{"id":24905,"date":"2015-09-03T18:20:16","date_gmt":"2015-09-03T22:20:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/transgender-womens-lives-a-family-matter\/"},"modified":"2015-09-03T18:20:16","modified_gmt":"2015-09-03T22:20:16","slug":"transgender-womens-lives-a-family-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/transgender-womens-lives-a-family-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Transgender Women's Lives: A Family Matter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Transgender Women's Lives: A Family Matter<\/b>
\nThis year we’ve broken a record, and it’s not a good one. More transgender women have been killed <\/a>in the U.S. than in any other year on record. I’m heartbroken and angered that women<\/a> keep dying, most of them women<\/a> of color, most of them Black. Most were between the ages of 17-25, just coming into adulthood, when their lives, dreams and futures were stolen. They were sisters, daughters, granddaughters, aunties and more. I cannot even imagine the devastation I would feel if this happened to my own child.<\/p>\n

I am frustrated by the lack of public outcry in response to these murders and compelled to use my voice the best way I know how. I am crying out as a mother to other families. I am crying out because I want trans<\/a> women<\/a> of color to know that the deaths in their community do not go unnoticed. I am crying out because I want to be part of a world where their lives matter to all of us. I want people to celebrate the lives of trans<\/a> girls<\/a> and women<\/a> of color and recognize that they make our world better. Families can play a pivotal role in making this happen.<\/p>\n

Trans women<\/a>’s lives concern all families.<\/strong><\/p>\n


\"2015-09-03-1441249740-5233707-rmtrans.jpg\"<\/a><\/center>
Radical Monarchs at SF Trans March – Photo by Anayvette Martinez<\/center><\/p>\n

We may or may not have a daughter, sister or other family member who is transgender. But, if we think of trans<\/a> lives as “somebody else’s issue” we are missing the boat. Consider these questions:<\/p>\n

Do you want children to grow up feeling that they can be themselves without being bullied or harassed?<\/p>\n

Do you want children to grow up and realize their potential without being forced to change who they are?<\/p>\n

Do you want children to grow up respecting the dignity of every human being?<\/p>\n

Do you want your family to learn from examples of women<\/a> who have faced adversity and risen to leadership roles working for social justice?<\/p>\n

If your response to even one of these questions is affirmative, the lives of trans<\/a> women<\/a> of color matter to you and your family. <\/p>\n

Family values are being hijacked to attack transgender women<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many families are afraid that transgender rights will harm their children. Some are aligning themselves with right wing conservative and Christian fundamentalists to attack the rights of transgender children and adults. These groups claim to represent families and family values. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n