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Here's How Trans Folks on Twitter Are Reacting to Marriage Equality
Here's How Trans Folks on Twitter Are Reacting to Marriage Equality
The consensus? Great news; now let's refocus on transphobic discrimination and violence, especially against trans women of color.
This morning the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to legally marry.
In a 5-4 decision, SCOTUS ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution protects same-sex couples all over the country from discrimination and that all states must now afford legal marriage to all couples.
The decision has been greeted with much celebration from transgender activists and their allies, due in part to the fact that many trans people identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
\u201c#SCOTUS rose to the occasion. Now we prove to world #TransIsBeautiful next. #Love #loveislove #lovewins #LGBT #Pride\u201d— Hannah Simpson \u05d7\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d9\u05d4-\u05dc\u05d1 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05e4\u05e1\u05d5\u05df (@Hannah Simpson \u05d7\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d9\u05d4-\u05dc\u05d1 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05e4\u05e1\u05d5\u05df) 1435329333
\u201c#Lovewins thought one: Yes, I'm delighted. Woohoo!!!\u201d— Scout (he/him) (@Scout (he/him)) 1435335113
\u201cWe may look hetero but legally we are queer + we can get married in ALL 50 now! #marriageequality #transman #ciswoman\u201d— Leo St. Von (@Leo St. Von) 1435334476
But marriage equality has always been a more complex issue for trans people, who often must jump through medical hurdles in order to have their gender legally recognized -- a reality that previously rendered marriage impossible for trans folks without identification that reflected their gender identity.
SCOTUS's historic ruling has also removed a second unique barrier many trans folks: They can get divorced without their marriage being invalidated entirely on the grounds that their union was an "illegal" same-sex marriage.
Such marriage-related concerns, however, are taking a backseat today as the trans Twitterverse continues to react to marriage equality. As many trans activists have argued, the movement for trans equality has seemed to be deprioritized within the larger LGBT rights movement as marriage took center stage. Trans Filipina-American writer Meredith Talusan explained:
\u201c#GayMarriage - Great human rights victory *and* prime symbol of gay people putting themselves before trans people. It can be both. #LGBTQ\u201d— Meredith Talusan (@Meredith Talusan) 1435330458
And so the overwhelming message among trans activists has quickly become now that we have marriage equality, let's repurpose the energy formerly devoted to marriage to address the rampant inequalities facing the U.S.'s trans citizens, and especially trans women of color.
Black trans and intersex rights activist Cherno Biko summed up the sentiment simply:
\u201cNow that #LoveWins for LGB folks let's center our community's most vulnerable and at risk population. #NotTooProudToFight for #FolksLikeUs\u201d— BIKO (@BIKO) 1435333615
\u201cCan somebody tell me how #LoveWins when in 36 states #FolksLikeUs can still be denied employment and housing? #NotTooProudToFight\u201d— BIKO (@BIKO) 1435333772
Trans actress Julie Rei Goldstein reminded folks that trans women of color have been leaders in the LGBT rights movement since the beginning:
\u201cEnjoying #MarriageEquality so far? You can thank Trans Women Of Color for that. #MoreThanMarriage\u201d— Julie Rei Goldstein ~ 1.3 Mil in Big Pharma profit (@Julie Rei Goldstein ~ 1.3 Mil in Big Pharma profit) 1435335057
Meanwhile, trans activists drew attention to specific issues, with a particular focus on the epidemic of fatal violence against trans women.
\u201cWhile y'all were fighting for #MarriageEquaility 9 Trans women were murdered just this year. #SFPride #SCOTUS\u201d— Mia Satya \u77f3\u7f8e\u4e9e (@Mia Satya \u77f3\u7f8e\u4e9e) 1435335127
\u201cNow, the battle isn't over. Voting rights, ENDA, and ending deportation are next! #LoveWins #TheBattleContinues\u201d— Viktor de Pointe du Lac (@Viktor de Pointe du Lac) 1435333876
\u201cNow we can get back to focusing on work that has been interrupted. #Trans ppl & #LGBT youth were homeless before we had #equalmarriage\u201d— Gunner Scott (@Gunner Scott) 1435332308
\u201cI never dreamt that gay marriage would be legal in my home state of Michigan but you can use the trans panic defense for killing trans ppl\u201d— Chelsea Poe\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddf1 2021 YNOT Cam Awards Winner (@Chelsea Poe\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddf1 2021 YNOT Cam Awards Winner) 1435332259
And one more fact didn't go unforgotten by many trans advocates: today is the 11th annual Transgender Day of Action, as the Audre Lorde Project declared prior to SCOTUS's marriage equality ruling.
As celebrations and calls for action continue to roll out, the project has reminded the Twitterverse of very specific steps that LGBT rights activists can pivot to right now.
\u201c1. WE DEMAND AN END TO PROFILING AND BRUTALITY AT THE HANDS OF THE POLICE. #tdoa15 #pointsofunity\u201d— Audre Lorde Project (@Audre Lorde Project) 1435279966
\u201c2. WE DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THE MANY FOR THE MANY TGNC POC WHO HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED, RAPED, AND MURDERED. #tdoa15 #pointsofunity\u201d— Audre Lorde Project (@Audre Lorde Project) 1435281124
\u201c3. WE DEMAND ACCESS TO BOTH PUBLIC & PRIVATE SPACES WITHOUT FEAR OF HARASSMENT OR BRUTALITY. #tdoa15 #pointsofunity\u201d— Audre Lorde Project (@Audre Lorde Project) 1435281229
\u201c4. WE DEMAND THE FULL LEGALIZATION OF ALL IMMIGRANTS. #tdoa15 #pointsofunity\u201d— Audre Lorde Project (@Audre Lorde Project) 1435281255
\u201c5. WE ARE IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL PRISONERS, ESPECIALLY TRANS AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING PEOPLE OF COLOR. #tdoa15 #pointsofunity\u201d— Audre Lorde Project (@Audre Lorde Project) 1435281295
\u201c6. WE OPPOSE THE U.S. "WAR ON TERRORISM." #tdoa15 #pointsofunity\u201d— Audre Lorde Project (@Audre Lorde Project) 1435281321
\u201c7. WE DEMAND ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE. #tdoa15 #pointsofunity\u201d— Audre Lorde Project (@Audre Lorde Project) 1435281557
\u201c8. WE DEMAND SAFETY WHILE USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. #tdoa15 #pointsofunity\u201d— Audre Lorde Project (@Audre Lorde Project) 1435281590
\u201c9. WE DEMAND RESPECT FOR ALL WHO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. #tdoa15 #pointsofunity\u201d— Audre Lorde Project (@Audre Lorde Project) 1435281624
\u201c10. WE DEMAND ACCESS TO SAFE HOUSING. #tdoa15 #pointsofunity\u201d— Audre Lorde Project (@Audre Lorde Project) 1435281652
\u201c11. WE DEMAND EQUAL ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION. #tdoa15 #pointsofunity\u201d— Audre Lorde Project (@Audre Lorde Project) 1435281678
