were fighting for LGBTQ rights. The media perceived this event in a New York Times
article, published 1969, titled 4 Policemen Hurt in Village Raid, the author is not listed. In the
article it reads that policemen came to break up the rebellion ...after a force of plain-clothes men
raided a bar that the policemen said was well known for its homosexual clientele, failing to
elaborate that transgenders took part in the rebellion as well. LGBTQ summarizes into gay and
transgender rights, but the transgender community is separate from the gay community, theyre
fighting a different battle. One doesnt need to be gay to be transgendered; its an identity, not a
sexual orientation. Being transgendered involves an individuals wish to be viewed with the

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pronoun of his/her desire, regardless of the gender he/she was born into. It is the aspiration for
society to view him/her with the gender he/she relates with.
By only stating in the article the homosexual clientele, the media brings no recognition
to the transgender community, disregarding them. In addition, an early time period like the
1960s, was a time where being gay or transgendered was still very much frowned upon, as can
be reflected by the title of the article 4 Policemen Hurt in Village Raid. The article sheds no
light on what the group was fighting for and why they were organizing, to take a stand for
LGBTQ rights. It just focuses on the policemen that were hurt and makes it seem like the people
of the LGBTQ community were performing a disservice and were causing a hateful uproar.
Sylvia Rivera was one of the transgender woman, activists of the 1960s. She organized
the Stonewall Inn movement and created a safehouse for transgender runaways that she titled
STAR. She desired to include transgenders in the lesbian and gay rights movement that was
going on and to give them a voice as well. In 2002, she passed away of liver disease. 2002
wasnt very long ago, about 13 years, and even then transgenders were written about with little
respect.
In the Village Voice article, published 2002, 7 days after Riveras death, titled A Woman
for her Time, by writer Riki Wilchins, Wilchins states, Sylvia was one of those outcast femmy
boys and butchy girls she worried so much about, in describing Riveras death and what she
stood for. It is appreciative for Wilchins to reflect on Rivera and the difference she made, but the
diction he used can be deemed as disrespectful, with words such as femmy boys and butchy
girls. Even in a more recent time, there was still a misunderstanding on how to represent the
transgender community and write about them in the media. Using jargon such as this, doesnt

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bring attention to the transgender community in a positive way, but makes them seem like freaks
or outcasts.
Brandon Teena was an example of a transgendered man that faced violence. He was
raped and murdered in 1993. Unfortunately, I couldnt find any mainstream media articles
reporting on the death of Teena, at the time it happened. It just goes to show how unimportant it
seemed, by the media, to discuss at that time. While murders are mentioned often in mainstream
media, the killing of a transgendered 22-year-old, seemed unimportant. What I did find were
articles written years later, discussing the injustice of Teenas murder. In the 1996, New York
Times article Shunning 'He' and 'She,' They Fight for Respect by journalist Carey Goldberg,
Goldberg reflects on the murder of Teena, Goldberg labels Teena as ...a young woman living as a
man, instead of calling him a him. She later calls transgendered woman Nancy Nangeroni a
...male-to-female transsexual, instead of just a female.
I find the diction during this decade interesting, when the media still felt the need to explain
to the reader the specifics of being transgendered, whether the individual was changing his/her
identification from a man to a woman or a woman to a man. In comparison with nowadays, when
transgenders are labeled with the pronoun of their desired gender, just him or her, no need for an
explanation. It goes to show that this day and age is more understanding of the transgender
community and his/her decision to become transgendered.

Leelah Alcorn, a transgender 17-year-old youth, committed suicide on December 28,

2014, because she faced unacceptance for being transgendered. This is a current issue, having
happened just last year. In showing how the media has advanced in writing about transgender
issues, writer Mitch Kellaway is a good example. In The Advocate article, published in 2015,
titled New Details Emerge as Officials Rule Leelah Alcorn's Death a Suicide by journalist
Kellaway, Kellaway uses the pronoun she/her in writing about Alcorn, providing the accurate

