To Jan Angel, Michelle Caldier and Jesse Young, who voted against protecting the rights of trans individuals:

I urge you to gain education on this group of sensitive and victimized people. These non-conformers are trying to achieve their own American dreams. Voting against protecting the civil liberties of a group of people is prejudiced if based on fears instead of data.

In America, we protect the minorities. You cannot argue that trans individuals make up a minority and they are being victimized. Please take time to review this tool if you have not seen it before: www.ovc.gov/pubs/forge/sexual_numbers.html#hate_crimes. It is a link to the Office Of Justice Programs, Office Of Victims of Crimes addressing the epidemic of sexual assault in the Transgender community. The numbers are alarming: 50 percent of transgender individuals report being sexually abused/assaulted in their lives. The numbers increase if you are a ethnic minority and transgender. I personally have heard an increase in hate talk against trans individuals this year in my school and out in the community. I understand. It’s an uncomfortable topic for us. However, we all have a right to feel safe in America. Hate crimes and any pattern of victimization of a minority population should be addressed, don’t you agree?

I have been learning more about the trans community as my brother is transitioning. He came here from the southern U.S. to get away from prejudice against LGBTQ persons and to have a better chance to achieve his American dream of living a happy life. In the south, he faced discrimination in the workplace and was blocked from accessing health care because of his gender-identity. My brother is a kind person, a hard worker, always early, 3.8 GPA college graduate, animal lover and great babysitter. When he came out early in life, I wasn’t shocked. When he began the transition, I mourned my sister. But now I get to know the real person in that body, and that real person is free and comfortable in his skin. It shines through. Until recently, when the hate has flared and he has grown more afraid.

He doesn’t like me to talk about him and his transition because he is very private. Also, he really tries to avoid conflict and he is afraid of the threat of violence that is always around him because of his gender identity. I am scared to death of the violent backlash by people who are afraid of trans people. I worry he is going to get beat up in the bathroom for being trans. I worry that he will be attacked in an alley, or worse, in broad daylight, and that the community will feel less for him because he is a trans individual. I am scared for my little brother because the statistics regarding violence against trans individuals are real. Trans individuals are very real victims. It is not fair to ignore the statistics and stories of trans victims who are attacked, raped, and murdered in hate crimes by the hour across our country.

I want to thank supporters for being strong and standing firm in convictions that will ultimately result in the protection of the most basic of civil liberties … our right to use the bathroom in peace. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the necessary actions to protect trans individuals. You are my heroes.

I will be reaching out to community organizations and businesses and asking them to post “Safe Zone” rainbow emblems in their windows here in Bremerton in the coming year. I will also be sharing what I learn about the trans community in every conversation I have regardless of tone. I will not stand for hate talk in my community and I will continue to advocate for American citizens to make peaceful personal choices. Also, elections are always right around the corner …

Jennifer Chamberlin,
Bremerton.