Throughout the US, increasing numbers of transgender people are coming out and trying to live safe and productive lives. Too often, they face discrimination, harassment and violence, resulting in unemployment, homelessness, and negative health outcomes. The policies listed in the state and local agendas below have the potential to dramatically improve people’s lives, in addition to being simply matters of good government.
NCTE’s theory of change includes the belief that we must work in concert with all communities who face discrimination, violence, or limitations on opportunities because of race, nationality, class, religion, ability, and other dimensions of identity. For example, policy changes focused only on our identities as trans people will not be enough to end disproportionate poverty among trans people; we must join with others working to challenge economic inequality itself and ensure that people of all backgrounds have a real opportunity to participate and succeed in American life.