DETROIT – On May 2, Stephen Henderson of "Detroit Today," a program of WDET radio, spoke with Amy Hunter, transgender advocacy coordinator at the ACLU of Michigan Trans Advocacy Project; Logan Casey, University of Michigan Ph.D. candidate; and Bre Campbell, founder of the Trans Sistas of Color Project in Detroit, regarding their experiences coming out as transgender and the broader issue of transgender equality.
"I was born in 1960 … so there were not a lot of resources for me," said Hunter. "The message I got very loudly and very clearly from my family… was something was wrong with me," In the program, Hunter describes how she got through those tough times.
"Whatever the consequences, I need to come out and be my authentic self, I can no longer be less than who I am. That was probably the first time I felt any real peace of mind," she said.
For nearly an hour these trans advocates from across the state discussed trans experiences navigating the world and the developments nationwide concerning trans men and women.
The trans community is in the national media spotlight following movement on trans-related policy and law both at the federal and state level.
North Carolina is experiencing significant backlash after the Legislature passed anti-LGBT legislation that requires trans individuals use the restroom and locker room that is in accordance with their assigned gender at birth. In under 24 hours, North Carolina's House Bill 2 was introduced by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Pat McCrory, who has a history of anti-LGBT beliefs.
"Having discomfort (with transgender people) is valid, but I don't think the discomfort you feel towards a group of people should put them in danger physically," Campbell said on the show. "I have been discriminated against for housing, and… told by an employer they would fire me if I used the female restroom after I transitioned."
To combat this discrimination, Campbell says there needs to be a dialogue and people need to be willing to change the way they think.
Listen to the entire show at http://gaybe.am/tp.
Trans Activists Speak About Their Experiences on WDET
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