Differences and Interactions in Bias Offenses: Black Trans Women
In the report, Fatal Violence Against the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Community in 2021, it reviews violence that has occured this year against trans people. The trends reflect that “ fatal violence disproportionately affects transgender women of color -- particularly Black transgender women”. We could pretend as to why that would be the case, but as the intersectionality of minority status increases for a person, the more likely they are to be treated worse in society. The report states, “the intersections of racism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and unchecked access to guns conspire to deprive them of employment, housing, healthcare and other necessities”. Black trans women are amidst intersectionality of sexism, racism, and transphobia, alongside any additional biases that may not be addressed.
Black trans women are being treated poorly because they present as women, therefore are not treated as men. However, this is amplified because individuals feel as if transgender women insulted men to ‘downgrade’ to a woman. Though on the perspective of women, transgender women are may not be treated as a woman because some women feel as if trans women are not real women. This discrimination is not only reflected by the Black community, but it is worsened by it. Above being a transgender woman, they are Black. Therefore they must also deal with issues involving race, yet being disowned by some of the Black Community. To all the communities Black Trans Women identify, they may not seek belonging because the differences they have in each has a great fault in intersectional acceptance.
Black Trans Women do not deserve this treatment. They deserve love, safety, and comfortability. Black trans women should not have insecurity about employment and housing because of how they identify. I think each community that claims to advocate on the behalf of their rights need to insure that they are including Black Trans Women in initiatives for improvement and change. By diluting one’s advocacy to roles and identities they only find palatable, they are supporting a switch in power rather than dismantling an oppressive system. We need to focus on the marginalization if Black Trans Women in society because once we abolish the system working against them, everyone will be free.
Work Cited
“Fatal Violence Against the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Community in 2021.” HRC, www.hrc.org/resources/fatal-violence-against-the-transgender-and-gender-non-conforming-community-in-2021.
