During the past week I noticed that a Facebook friend, Allison Woolbert, posted a link to a Kickstarter project called Transgender Violence Tracking Project (TVTP) that she had initiated. After reading the description of its goals, I realized I knew little to nothing about the transgender community and its struggles. So I messaged Allison to see if we could talk on the phone about the project and the issues facing transgender people in general. The other day we spent a couple of hours talking about her, her work, and the extraordinary problems transgender people face on a daily basis.
Before I dig too deeply into our conversation, I want to say a few words about Kickstarter and the TVTP. Kickstarter is a platform and a resource; they are not involved in the development of the projects themselves. Anyone can launch a project on Kickstarter as long as it meets their guidelines. Projects are allowed to run for a set amount of time and pledges are collected only if a project meets its stated monetary goal.
The Transgender Violence Tracking Project will only be up and running until 9:07 PM November 21st and has so far collected $1,221.00 of the $3,500 goal.
So what is the TVTP? Well, it turns out that very little specific information is collected or known about the violence that is clearly directed toward the transgender community. Although there is an annual Transgender Day of Remembrance to memorialize those who have been killed by acts of violence directed toward the community, (all those that even knew this occurred please raise your hand) the specifics of those deaths remain unknown. TVTP will not only keep track of those who have been killed, but “will be a portal where the transgender community and their allies will be able to track other acts of violence, and get a full record of those murdered, how they were murdered, arrests (if there are any), trial outcomes (if there are any trials) as well as those who die by their own hands because of the intolerable pressure our society inflicts upon transgender people.” (Allison Woolbert)
As those of you who visit the Kickstarter site can see, the data collection and its organization seems incredibly daunting, so one of my first questions was how a project of this breadth could be accomplished for $3,500. Allison explained that the project will be run gratis by her and volunteers, with the pledged money used to create the software and train those volunteers. One look at her full resume leaves no doubt that the project will achieve its goals.
As those of you who regularly read Just sayin’ know, the only things I promote are my books, my email list, and my Facebook Author’s Page. Not today. Today I’m urging each of you to visit the TVTP Kickstarter site, tell your friends, and donate as much as possible.
To put the violence directed toward this community in perspective, transgender people are about 1 to 1.5% of the world’s population but about 400 times more likely to be assaulted or murdered than the rest of the population. Add that to the US reality that people of color are 10 times more likely to be assaulted and murdered than anyone else, you can only imagine the odds of violence for a transgender person of color. TVTP will include a breakout of racial statistics.
It gets even worse. Transgender individuals aren’t “just” murdered. The nature of the killings are the most violent, horrific acts imaginable. Dismemberments, vicious multiple stabbings (15 times or more), immolation, are routine examples of the violence perpetrated on those who are transgender people. The tragedy is that these types of violence are not the exception but the rule when it comes to transgender murder. TVTP will work toward publicizing that which occurs in the community.
Let’s take a step back. Gender Dysphoria is a medical condition, not a sexual orientation. Although the general public often confuse cross-dressing with transexualism, (I intended to use transgender and transsexual interchangeably), they are very different. Cross-dressers might have different sexual orientations, but they do not experience living in the wrong body. From an early age on, transsexuals do—at the core of their very being. Cross-dressers (unless the cross-dressing is an attempt to reduce the internal pressure between the transgender’s mind/body dichotomy or the “transition” from one body to another) are not people who are at odds with their body. Transexual people are. As Allison said, “I looked in the mirror and didn’t understand what I saw. My skin was thick and didn’t seem like mine. The core of my mind simply couldn’t understand what I was seeing. It wasn’t me.”
So what do we have here? Certainly the general public understands chemo baldness. It’s a result of a medical condition. The general public understands people in wheelchairs. It too is a result of a medical condition. But to this day people continue to reject transsexual people before and after surgery. It’s just too damn threatening, though you’d think that cancer might be more so since it could actually happen to them. Yet transsexual individuals not only trigger fear, they trigger hatred. And, as a result, people who are transexual not only have to deal with the war within themselves, but the outside world’s hatred and violence.
Which is why this column has first focused on the Transgender Violence Tracking Project. The project a step in identifying, quantifying, publicizing, and hopefully changing a societal sickness that encourages hatred and dehumanization of people who are simply carrying the weight of a medical condition. The project will track all those who fall under the transgender umbrella: drag queens, butch women, effeminate men, and cross-dressers. This is an attempt to significantly reduce a horrible, ongoing oppression.
But the reality of transexualism is even harsher than what I’ve already touched upon. Today I focused on the TVTP. In the next post or two I’ll move on to my interview with Allison to put a human face on the community—from the hoops transexuals have to jump through to be accepted for surgery, how the LGB community deals with their T, to my friend Allison’s personal journey. But if anything I’ve written here strikes a chord, please pledge what you can and please talk to your friends about pledging as well. These are our brothers and sisters.
Sexual orientation is who you are attracted to and who you want to love. Gender identity is who you really are.” Allison Woolbert
‘For your eyes only’ One of the James Bond films … no one got it?