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pronoun she wished to be identified as. It goes to show the improvements that have been made in
identifying transgenders in the media. But, the unfortunate lack of advancement in transgender
equality, leading to Alcorns unfortunate suicide.
One of the earliest reports of someone becoming transgendered, was a transgendered
woman, from the 1920s, named Lili Elbe. Her story was published into a piece of fiction titled
The Danish Girl, by David Ebershoff , in the year 2000. Ebershoff used actual excerpts from
Elbes diary to help him write the novel. It is also recently being portrayed in a movie based on
the book. In the Reuters article, published in 2015, titled Redmayne, Playing 1920s Transsexual,
Finds It 'Shocking' How Little Has Changed by journalist Edward Baran, Baran states, Some
of the things that...Lili specifically has to go through of violence, discrimination, almost 100
years on from that story, those things haven't necessarily changed, in quoting EddieF
Redmayne, who played Elbe in the film. Redmayne reflected on the lack of understanding and
acceptance Elbe faced in her decision and brutality she had to endure in becoming herself.
Another example of lack of acceptance, can be seen with further discussing Alcorns
suicide. Kellaway writes about Alcorns death stating, ...a letter titled Suicide Note was posted
to Alcorn's Tumblr blog, explaining that she was a transgender girl who had experienced painful
rejection from her community and family, she wished for the trans youth to feel safe and
accepted. A deep desire for the trans youth especially is to feel wanted. When trans people cant
feel that from their peers, and their families especially, many of them resort to suicide.
Unfortunately, Alcorn is just one example of a trans individual who ended their life due to the
lack of resources provided and acceptance for being transgendered.
In the New York Times article, published in 2015, titled Beyond Caitlyn Jenner Lies a
Long Struggle by Transgender People by journalist Clyde Haberman, Haberman sources a 2011

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survey showing that ...41% of the 6,450 [transgender] people interviewed had tried to kill
themselves, from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey. Additionally, Kellaway
sources another statistic on trans suicides stating that ...a striking 41% of trans people attempt
suicide each year, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National
LGBTQ Task Force.
Another issue that transgenders face revolves around sexual assault. In reflecting back to
Teena, an article portrays the conversation between a police officer and Teena, after Teena
reported his rape. In an article from The Atlantic, published in 2013, titled Two Decades After
Brandon Teena's Murder, a Look Back at Falls City by writer Stephanie Fairyington,
Fairyington portrays the dialogue that was found between the police officer and Teena writing:
C [Cop]: [A]fter he pulled your pants down and seen you was a girl, what did he do? Did he
fondle you any?
B [Teena]: No.
C: He didn't fondle you any, huh. Didn't that kind of amaze you?...Doesn't that kind of, ah, get
your attention somehow that he would've put his hands in your pants and play with you a little
bit?
...
C: [Y]ou were all half-ass drunk....I can't believe that if he pulled your pants down and you are a
female that he didn't stick his hand in you or his finger in you.
The interaction between the police officer and Teena was considered a third rape and
rightfully so. The police officer showed no remorse or comfort for what happened to Teena, but
made it seem that Teena deserved it for being transgendered. The police officer was never put on
probation for his insubordination and Teena was murdered shortly after the interaction. The

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police officer had a duty to serve and protect, but instead chose to hurt and incriminate. Thats
what transgenders faced back then and even today. They face violence and sexual assault, but
then have the situation turned on them, like it was their fault, like they asked for it because
theyre transgendered. In a 2011 study done by the National Center for Transgender Equality,
61% were the victim of physical assault and 64% for sexual assault... of the 6,400 transgender
and gender nonconforming people interviewed.
Another example of sexual assault can be found with an individual named Lourdes
Ashley. Ashley, a black transgender woman, founded an organization titled Trans Women of
Color Collective, on September 2013. The organization wishes to bring attention to cruelty
faced by trans women of color and provide strength to the black transgender community. Ashley
experienced her own form of cruelty for being transgendered when she was homeless and forced
to be placed in a mens shelter. She was later raped in that shelter, for being transgendered. In the
New York Times video, published 2015, titled Transgender Issues Today are Rooted in a
Decades-Long Struggle for Acceptance by news organization Retro Report, in which Ashley
states her experience in reporting the rape expressing, When I went to the shelter staff, they
blamed me. They told me that I didn't have to be there. That it was my choice to live this lifestyle
that I was living; the staff felt that she deserved it.
Going back in time a little ways, when black people were slaves, black women in
particular were seen as sex objects. Being transgender is a difficult lifestyle, especially for the
black community. Even in todays standards, when a black transgendered person is raped, it is
not taken as seriously. There are those that feel that that transgendered individual deserves it.
That since he/she chose to be transgendered, he/she should have expected it. Their rape can be

