Transgender Inclusion

We need to begin to realize what it means to say LGBT, and what it means to be an ally to the LGBT community. I have many read articles arguing for LGBT rights and "LGBT" marriage. However, I think it is important to realize when we are fighting for LGBT rights, and when we are really fighting for LGB rights and actually leaving out the T. While it is important to find connections between movements and identities, and bridge the gaps between people, it is important  to notice where the T is left out. This is especially important when we look at policies and legislation. Sometimes sexual orientation is included, but gender identity and expression are not mentioned.

What does trans inclusion mean? The past three blogs that I posted talk about a variety of problems that come with trans inclusion. One was a series of photos, one discussed Iranian football players that had been suspended, and the other discussed transgender inclusive insurance at college within the United States. These are all incredibly different topics, but they all have a similarity in that they talk about what it means to be trans and what it means to be different.

Transgender is a term that continuously includes an incredibly large variety of identities relating to gender expression and identity. The issues of transgender individuals span further than marriage. The same is true for LGB individuals. However, it is never really discussed that marriage does not directly connect to trans identity because many times the issues include more specific federal needs including changing ones gender on their birth certificate and being affirmed as ones true gender identity.

In Iran, a person may change their gender on their birth certificate, only if they have full gender realignment surgery. The article with photos of transgender folks in Mongolia show the incredible variation's of what it means to be trans. I used these articles because they showed the hard ships but also the difference in needs of trans folks from LGB folks. There needs to be a clear understanding of the differences between LGB folks and trans folks, when we the needs and rights of LGBT folks are discussed.