I don’t get it. Worse, I think you’re jocular attitude about lives deserves to be flogged. There’s nothing humorous about people set on fire because of a medical condition. Not surprised you didn’t have the wherewithal to sign your name. Go crawl back under your rock.
Zach,
Is this for anyone’s eyes? I mean who really cares what a hate filled fool thinks?
linda–if you’re talking about the first comment not really. i just got pissed and wanted to answer the idiot.
Thank you! I am a transgendered person, thank you for helping to call attention to our plight. In addition to the violence against us, or perhaps because of it, our suicide rate is astronomical. with some estimates as high as 66% of trans people who succeed in suicide, to nearly 100% who have stubbled with suicidal ideation. I heard a quote one time, the source of which eludes me at the moment, but, nevertheless, a quote who’s accuracy I am more convinced of every day. “Being transexual in American society, is the single most difficult thing it is possible for a human being to do.” – unknown
Imagine being turned away from public bathrooms, or tiered by rent-a-cops if you use one. Imagine a woman being arrested and thrown in jail with male sex offenders.
Imagine insurance companies unwilling to pay for not only transition related needs, but any health needs you may have, even though you pay your premiums.
Imagine having a doctorate or two and still working in the fast food industry because they are the only ones who will hire you.
As a group, it is difficult for us to stand up for ourselves because our main desire is to blend in, not call attention to ourselves. Imagine a transgender woman, not being able to marry a man, because some document somewhere has her listed as male… yet not being able to marry a woman either because another document calls her female.
This is a birth defect, not a lapse in morality! This is not a choice… coming out as a trans person is a decision to be authentically who you are… to confess to the world who you were truly supposed to be all along. Its difficult, extremely painful, and dangerous. Definitely a lifestyle I would not choose unless I had no choice.
Jennifer–Thanks but the real kudus go to Allison who was willing to share her life with me. Also, many of the issues you raise will be included in next week’s post where Allison and I will do a more direct Q&A. And thank you for taking the time to comment. So much of the reality you describe is simply unknown to us in the straight world. It’s time this information is called to peoples’ attention.
Thank you so much for a wonderful article my friend. You are truly an amazing person- astute in every way!
Allison–truth is, I may be astute, but you are on the front line taking the the heat that this society can give. Your bravery is a role model not only for transgender people but for all those who are oppressed. I’m really proud to be your friend. Thank you for being who you are.
A great and compassionate article, Zach. I’m enthusiastic to read that you will write more, following up on this subject. I will go to the site and make a donation. How desperate this humanity who hates and destroys who it is. I like especially your citing us the family we are.
Kathleen–One of the things that Allison reinforced for me was exactly that–we really all are family. Sadly, too many people in this world don’t recognize this and look to perpetrate violence and hatred on their own brothers and sisters. It takes those of us who understand our true relationship with each other to stand firm against the fear and ignorance which fuels that hate and violence.
My radio show is open to you as a platform for you. Feel free to contact my page or profile page hear (on FaceBook) to talk up some ideas on how you wish to voice your will on air.
C.C. Arshagra
https://www.facebook.com/TheIDoNotKnowShow
cc. Now I understand your FB message. will be in touch.
Life is hard for those who are trans*, I am trans* myself – male to female transexual, undergoing transition – It sickens me how much hatred there is towards us, how much ignorance and misinformation there is in the media and from political groups and religious groups.
The hate needs to stop, it must stop. We can’t help how we were born, we are simply trying to live our lives as ourselves, we are no threat to anyone. Those who attack us, restrict us, murder us, they are the threats, not us.
Life is hard for those who are trans*, it shouldn’t be made even worse by the ignorance of many.
Reina:”It sickens me how much hatred there is towards us, how much ignorance and misinformation there is in the media and from political groups and religious groups.
The hate needs to stop, it must stop. We can’t help how we were born, we are simply trying to live our lives as ourselves, we are no threat to anyone. Those who attack us, restrict us, murder us, they are the threats, not us.”
As a heterosexual white male I completely agree with everything you said–not just the part I quoted. Which is why I desperately want to see the Transgender Violence Tracking Project to get off the ground. Please, if you know of anyone who can spare even a dollar ask them to contribute. Nobody will make a dime off the TVTP and it really has the potential to make a difference for the community.
And thank you for taking the time to read the column and commenting. It’s greatly appreciated.
great and powerful interview
makes me think about the connection of sex and violence
it sounds like the transgendered person is perceived as a threat even more than LGB people and therefore come confused crazy or evil people feel as they have license to use weapons to attack
these folks need much more like this and the project so that the villains who attack can be driven into the light and deterred
Can someone from TVTP contact me URGENTLY concerning a Trans sister getting raped in Missoula Mt on 23 January.
This has been reported to the police and also on a Trans support group. Ive personally spoken to the Trans victim as a Trans sister who has been assaulted and raped myself
Thanks
Shannon Taylor