October 27, 2006
YOUNG TRANS WOMEN'S ARREST RALLIES COMMUNITY SUPPORT
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"We will be able to go about our daily business and able to have dignity while being who we are," said Yasmina Rodriguez. |
On Wednesday, transgender people, advocates and allies rallied in front of the Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan to demand that police drop charges against three young transgender women arrested for using the women's bathroom there earlier this month. Dozens of supporters marched in a circle, holding posters vividly sprayed with "Trans Youth Deserve Respect" and "Port Authority Stop the Hate."
Advocates say the Port Authority of NY & NJ must change its policies, mandate sensitivity training for officers and staff and drop the criminal charges to comply with city law.
New York City Commission on Human Rights guidelines on illegal discrimination are clear: "to not allow individuals to use a restroom...consistent with their gender identity or gender expression" or to "require individuals to provide identification...before using a restroom" is flat-out illegal.
Community advocates have worked with Assembly Member Dick Gottfried to arrange a meeting with Port Authority officials, and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn wrote Port Authority officials demanding compliance with the law.
Standing Tall Against Ignorance
Some onlookers at this week's protest displayed the ignorance activists are fighting against. As marchers chanted- "Trans rights are human rights!," a man in a button-down striped shirt drew his white eyebrows together in a frown. He leaned on the cement barrier at the edge of the sidewalk and explained to his neighbor, "Oh, you know, now men who want to be women want to use the women's bathroom too."
Amidst such unsympathetic and bewildered on-lookers, Yasimina Rodriguez, standing tall in her faux-fur trimmed boots, carried "Trans People are Human Too" on a poster.
She was arrested with Britney J. Spears and Kailah Hayes when they were using the women’s bathroom in Port Authority. Yasmina (whose birth name was Edwin) Rodriguez, 19, Britney (Nicholas) Haag, 21, and Kailah (Anthony) Hayes, 22, were charged with trespass on October 3.
Rodriguez said they were primping before getting their make-up done, when an officer stuck his head in the door and hollered, "Hey, sir!"
With that ominous welcome, the police arrested the three young trans women for being in the "wrong" bathroom. They told him, "We identify as women. We're transgendered."
Gender identity, however, meant little to the arresting officers, who loudly announced "men in wigs in the women's restroom" as they paraded the three friends through the bus terminal. One officer said he wouldn't want his wife in the bathroom with "this freak," according to Rodriquez.
After threats they would be taken downtown and placed in lock-up with men, the youths were finally released with summonses because the computers were down.
The young people are clients of Sylvia's Place, a shelter for homeless LGBT youth. Kate Barnhart, director of the shelter, run by the Metropolitan Community Church/NY in its Midtown building, said, "The young people were traumatized."
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State Senator Thomas Duane (D) demanded that the charges be dropped. |
"The Port Authority police need sensitivity training and training on what the law is in New York. Some of our kids carry around a copy of the law, but it shouldn't be their responsibility to educate the cops," she said.
State Senator Thomas Duane (D) said, "I am here with Sylvia's Place, other elected officials and advocates to demand that the charges against these young, transgendered women be dropped, that the Port Authority change its policies to adhere to New York City Law and basic moral standards, and that the Port Authority educate its employers about transgender rights as well as provide sensitivity training."
When Choosing a Bathroom is Dangerous
Community support for the three friends and their challenge to ongoing problems with prejudice and discrimination against transgendered people was made clear by the march and the fast response of elected officials. This incident is one of several in recent months and not unique to New York.
"We thought the days of segregation were over but we are still facing issues with bathrooms," said Aaron Jusino from the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP). "If a person identifies as female and presents as female then she should use the women's bathroom. Wouldn’t it be a bigger problem if she used the men's bathroom?"
For many trans people, choosing the door with the over-simplified skirted figure or the one in pants is a lose-lose scenario – choose a risk of assault and harassment or choose stony stares and speedy exit of other occupants. In a San Francisco Human Rights Commission survey, trans people who participated said bathroom access in that city - known for its LGBTQ friendly efforts - is a problem "80% of the time" or "every day."
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Much of this day-to-day fear and humiliation goes unpublicized, but the community was able to rally around these arrests.
Advocates expect the charges against Hayes, Rodriguez and Spears will be dropped, with hope for policy changes and sensitivity training that will help many trans people in NY. "At the NY Port Authority, they use the message 'See something; say something' to counter terrorism and that is the principle that applies within this facility. We saw discrimination. We are saying something," said Jusino.
TRANS DAY OF REMEMBERANCE
The same underlying fear and hatred drives assault and murder of trans people worldwide. On November 20th, the National Trans Day of Remembrance transgender people and their allies worldwide - from Melbourne to Seoul and from Tel Aviv to Witchita - will honor those people murdered out of transphobia.
In New York City, members of the trans community are rallying, marching, and releasing balloons over the CChelsea Piers, long-claimed as public LGBTQ community space.
DAY OF THE PHOENIX: From the Ashes, We have Risen…
Housing Works West Village Specialty Health Care Center
320 West 13th Street, 4th Floor, NYC
More information to come
For other events throughout the state, please visit the National Trans Remembrance Day website. (Shout out to the Gay-Straight Alliance at Brooklyn Technical High School who will be hosting an event!)
For more information, please contactTracy Bumpus at Housing Works via email at bumpus@housingworks.org or at 718-827-8700 Ext. 154.