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disregarded. Ashleys past experience is heartbreaking, which is why its important and necessary
that organizations like the one she founded be created.
Specific organizations such as this, for people of color, bring these stories out into the
world to help others understand. Transgenders of color have to fight their battle that much harder
to be taken seriously and its a battle theyre still fighting today. Thankfully, there are people like
Laverne Cox, a transgender black woman who stars in the Netflix original Orange is the New
Black and received Glamour magazines, 2014, Woman of the Year. She became an idol for
the transgender community. She showed power in being transgendered and brought strength and
respect to the black transgendered community, especially.
Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, also received positive recognition. Jenner graced
the front page of Vanity Fair when she made the transition to become transgendered. She went
on to star in her current, reality show I am Cait, and received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award,
in 2015, for being an Olympic icon and inspiring public figure. Personally, I adore Jenner and am
a big fan of her show. What is interesting however, and no disrespect towards Jenner, is that
while many people becoming transgendered have faced many difficulties and unfortunate
circumstances, Jenner has received high recognition and has had many things handed to her. She
doesnt understand the battles transgendered people have had to endure. Due to her social status,
the media has idolized Jenner, as if she is the first person to come out as transgendered. Its great
that she can be a face for the transgendered community, but shes not the first.
I am proud for Jenner for receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, but there have been
many transgendered people before her that know the hardships in transitioning and didnt have it
easy, and theyve received no recognition. In watching her show, some trans people are frustrated
that Jenner has had things handed to her and seems to have it easier than their lives have been.

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While some had to perform what they called sex jobs, or prostitution, for money to pay for
their surgeries, Jenner had the money to be able to pay for it herself. While they cant get jobs
because of being transgendered, Jenner experiences praise and wealth. While they had to learn
how to transition on their own, Jenner has people that do her makeup and hair every morning. It
goes to show that status and wealth can affect the outcome and lifestyle for transgender
individuals.
It is difficult for the transgender community to be liked, even by some other members of
the LGBTQ, making it harder for them to fit it with any organization. They were viewed as
monsters, especially during the 90s, when gay rights and transgender rights were still frowned
upon and not understood. They found it difficult to even get jobs at that time, as Goldberg
portrays an example with transgendered woman Nancy Nangeroni who ...found she could not get
a job if she volunteered that she was a male-to-female transsexual, but had no problem if she kept
silent, showing another example of discrimination towards the transgendered community. In the

study done by the National Center for Transgender Equality, it showed that Ninety percent (90%)
of those surveyed reported experiencing harassment, mistreatment or discrimination on the job or
took actions like hiding who they are to avoid it, from 2011.

In reflecting on the controversy that still exists in regards to transgenders, the current
New York Times article Illinois District Violated Transgender Student's Rights, U.S. Says by
journalists Mitch Smith and Monica Davey, published 2015, shows that the transgender
community still has a long way to go in achieving equality and their rights are still not
particularly understood. Smith and Davey discuss the situation in which "...it [the school] did not
allow a transgender student who identifies as a girl and participates on a girls sports team to
change and shower in the girls locker room without restrictions; it seems like such a
controversial topic, even today.

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In reading the article, it went back and forth between opposing beliefs on whether she
should change in a girl's locker room, boy's locker room, or privately. Personally, I feel that since
she identifies as a she, she should be allowed to change in the girl's locker room. Those in favor
of transgender individuals being allowed to change where they feel comfortable, chimed in on
the topic. A letter sent, from the Office of Civil Rights, to the Department of Education stated,
"...that requiring a transgender student to use private changing and showering facilities was a
violation of that students rights under Title IX, a federal law that bans sex discrimination;"
showing a clear example of allowing the transgendered student the right to use the locker room
with the gender she identifies with. However, there are those that disagree. An opposing plan
"...entails having the student change beyond privacy curtains in the girls locker room, showing
that this is a situation that still requires room for discussion and hasnt gained full acceptance.
Back in the early 1900s, it was illegal to be a crossdresser. Transgenders were
disregarded, ignored, and deemed as strange. The media didnt know how to write about the
transgendered community, even on an unbiased note, using politically incorrect terminology and
incorrect pronouns for what the transgender individual identified as. As time progressed, not
much changed, as transgenders experienced job discrimination, sexual assault, violence, and
were still ignored. Currently, the media has begun to develop an understanding on how to
properly portray transgendered people, using appropriate pronouns. Transgendered people are
being viewed with more acceptable. They are being deemed as inspirational as well, through
shows such as I am Cait, role models like Laverne Cox, and organizations being created to
bring awareness to transgenders, like the Trans Women of Color Collective. However, there is
still a fight to be fought. Suicide is at a high rate, and discrimination and violence still occur.

