Basically all discrimination boils down to… they are not like us.
Discrimination, bullying, harassment, violence all targets those who are different; the feminine boy, the tall girl, different colored skin, different religion, wearing glasses, and the trans boy or girl.
Allies are an important
I took time to go and support another community’s human rights agenda and one person in that group lambasted the trans community; as an ally how do you think that made me feel?
When we were working to pass the law protecting us from discrimination we received push back because we received money from “Gay” organizations and we were criticized for hiring a lesbian to lead the effort to pass the law. First, the funding from the “Gay” organizations didn’t attached any strings to the money other than go and pass the bill. Second, the woman we hired had many years lobbying for LGBT rights here in Connecticut, knew most the legislators, and the Board overseeing her were almost all trans.She was the best person for the job.
So the moral to the story is don’t stab your allies in the back. Don’t paint communities with a broad brush, just because there are a few bad actors.
Discrimination, bullying, harassment, violence all targets those who are different; the feminine boy, the tall girl, different colored skin, different religion, wearing glasses, and the trans boy or girl.
With Transgender Communities Under Attack, Funders Are Stepping UpAccording to the article the top givers are…
Inside Philanthropy
By Julia Travers
March 2, 2019
While LGBTQ communities have made huge strides over the last decade, including with marriage equality in the U.S., a backlash of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and policies has risen in response. Trans communities have borne the brunt of many attacks, with their basic rights being challenged or withdrawn, ranging from freely using the bathroom to serving in the military. In America and around the globe, trans individuals are abused, criminalized and marginalized. Recent research from Grantmakers United for Trans Communities (GUTC) —an initiative Funders for LGBTQ Issues launched in 2017—shines a light on the contemporary transgender experience and trans-focused philanthropy.
While data on the numbers and lives of trans people is limited, it is estimated that there are more than 1 million trans people living in the U.S. who are “out.” Philanthropic funding for these communities is on the rise, growing from about $3.6 million in 2012 to a record high of about $22.6 million in 2017. But compared to total U.S. foundation giving of approximately $66.9 billion in 2017, we see a group that makes up at least 3 percent of the population receiving about 0.034 percent of funding. Overall, LGBTQ funding by U.S. foundations reached $185.7 million in 2017.
The top giver to U.S. trans communities between 2015 and 2016 was the Arcus Foundation, a long-term backer of LGBTQ causes. It was the top LGBTQ funder overall in 2016 and 2017, and works with a strong concentration on cultural acceptance.The Gill Foundation helped fund the effort here in Connecticut to pass the gender inclusive non-discrimination law.
[…]
The New York Women’s Foundation (NYWF) was in the GUTC top 10 and also ties much of its trans-inclusive giving to programs focused on women, girls and gender. Camille Emeagwali, vice president of programs, tells us its new strategic plan commits to deeper investment in this community “in light of the ongoing attacks on rights and protections of trans and gender-nonconforming communities from the federal administration.”
Rounding out the top five funders are one anonymous donor, the Elton John Aids Foundation, Tawani Foundation and M.A.C. AIDS Fund. Given the dire HIV/AIDS stats mentioned above, it makes sense this is a central locus of funding. While there aren’t many corporate funders backing these causes, pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences supports both HIV/AIDS work and the trans and broader LGBTQ communities. The Gill and Tides foundations were also in the GUTC top 10, along with the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr., fund and the California Endowment, all of which are experienced in this arena. A few other backers of trans causes are the Wild Geese Foundation, Calamus Foundation, and Jennifer Pritzker. More are mentioned below as part of the GUTC working group, such as the Open Society Foundations (OSF).
Allies are an important
I took time to go and support another community’s human rights agenda and one person in that group lambasted the trans community; as an ally how do you think that made me feel?
When we were working to pass the law protecting us from discrimination we received push back because we received money from “Gay” organizations and we were criticized for hiring a lesbian to lead the effort to pass the law. First, the funding from the “Gay” organizations didn’t attached any strings to the money other than go and pass the bill. Second, the woman we hired had many years lobbying for LGBT rights here in Connecticut, knew most the legislators, and the Board overseeing her were almost all trans.She was the best person for the job.
So the moral to the story is don’t stab your allies in the back. Don’t paint communities with a broad brush, just because there are a few bad actors.
“Trans Rights are Human Rights” is a rallying cry of trans advocacy and organizing communities. Perhaps if more funders embrace these concepts of shared humanity and inherent intersectionality, stronger support will reach transgender individuals, who face inordinate challenges simply for being themselves.
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