Transgender rights suffer in Trump’s America: Looking back at 2017 and what to expect in the new year
December 22, 2017by Tim Gibson
Despite a global push for transgender visibility and transgender rights, in Trump’s America trans people continue to be held back. Trans stories from this year fell into three categories: healthcare, anti-discrimination laws, and the proposed military ban.
Healthcare
As the current administration continues to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, trans people are being left behind. More than cisgendered people trans people are far likelier to be uninsured, and even if they do have insurance most policies contain specific transgendered exclusions.
The Affordable Care Act, more than any other healthcare proposal in history, supported trans people. In the new tax bill proposal, many cuts will be made to trans friendly programs and accessibility to those programs. The bill would raise the costs of people living with HIV/AIDS, contain cuts to Medicare and social security, cuts to LGBT social programs, food stamps, and housing and homelessness efforts.
Anti-Discrimination Laws
In 2015, Jameka Evans was fired from her job at Georgia Regional Hospital. She is alleging it is because of her sexual orientation and because she doesn’t conform to gender norms. The case was set to be held this year and would centre on Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender, race, colour, national origin, and religion. The case would examine whether trans people are included in this bracket and would be a landmark precedent going forward in any further discrimination cases. The case is being pushed back to later next year.
The Military Ban
Much attention was given to Trump’s push for a ban on trans people serving in the military. The ban would have seen all current transgendered people serving kicked out, would have stopped trans people from enlisting, and would have prohibited any transition-related surgeries for those currently enlisted. The courts have routinely blocked it, but Trump is expected to aggressively push for the ban in 2018.
Despite a global push for transgender visibility and transgender rights, in Trump’s America trans people continue to be held back. Trans stories from this year fell into three categories: healthcare, anti-discrimination laws, and the proposed military ban.
Healthcare
As the current administration continues to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, trans people are being left behind. More than cisgendered people trans people are far likelier to be uninsured, and even if they do have insurance most policies contain specific transgendered exclusions.
The Affordable Care Act, more than any other healthcare proposal in history, supported trans people. In the new tax bill proposal, many cuts will be made to trans friendly programs and accessibility to those programs. The bill would raise the costs of people living with HIV/AIDS, contain cuts to Medicare and social security, cuts to LGBT social programs, food stamps, and housing and homelessness efforts.
Anti-Discrimination Laws
In 2015, Jameka Evans was fired from her job at Georgia Regional Hospital. She is alleging it is because of her sexual orientation and because she doesn’t conform to gender norms. The case was set to be held this year and would centre on Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender, race, colour, national origin, and religion. The case would examine whether trans people are included in this bracket and would be a landmark precedent going forward in any further discrimination cases. The case is being pushed back to later next year.
The Military Ban
Much attention was given to Trump’s push for a ban on trans people serving in the military. The ban would have seen all current transgendered people serving kicked out, would have stopped trans people from enlisting, and would have prohibited any transition-related surgeries for those currently enlisted. The courts have routinely blocked it, but Trump is expected to aggressively push for the ban in 2018.
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