It was unexpected. Those in the LGBT community had been bracing for impact as a lawsuit regarding employment discrimination made its way through the courts. Courts that had been packed with conservative judges. After years of watching the white house reverse years of hard-fought progress, LGB and trans folk were not expecting good news. The case was brought forth in October of 2019 and all we could do was wait, and hope, and pray.
Then the virus came. Pride was canceled. Then racial unrest hit a boiling point and the people said “enough!” When our parades were canceled we shrugged our fabulous shoulders and went back to making hairstyling tutorials for our straight friends stuck at home. Then when our black and brown brothers and sisters unleashed their pent up grief and rage, I was glad to see so many in my community there beside them. This year we have had to find other ways to celebrate who we are. Other ways to be together.
Yet at the same time, I still felt a sense of loss, after all it is June the season for Pride. For many, Pride Month is a time of healing, a time of joy, of forgetting that so many people in the world still stand in opposition to LGBT lives. June is the month so many of my wonderful friends have worked up the courage to come out to family, friends, the public in general. For many, this process still ends in pain, and all to often with needlessly damaged relationships. This is the reality for many in my community.
It seems that in the eyes of many, once marriage equality was made legal LGBT rights had been solved. This, however, was not the case, and the fight for equality still has a ways to go. Did you know that it was legal to be fired just for being LGBT in 27 states? That being trans was a firable offense in 29? Yes, for many in the LGBT community, we could get married on Saturday and get fired on Monday. We were also unprotected from discrimination when looking for housing or applying for loans. That is until this week!
The week started off on a bad note, the white house made it legal for healthcare workers to discriminate against trans patients. This is a practice that has already cost lives as almost 20% of trans patients have been outright denied access to healthcare because of who they are. The announcement came on the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting, which gave it an extra sense of callous indifference. Just one more insult from a string of insults. Then on Tuesday, the very next day, the Supreme court handed out its verdict on LGBT employment discrimination. My phone blew up. I could hardly believe it. They had done it! Two gay men and one trans woman had brought their case before the court and won! At last, LGBT people could no longer legally be treated unfairly in the workplace. I have been very lucky to work for employers who respected my transition and my skills. Even still, it was extremely stressful having to navigate talking to HR and worrying about if I would be fired just for bringing up the topic. I have helped many others navigate this same space and it is a minefield of emotions. After Tuesday’s vote, I felt an unexpected load lift from my shoulders. At last, we know we can come out, we can talk about our spouses, our lives and not have to worry about being fired because of it. One more step in a long journey toward equality.
Yes, it is but a step, just like marriage equality was a step and there is still much to do. The legal discrimination of trans people in healthcare needs to be addressed as quickly as possible, the discrimination of LGBT people in housing as well as there is a crisis of homeless LGBT youth in this country right now. One victory does not erase the burdens many in my community have to shoulder. Coming out is still a thing drought with personal danger. Transwomen are still being murdered in the streets at appalling levels. Progress takes time. It is not achieved in a day. We will keep marching forward, arm in arm with our black brothers and sisters, towards a future where all people are treated equally. Where everybody has the same chance to achieve their dreams. For now though? We are going to do what we do best, we will savor this moment and celebrate with those closest to us!