Post by Ayla on Apr 9, 2016 15:41:30 GMT 8
www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_29739491/panel-transgender-youth-brings-blend-hope-and-fear
SAN JOSE -- The myriad problems, dangers, concerns, confusion and obstacles faced daily by transgender youths were part of a wide-ranging community discussion Thursday between Rep. Mike Honda and advocates, who expressed a range of emotions from hope to fear.
Headed by Honda, D-San Jose, chairman of the congressional Transgender Equality Task Force, and a West Hollywood nonprofit called the Trevor Project, the meeting in San Jose laid out the growing number of local, state and national programs and agencies dedicated to protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youngsters.
"We're asking society what policies can you adopt, what educating can you do and how does everyone work together to make them happen?" asked Abbe Land, executive director of the Trevor Project, which provides crisis and suicide prevention for LGBTQ people ages 13-24. "I think these dialogues are important because a lot of people want to do the right thing, and hearing others talk about doing the right thing helps inspire them."
Last year, Honda famously tweeted a typical proud grandpa missive about 8-year-old granddaughter Malisa, whom he described as being transgender. Born male, Malisa identifies as a girl, and she and the congressman went viral with their message. The duo got back support and good wishes from all over the world, and since then, Honda has championed the LGBTQ cause and often condemns accompanying verbal and psychological violence.
Even at school, Honda said, "transgender kids face a lot of unique issues. They often they have inadequate access to athletics, to student organizations or to proper facilities." A federal official told the gathering how "bathroom issues" alone cause problems coast to coast.
"We do not fully protect transgender kids with our health care system," added Honda. "No one no one should be denied respect for just being who they are."
According to figures laid out at the forum in the Isaac Newton Senter Auditorium, inside the Santa Clara County building, there are 1 million transgender individuals in the U.S. One survey revealed that 75 percent of transgender youths feel unsafe at school and nearly half of all transgender students have been physically bullied. Also, 41 percent of transgender people attempt suicide, with the highest rates for those who are 18-24 years old and multiracial.
Most of the conversation involved the mind-boggling complexities faced not only by transgender kids, but by the haplessly confused people in their lives: parents, siblings, teachers, administrators, employers, coaches and friends. How, they asked, do we keep them safe while so many are confronting centuries of notions, beliefs and prejudices around sexuality issues?
One panel member declared that caring nonprofits have toiled alone for decades on such challenges. Now, they are grateful that other individuals and social and political organizations are moving into cultural battle stations.
"Now that we have some help, let's make some difference in people's lives and do so for the parents, for the schools, for anybody who is affected," said Tiffany Woods, a transgender advocate and parent. "We have been waiting and needing this for so long, and finally it's here, and everyone wants to know -- what do we do?"
The panelists' messages were varied. On the one hand, new wars must be waged as some states -- such as North Carolina -- are actually birthing new laws aimed at allowing discrimination against the LGBTQ community.
On the other hand, they said, many who care about young people with gender-identity issues are hampered by their own puzzlement. Well-meaning questions include: What are the right ways to proceed? What do we need to know -- to say? What are the correct terms to use? How do we respond to verbal and physical attacks? What questions need to be asked and answered immediately? How do we stay educated in the long term?
The panel said answering such broad-based questions and more will be the continuing work of Honda's task force.
In a perfect Silicon Valley conclusion, everyone was asked for hashtags that would properly identify the feeling coming out of the session. All 12 panel members participated, with examples that included: hashtag, you'll be OK; hashtag, find your voice; hashtag, we've got your back; hashtag, you're perfect; hashtag, we are all here; hashtag, you are not alone; hashtag, speak up; hashtag, we're ready for change.
SAN JOSE -- The myriad problems, dangers, concerns, confusion and obstacles faced daily by transgender youths were part of a wide-ranging community discussion Thursday between Rep. Mike Honda and advocates, who expressed a range of emotions from hope to fear.
Headed by Honda, D-San Jose, chairman of the congressional Transgender Equality Task Force, and a West Hollywood nonprofit called the Trevor Project, the meeting in San Jose laid out the growing number of local, state and national programs and agencies dedicated to protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youngsters.
"We're asking society what policies can you adopt, what educating can you do and how does everyone work together to make them happen?" asked Abbe Land, executive director of the Trevor Project, which provides crisis and suicide prevention for LGBTQ people ages 13-24. "I think these dialogues are important because a lot of people want to do the right thing, and hearing others talk about doing the right thing helps inspire them."
Last year, Honda famously tweeted a typical proud grandpa missive about 8-year-old granddaughter Malisa, whom he described as being transgender. Born male, Malisa identifies as a girl, and she and the congressman went viral with their message. The duo got back support and good wishes from all over the world, and since then, Honda has championed the LGBTQ cause and often condemns accompanying verbal and psychological violence.
Even at school, Honda said, "transgender kids face a lot of unique issues. They often they have inadequate access to athletics, to student organizations or to proper facilities." A federal official told the gathering how "bathroom issues" alone cause problems coast to coast.
"We do not fully protect transgender kids with our health care system," added Honda. "No one no one should be denied respect for just being who they are."
According to figures laid out at the forum in the Isaac Newton Senter Auditorium, inside the Santa Clara County building, there are 1 million transgender individuals in the U.S. One survey revealed that 75 percent of transgender youths feel unsafe at school and nearly half of all transgender students have been physically bullied. Also, 41 percent of transgender people attempt suicide, with the highest rates for those who are 18-24 years old and multiracial.
Most of the conversation involved the mind-boggling complexities faced not only by transgender kids, but by the haplessly confused people in their lives: parents, siblings, teachers, administrators, employers, coaches and friends. How, they asked, do we keep them safe while so many are confronting centuries of notions, beliefs and prejudices around sexuality issues?
One panel member declared that caring nonprofits have toiled alone for decades on such challenges. Now, they are grateful that other individuals and social and political organizations are moving into cultural battle stations.
"Now that we have some help, let's make some difference in people's lives and do so for the parents, for the schools, for anybody who is affected," said Tiffany Woods, a transgender advocate and parent. "We have been waiting and needing this for so long, and finally it's here, and everyone wants to know -- what do we do?"
The panelists' messages were varied. On the one hand, new wars must be waged as some states -- such as North Carolina -- are actually birthing new laws aimed at allowing discrimination against the LGBTQ community.
On the other hand, they said, many who care about young people with gender-identity issues are hampered by their own puzzlement. Well-meaning questions include: What are the right ways to proceed? What do we need to know -- to say? What are the correct terms to use? How do we respond to verbal and physical attacks? What questions need to be asked and answered immediately? How do we stay educated in the long term?
The panel said answering such broad-based questions and more will be the continuing work of Honda's task force.
In a perfect Silicon Valley conclusion, everyone was asked for hashtags that would properly identify the feeling coming out of the session. All 12 panel members participated, with examples that included: hashtag, you'll be OK; hashtag, find your voice; hashtag, we've got your back; hashtag, you're perfect; hashtag, we are all here; hashtag, you are not alone; hashtag, speak up; hashtag, we're ready for change.