Comments on: 508 #23: Homeless transsexuals

By: Gay Guevara

Gay Guevara — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:41:13 +0000

I think the fake “War on Drugs” is the most hypocritical issue of the last 100 years ( becoming more obvious with Nixons anti-hippie rethoric)is one of the most damaging policies ever dished out on
the unsuspecting citizens of the world…Basically the hyper-inflated prices of blackmarket commodities in conjunction with complex medical side of addiction results in ,among other predictable consequences sadistic amounts of damage ranging from homelessness ,employment stability, increased health risks with IV drug use ,exacerbated by moralists banning the distribution of clean injecting paraphenalia…
Transsexuals belong to a demonized minority and are subject to abuse/discrimination (work ,housing,health services) that most people will never experience,hence they probably do the rational thing ( according to many leading psyches) self medicate on illicit drugs as
a way to numb the multiple emotional attacks they are subject to on a daily basis…
I believe TS would benefit greatly from drug policy overhaul as would many other minorities…
But hey ..there are control freaks with vested interests on making as many people as possible into criminals…=Prison Industrialist Complex
/corrupt police involved in asset forfeiture who fund their own local police stations/weapons purchase…
once this ridiculous unwinnable “war on drugs/people” ends…and part of the 69billion annually spent making privatized prisons profitable
goes into medical and housing services… i think we can have this discussion again

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:45:49 +0000

Hi Claudia,

I too lost all my family when I transitioned in 2006, I have been beaten up 5 times, my home targetted 8 times, and been targetted with stones, bottles, bricks and cans, and still get verbal abuse from the public for being myself.

I have applied for close on 1,000 jobs in my 3 year real life test, but have only managed 6 weeks as an admin.

The part of the UK where I live is very transphobic, and I have contemplated suicide, but I keep going because transition is not a choice thing, you either are or aren’t.

By: ms.claudia hillman

ms.claudia hillman — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:52:15 +0000

I am a transsexual and have not been able to get a job even though I am an emergency medical technician (EMT) with over 20 years experience.It is a terrible lifestyle.I was 25 when I became a woman.Now I am 45.I had nothing all these years.My family disowned me .very few people will rent apartments to transsexuals or give them jobs.I would not suggest this lifestyle for anyone.Society judges everyone by appearance.

By: Wolfgang E.B.

Wolfgang E.B. — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:24:20 +0000

Joe, many homeless trans people are youth whose parents kicked them out. Others lost jobs due to discrimination. Some have mental health issues, some don’t, but remember that mental health, just like physical health, is directly influenced by the environments we live in. Many trans people are or were abused as children, by parents, siblings, other family members, peers, even schoolteachers, society as a whole–Any or all of the above. Some trans people reach adulthood with various degrees of post-traumatic stress. Some don’t reach adulthood at all because they took their own lives.

A recent study in the District of Columbia found a 70% unemployement rate among trans people. While that study didn’t capture the causes of unemployement, there have been plenty of high-profile job discrimination cases recently, confirming that discrimination is a significant factor. Also of note is the fact that in response to these cases, a very large swath (if not a majority) of the general public thought it was perfectly okay to discriminate against a trans person.

Also keep in mind that about 10% of the overall homeless population works full time. These people simply don’t make enough money to put a roof over their head. There is also no doubt that many homeless people would dearly love to have jobs, but it is extremely difficult to get a job when you’re homeless, as most employers won’t hire anyone without an address and phone number.

Another problem for transsexuals is that we have medical expenses that generally aren’t covered by insurance. When forced to make a choice between paying the rent and buying our (literally, Life-Giving) hormones, many of us would choose the hormones.

By: joe

joe — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:37:02 +0000

mike ,i do not think that trans persons are lazy , nor did i mean to imply that , i just do not understand why they are in such a situation in worcester, being a landlord i do not care what your sexual orientation is or isn’t , just concerned with your ability to pay, after all it is a business! do they work ? why or why not . i am very sympathetic . but if they are able to work i would expect them to , not get a freebie from the gov’t just because they are transgendered. i do not see being a trans person a reason to be homeless unless there are other mental health issues involved., then it would not just be a trans issue and perhaps they may qualify for public assistance – but not just for being transgendered- that is just a lame excuse as far as i am concerned.that should not affect their ability to work like the rest of us !

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:42:16 +0000

P.S. I'm going to be deleting any more comments here attacking Dan Kelly (or any comments from Dan shooting himself in the foot, which accomplish the same thing). Maybe Dan can turn on comments on the Hmura blog? Maybe people want to take this over to Volcanoboy or Indymedia?

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:16:51 +0000

@Joe: Apparently the homelessness rate for trans people is *way* above average, so the cause is probably not laziness. We’ll try to get back to you next week with some credible data and possible causes.

By: joe

joe — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:07:34 +0000

as far as being homeless transsexuals , they should try to examine why they are homeless – do they work , do they collect welfare or are they just lazy- i am not being judgemental- just real. we as taxpayers do not owe them anything , they have made thier choice now they have to live with it , i iam a landlord and if you can pay the required rent and have a source of continued income , i couldn’t care less what your sexual orientation is or isn’t , it would be my pleasure to rent to you- but don’t expect a freebie – i don’t , nor should you or anyone else- is their discrimination perceived , do they have other psychological problems or what is the deal ? would you rent to them or work with them – i would as long as they act in a responsible manner just as i would expect from any other human being!!!!!

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:26:22 +0000

Rudi: Thanks for the nice link.

Once in Philly, we did a performance where we juxtaposed TNH’s thoughts on various aspects of housework with Erma Bombeck’s. Turned out much better, and much more meditative, than we expected.

By: Rudi Cilibrasi

Rudi Cilibrasi — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:11:45 +0000

[3:40 seconds in] Good morning, my dear friends, welcome to the IP .. retreat.
Um… Is it possible to organize our retreat like a … picnic?

I think so. Because, uh, in a picnic, we enjoy doing everything. To drive to the site of the picnic, and we enjoy our driving. Or you walk to the picnic place, and you enjoy your walking… (linked)

(with many thanks to Thich Nhat Hanh)