Transgender Laws in America Essay - 1096 Words

Americans are often seen as a beacon of freedom but are the people truly free? The citizens of America are entitled to their rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of choice but when it comes to their sexuality or gender identity, their freedoms are limited whether by law or by a person’s opinion. Although there are rights that are law, it does not mean the people would obey the laws accordingly. Discrimination and harassment against transgender and people of a different sexuality is common among people under the age of 25. Studies shows that about 49 percent of transgender people under the age of 25 have attempted suicide because they were harassed (Ford). Transgender people are allowed the same basic rights as other citizens, but†¦show more content†¦Not only do students have mixed feelings but there are also parents who oppose the idea of allowing transgender students to pick their bathroom and sport team to join. Parents worry that there could be certain cr iminal activity if transgenders were allowed to choose which bathroom to use, but the law reflects the modern times and calls for change. Worries about having transgenders pick their own bathroom or locker room is preventing them from having the sense of security and importance that they should feel within their schools. A testimony from a 16 year old transgender boy from Manteca, California shows that all he wants is to not be deterred from the same options that normal high school boys at his school get, â€Å"I just want to be treated the same as all the other boys†¦ my school forces me to take a gym class with all girls†¦ leaves me feeling isolated and alone†¦ (Yan).† Although there are worries of allowing transgenders to pick their bathrooms; transgender are citizens of America and deserve the same opportunities, such as choosing which sport team to participate in or which bathroom and locker room to use, as other citizens. They are being alienated and all they want is to be able to have the same choices, such as restroom rights, available to them. Jocelyn Samuels, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division states, â€Å"All students, includingShow MoreRelatedGender Identification : An Exploration Of The Transgender Group1625 Words   |  7 PagesGender Identification: An Exploration of the Transgender Group and Their Relationship in Society Gender identification and expression of transgender individuals has become controversial in America because of lack of knowledge and societal acculturation of this group. As society continues to connect gender identity with sexual identity, those who identify as transgender are forced to conform to the cultural norms of society or choose not to openly portray their gender expression. Although the mediaRead MoreGender Politics : Are We Concerned About The Wrong Safety?1299 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Will I go into this room and be assaulted, or will I go into the other and be potentially arrested?† This isn t a scenario from a horror story; this is just a day in the life of a transgender man trying to use a public restroom. An everyday situation like this can be both stressful and filled with anxiety. Transgender is defined as â€Å"An umbrella term that describes people whose gender identity or gender expression differs from expectations associated with the sex assigned to t hem at birth.† With thisRead MoreRacial Equality And The Transgender Community1186 Words   |  5 PagesIn America today, a minority group is being discriminated against in great severity, being treated as perverts and as the mentally ill for looking different and wanting the same rights and respect as other American citizens. This group of people is the transgender community. To introduce the idea, the term transgender can be used as a blanket term to describe the standard mentality of having been born the wrong gender, one who defies social gender-based norms by doing things such as cross-dressingRead MoreThe Rights For Transgender Youth Essay1179 Words   |  5 Pages Rights for Transgender Youth- In the Classroom Hannah Wintz Ball State University School is thought of as a safe, friendly environment for all to learn and share their ideas, creativity, and opinions. It should be, especially since Americans send their children to school, five days a week, seven hours a day. Unfortunately, not all children feel that their safety is ensured at their schools. Transgender youth feel as if they cannot be their true selves in an environment that’s supposedRead MoreAlex Wen. Ms. Mendola. Ap Language And Composition. 9 January1171 Words   |  5 PagesJanuary 2017 The Battle of Transgender Equality Everyone is given a gender the moment they are born. At birth they are either one of two genders: masculine or feminine. This gender everyone is assigned affects many of our day to day actions and our looks. However some people may evolve differently as they grow up and may not fit the rigid boundaries set for the sex they were assigned at birth. In recent years there has been a boom in a third considered gender: the transgender population. However withRead MoreHouse Bill : The Rights Of The United States1545 Words   |  7 Pagesdiscrimination is all too common. Discriminatory laws and practices occur all over the United States daily and affect many minority groups. In recent months, North Carolina passed a new law, House Bill 2 or BH2, that requires individuals to use the bathroom of their biological sex, or what sex they were born. House Bill 2 violates the rights of thousands of individuals and has caused many social justice issues to come to light. House Bill 2 affects transgender individuals all over the United States. HB2Read MoreA Comprehensive Look At Information Regarding The Transgender Community1420 Words   |  6 PagesOver the course of this paper, we will take a comprehensive look at information regarding the Transgender community issue in reference to four key sociology concepts. First, we will review information highlighting how transgender people come to the forefront of the public eye as well as the bathroom use uproar sweeping the nation. Next, we will review facts showcasing how transgender people go against the social norm of associating gender with a person’s given birth sex. Thirdly, we will review informationRead MorePolicing The Potty, The Dark Veil Of Protection883 Words   |  4 Pagesbathrooms under the thin veil of protection. Bathroom facilities should no longer be segregated by gender to prevent transgender-based discrimination, therefore decreasing the prominence of depression associated wit h transgender people because a binary view of gender is flawed. Western society has commonly viewed gender in a binary way: male and female. However, the emergence of transgender people in the media has challenged this core idea, publicizing the fact that gender is merely a social constructRead MoreThe Issue Of Gay Rights1505 Words   |  7 Pagesaccepting. Despite those gains the LGBT still faces problems and have tried to push for laws that may eliminate discrimination. To gain those rights and end discrimination they must first fight for them and some argue if the LGBT really needs the rights they are asking for. Gay rights are a typical hot button in the press that generally revolves around marriage. LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) focuses on sexually oriented rights, and they have made a lot of progress by legalizingRead MoreThe Gay Is Good Campaign1580 Words   |  7 PagesAmerica, in some way or another, has always had obstacles with segregation. It’s been happening since the beginning of time, but the biggest one was with black rights. In the mid-19th century, the â€Å"Jim Crow† law mandated the â€Å"separate but equal† status. African American’s had separate schools, churches, bathrooms, sections in restaurants, and they sat in different parts of the bus than Caucasians. Blacks were treated unfairly, and finally, after a hundred years of standing up for themselves, they