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People need to recognize transgenders as people and help take part in the fight to bringing full
equality and acceptance to the transgender community.
Opinion Portion
To further my understanding of transgender policies in the school setting, I met with Dr.
Jeffry Iovannone. Iovannone is a professor here at SUNY Fredonia, with a professional
background in women and gender studies. In speaking to Iovannone, he stressed what meant a
great deal to him was that, All students should have equal opportunity to succeed and feel
safe and learn, grow, experiment, try new things in terms of knowledge and identification.
He, and others that take the time to learn about transgender equality, understand the importance
of providing acceptance to transgenders. Transgender rights are an important issue that not many
know about. When people hear gender violence, many immediately jump to violence against
women and, though that is a controversial topic, its not the only one. Transgenders have faced a
lot of discrimination and violence and its people like Iovannone, that allow their voices to be
heard.
In reflecting on the situation regarding bathroom placement in a SUNY college setting,
Iovannone helped clarify that under Title IX, schools that receive federal funding cant
discriminate in regards to gender identity. No documentation from the individual, regarding
gender, is necessary, but whichever gender the individual identifies with is the bathroom he/she
can use. In addition, SUNY schools, like Fredonia, are looking into organizing gender inclusive
bathrooms that pertain to an all gender restroom. Its a relief to receive this information. Its
refreshing to hear the education system taking steps in the right direction to accommodate the
needs of transgender individuals and make them feel comfortable. These are the kind of steps
that need to continue to be made. If I were transgendered, I know that Id want the right to be

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able to use facilities pertaining to the gender I identify as. I don't just desire to use female
facilities because I am a woman, but because I identify as a woman as well.
Similar, in regards to dorming, dorms in the college setting are gender inclusive for
Sophomores and up. This allows for individuals to be placed in the dorm with whatever gender
he/she feels comfortable with, whether it is with the gender he/she identifies with or was born
with. There is a full comfort provided in doing this and goes to show the advancements that have
been made in taking transgender rights into consideration. Unfortunately, freshmen are not
allowed gender inclusive dorms, where theyre allowed to dorm with a female or male, but in
many instances the freshman can choose the gender of the individual he/she will be dormed with,
and that in itself is positive. Even Governor Cuomo has brought attention to SUNY schools
recognizing the expanded categories of gender, whether male, female, gender queer, bisexual,
and so on.
In addition, it is internationally known that November 20 is the Transgender Day of
Remembrance. This day brings attention to trans people who have lost their lives due to violence.
SUNY Fredonia acknowledged this day, just a few weeks ago, by hanging a pink, blue, and white
transgendered flag between the Williams Center and McEwen. Another moment of shedding
light on transgender rights. Transgenders thrive for equality, just like anyone else, and its harder
to do when they are faced with discrimination and disrespect. Days that honor those that have
lost their lives fighting for acceptance, deserve to be remembered. Not enough information is
brought to individuals on the circumstances transgenders face. Its important to get the word out
every way possible to bring people together as one, regardless of gender, race, or status.
In closing my interview with Iovannone, he brought up the importance that, Climate is
changing rapidly...gender is more diverse. Days like the Transgender Day of Remembrance and

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regulations allowing gender inclusive bathrooms and dormitories are steps in the right direction.
I hope for more. Even with this paper, I hope that it has been able to bring attention to
transgender violence and a new outlook on the matter for the reader. Professors like Iovannone
teach this material to take part in bringing equality to transgenders and help people understand
the importance of it. Something as simple as changing a sign on the bathroom, provides a huge
comfort to someones life in which they can finally feel accepted and safe. Writing papers like
this one, sheds light on an issue that isnt discussed enough. Hopefully, in reading this, the reader
can begin to think of ways that he/she can help as well, even if its something as simple as
spreading the word along. Were all equals, we all matter, and its time everyone realized that.