Maryland must protect and uplift trans communities | GUEST COMMENTARY
Sunday was International Trans Day of Visibility, a day commemorating the strength, resilience and joy of trans people and communities. As a trans person, I found myself reflecting on what it means to be “visible” today. With hundreds of anti-trans and broader anti-LGBTQIA-plus bills already proposed in state legislatures this year, it hurts me to see people reacting to our visibility with attempts to erase it.
This structural transphobia also contributes to higher rates of violence against members of the community nationwide. The recent deaths of Nex Benedict, a two-spirit transgender non-conforming 16-year-old of Choctaw descent in Oklahoma; Righteous Torrence “Chevy” Hill, a Black trans salon owner in Georgia; and trans community activist Meghan Riley Lewis in Maryland provide somber reminders that lives are actively being cut short in connection with transphobia.
Maryland is fortunately a state that has demonstrated a commitment to protecting trans rights, including passing the Trans Health Equity Act last year to increase access to transgender care. This year, state senators passed Senate Bill 119, which would protect the private medical records of transgender youth and their families fleeing from hostile states to Maryland to seek care. The legislature should act swiftly to ensure these protections for crucial, lifesaving health care become law.
Still, while legislation is crucial, it is not sufficient. New results from the Maryland Trans Survey, which included responses from 750 trans people across all counties in the state, show that 78.3% of trans people in Maryland have experienced verbal insults or abuse, nearly a third (32.5%) did not have a primary doctor, and 85.2% of trans people who wanted gender-related surgery have experienced barriers accessing it. Additionally, 22.7% had a major financial crisis leading to bankruptcy or inability to pay bills in the last year, and over a quarter (26.6%) scored above the cutoff for severe psychological distress in a mental health screening measure. Over half (51.2%) had no IDs or records that accurately reflected their gender, and 38.8% had negative experiences with the police.
To make trans people “visible” is to acknowledge and recognize that we deserve safety, stability and dignity through active state and local investment in community resources across all domains of life. Doing so will help fulfill Gov. Wes Moore’s call today to create “a future where every transgender child, adult and elder feels safe, respected and reflected in our communities and public institutions.”
Trans experiences are beautiful. In our visibility, we share with the world the expansive possibilities of life and love beyond gender stereotypes and expectations for everyone — cisgender and transgender people alike. Passing protective legislation makes Maryland a safer state than most, but we still have a long way to go to create a climate where trans people are not only visible but can contribute to the beautiful diversity of our state and truly thrive.
M Pease (they/she/ze) is a doctoral researcher and psychologist-in-training in the counseling psychology program at the University of Maryland, College Park. They are also a Commissioner on the Maryland Commission for LGBTQIA+ Affairs and an affiliate researcher with the Maryland Trans Survey and the Queer/Trans Collective for Equity and Wellness at Washington University in St. Louis. They can be reached at mpease1@terpmail.umd.edu; m-pease.com.