The Wake

November 20th marks the Sixth Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, in which all too many transgendered people are mourned as a result of hate crimes or suicide. One person a month that identifies as transgendered dies due to transgender based hate or prejudice, according to the Web site www.rememberingourdead.org. While we send our thoughts to our transgendered friends, the Day of Remembrance also serves as a wake-up call to raise awareness of, and understanding about this unique community.

First, the basics. Transgender, as a definition, is one that is highly debatable. The Web site www.tsroadmap.com provides a very comprehensive inclusive definition: “An umbrella term used to describe anyone whose gender identity or expression situates them differently than the traditional gender role they were assigned at birth.” Also, to be “in transition” means a person is in the process of changing their sex to match their gender. Sometimes, simply the usage of names and pronouns can be cause for an uncomfortable social interaction, particularly for addressing those who are in transition. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, use the pronoun and name preferred by the individual and if no preference is expressed use the pronoun and name consistent with the way the individual has lived publicly.

Transgendered individuals face many challenges that most of us take for granted. Our past election is a good example. Issues like transphobia, name change mix-ups on the voting registration card, or an ID picture that appears different than the actual individual prevents transgendered people from exercising their basic rights.

In addition, a university can be particularly challenging for the transgendered student. Something as basic as using a restroom where, for those transgendered students whom are uneasy using communal restrooms, must then seek out single-stall or unisex bathrooms on campus. The transgendered student in a dorm or other student residences also presents a major issue. Should there be areas in residence halls reserved exclusively for transgendered students at the risk of creating a ghetto?

The University of Minnesota in particular offers resources to transgendered students through the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered (GLBT) Programs Office as well as the Queer Student Cultural Center, a student run organization that holds a variety of focus groups including a gender and sexual diversity meeting each week.

Events like Day of Remembrance serve to raise awareness and educate people about the transgender community but there are still many challenges to overcome. Only through mutual understanding and respect will hate crimes against transgender individuals cease.

Vincent Staupe is a contributing writer for The Wake and can be reached at vstaupe@wakenews.org.