This is an article that originally was posted on Bloomberg and was written by Ben Steverman. You can see the original here. “You’d be surprised at the thing that will jump up and bite you.” Leslie McMurray’s retirement account didn’t survive her transition from male to female. The 58-year-old had to spend almost $70,000 on medical treatment, including electrolysis to remove hair from her face. “It’s hideously painful,” she says, “and costs as much as a Hyundai.” An additional $100,000 went to living expenses, when her transition abruptly ended a 35-year career in radio and TV. She finally found a nonprofit job paying less than a fifth of her old salary. McMurray also lost a 33-year marriage
This week is the National Week of Transgender Awareness. It is capped off by the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was started by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence that year and has become an annual tradition. In 2016 the day will be marked by services and vigils in over 135 cities and 20 countries. Transgender people face extraordinary levels of physical and sexual violence, whether on the streets, at school or work, at home, or at the hands of government officials. More than one in four
Signs of Fear "So what happens now?" For many in our community this is a question that is being asked over and over again. So many are in shock and are experiencing real fear that the results of the recent Presidential election could roll-back the recent gains that our community has experienced in recent years. As a recap these gains include: Transgender people being able to openly serve in the military VA benefits now cover trans health needs Requirements that schools respect the rights of trans* students under Title VII and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act Provisions that trans* people may not be discriminated against for healthcare as part of the ACA Streamlined processes for changing y
