Broadcast date: 2/5/2015
Most people have little understanding of what it means to be transgender. At the most basic level transgender is a term for a person who doesn’t clearly fit into society’s standards of what we believe a woman or a man is supposed to look or act.
Transgender people often describe being born with typical male or female anatomies, but feel as if they were born in the wrong body.
Transgender is not a sexual orientation, and while some may choose to have gender reassignment surgery, not all do. Transgender and gender nonconforming people face significant barriers, discrimination and struggles in every area of life, including family, education, housing, employment, and healthcare.
Currently there are no clear laws that protect transgender people from this type of discrimination at the federal level. Studies have shown that these daily struggles can seriously impact their physical and mental health. The National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS), found 65% transgender individuals had suffered physical or sexual violence at work, and up to 78% at school, and at least 41% had attempted suicide.
Host Kris Kington-Barker is joined by guests to Jessica Lynn, Marci Bowers, MD, a Pelvic and Gynecologic Surgeon, and Dr. Elizabeth Meyer, a professor of education at California Polytechnic State University and an author of two books on gender and sexuality issues in schools, they will discuss transgender issues on the Central Coast, including the significant barriers and discrimination, as well as resources available for support, and how we can become a more inclusive community for everyone.
Central Coast Voices is sponsored by ACTION for Healthy Communities in collaboration with KCBX and made possible through underwriting by Joan Gellert-Sargen.
