All right. I just saw an article--do not ask me to link it, please, I don't want to give that site any more page views--that said, and I quote:
"Now that the transgendered get special protection, the only people left out are Conservatives and Christians."
I'm not Christian, so I hope this doesn't count as bashing, but these are the kind of people who make Christians look bad (they're usually white American Christians, just saying).
And so I'm not going to blame it on religion, because this is just pure ignorance.
There is no special treatment.
Depression, suicide, harassment, discrimination, the deterioration of out mental and physical health, violence, and murder; these things should not be part of anyone's everyday life, and the fact that there may be consequences for discriminatory acts is a minor win, not special treatment.
Being treated as somewhat human is not "special treatment."
Look. I know you think we're a joke. We're gross, unnatural, whatever. You giggle behind our backs. We're a scapegoat.
So I just want to ask:
A 42% attempted suicide rate? Is that funny?
Most of us have severe depression, are rejected by our families (over half), self-harm, attempt suicide.
Here are some stats by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
— Family chose not to speak/spend time with them: 57%
— Discrimination, victimization, or violence at school,
at work, and when accessing health care
• Harassed or bullied at school (any level): 50-54%
• Experienced discrimination or harassment at
work: 50-59%
• Doctor or health care provider refused to treat
them: 60%
• Suffered physical or sexual violence:
— At work: 64-65%
— At school (any level): 63-78%
— Discrimination, victimization, or violence by law
enforcement
• Disrespected or harassed by law enforcement
officers: 57-61%
• Suffered physical or sexual violence: By law
enforcement officers: 60-70
— Experienced homelessness: 69%
Also: Transgender women and People of Color are more likely to be murdered. Seriously. The murder rate is ridiculously high (correct me if my terminology is wrong in regards to racism).
Are you still laughing?
My point is, anti-discrimination laws are not special treatment, have never been, and will never bee. Safety should be a right, and most of us can't walk down the street without being harassed, threatened, beaten, and--especially if you're a woman of color--murdered.