_may 2 . 2 ÛÛ 3 • Jaat a a tj, 3
L'In:* I ; ivj 4.1 mews
T ranslation
group of trans activists will con
duct a 90-minute “Symposium
on Gender Identity” for state leg
islators and their staffs May 9 in
Salem.
Lawmakers learn language lesson on gender identity
“A s far as we know, this is the first time that
by John R. Oshin
a state organization...has developed a sympo
sium or a panel specifically for legislators,” says
Melissa Shepherd, Basic Rights Oregon pro
gram coordinator.
Formal invitations to the breakfast meeting
were issued April 24. At least 17 legislators
have confirmed their attendance so far.
BRO has introduced two hills this legislative
session. Senate Bill 786 bans discrimination on
the basis of sexual orientation and gender iden
tity in employment, housing, public accommo
dation, public assistance and education. S B 816
fjfri
adds gender identity to the state’s hate crimes
law, which already includes sexual orientation.
The hate crimes hill also has been intro
«
duced as House Bill 3356. The House Judiciary
.. Vi
Committee took testimony from nine support
ers during a hearing April 23.
The panel was planned after some of BR O ’s
strongest allies in the Legislature indicated they
needed more education on these issues, espe
safe. A nd there
cially regarding proper language use.
isn’t really any
“I’m excited that there are legislators who
thing in terms of
asked us to put a symposium on,” says Jennifer,
law that would pro
a member of BRO ’s Trans Advisory Group who
tect me from that,
requested that her last name not be used.
as it stands now.”
“There are a lot of legislators out there who
Jennifer’s
as
have been friendly for some time toward gay
sumed gender iden
and lesbian issues. But gender identity is pretty
tity at birth was
new to most of them.”
male, and she lived
During the symposium, advisory group
as male for 30 years.
members will introduce working definitions of stronger allies,” Shepherd observes. “It’s excit
“I knew that I wasn’t happy with my gender
terms such as “transgendered.” Portlander
ing that we have a Trans Advisory Group that
from the time I was about 6,” she explains. “ I
Kaelin Bowers, 37, will explain the difference
is capable of presenting this information, that is was completely ignorant about the possibility
between “gender identity” (who you are) and
so involved in this process that we can do it of transitioning until I was maybe 28 or 2 9 ....
“sexual orientation” (who you are attracted to).
successfully.”
By the time I was 3 0 ,1 did it.”
He says the event’s “overall purpose is to
Bowers hopes the legislators will understand
Now 33, she has had a number of surgeries
educate legislators about what gender identity
the urgency of protecting trans people in Ore and considers herself a “masculine female.”
is and to help them understand that everybody
gon. His assumed gender identity at birth was
“1 currently identify as transgendered,” she con
has a gender identity and everybody should he
female, and he is now taking hormones and has
tinues. “ Transgendered’ to me implies that there
thought about surgery.
able to express that without fear of their lives,
is still some ambiguity about my gender, whereas
their jobs and where they live.”
“At this point I think my gender identity is ‘transsexual’ would say that I was the opposite of
After the review of definitions, the group
male,” he explains. “How I express that is the gender 1 was assumed to be at birth.”
will play host to an extended question-and-
changing, and how people are perceiving my
Jennifer owns her own house but lives and
answer session. “I don’t know how many ques gender identity is changing.”
works in a town with no legal protections based
tions there will he,” Jennifer comments. “1
Bowers has a supportive work environment at on gender identity. When she came out as trans
would he encouraged if there were more ques Intel, and he owns his own house. In other areas,
to her boss, he was supportive, but issues still
tions rather than fewer.”
he has experienced some “low level” discrimina arose about her use of the bathroom at work.
Advisory group members conducted a simi tion during this transition. He is particularly
“I had a little conference with the women in
lar seminar for BR O ’s staff and board of direc interested in seeing gender identity added to the
the office when I decided I was going to transi
hate crimes law, as a matter of personal safety
tors last fall. With a different audience in mind,
tion,” she explains. “I told them what was going
when he ventures away from the Portland area.
they have adjusted that program, practiced
on, what it meant to me. I told them I needed
“ I have to be aware of how I dress if I’m to use the women’s room, and I hoped that
making presentations and prepared handouts.
going to visit a town in rural Oregon,” he says.
there was some way we could work that out.”
"It’s a monumental thing that the legislators
When one person objected, Jennifer’s boss
“I won’t wear my suit there, because I don’t feel
have asked for this information and want to he
•
"I hove to be aware of how
I dress if I'm going to visit
a town in rural Oregon. I won't
wear my suit there because
I don't feel safe. And there
isn't really anything in terms
of law that would protect me
from that as it stands now."
,
.c _
ftj
E lr
,
To offer testimony or to get involved with the
T rans A dvisory G roup call Melissa Shepherd
at 503-222-6151.
JOHN R. O shin is a Portland free-lance writer.
Dignity in Drag
ì
jp
t f> 1
asked her to continue to use the men’s room.
“That day 1 was unprepared to fight, so I said
O K ,” she observes. “But by the time 1 got home
I knew I couldn’t use the men’s room anymore.”
So for two months, Jennifer didn’t use any
bathroom at work. A compromise solution
involving putting deadbolts on the bathroom
doors eventually emerged, although she is not
entirely satisfied with it.
“Whenever 1 come across that
door that’s locked, it means
that somebody is not comfort
able with me,” she says.
Jennifer also has co-workers
occasionally “screw up” by using
male pronouns and her previous
name. Some do it on purpose,
but in most cases they say it is
inadvertent and apologize.
“Now, after a year and a
half, most people have adapt
ed,” she notes. “Most people
treat me the way I present
myself.”
Kaelin Bowers
Jennifer’s experiences have
spurred her participation in
the Trans Advisory Group. “I decided that I
had to be active,” she says. “1 had to find a way
to fight for this issue, because I spent 30 years of
my life running away from it and being com
pletely ignorant. 1 don’t want other people to
have to do that.”
Speaking of the symposium, Jennifer says: “ I
hope this will pique the interest of some of the
legislators and some of the legislators will come
to us and ask us more questions later, interact
with us more out o f their own interest in the
subject.... I’m hoping that there are legislators
who will find this important enough that
they’ll not just raise their hand when the time
comes to do that, but they will talk to their own
colleagues, that they’ll make sure these bills
progress and that they won’t drop it in future
years.”
Shepherd adds: “ If this legislation doesn’t
pass, we’re going to do it again. This is an on
going process for u s.... Educating the people
who are the decision makers for the state is a
long-term goal.”
BR O welcomes further involvement and
testimony from people who are trans. “Every
single person has a compelling story,” Shepherd
says. “We are looking for testimony from folks
about...why it’s important for these bills to get
passed for them.” J H
^ j
EQUITY
T T :
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