As our community continues to mourn the loss of yet another transgender victim of violence, Londyn Kiki Chanel, efforts are underway to promote understanding about and visibility of the trans community. While such initiatives may provide little solace to the loved ones of the far-too-many transgender victims of violence in our city and across the country, they are a step in the direction of breaking down systemic prejudice that enables such violence.
On June 4, the transgender Pride flag will for the first time be raised outside of Philadelphia City Hall, an effort that is timed to coincide with the 14th-annual Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference. While a city’s acknowledging a community’s emblematic flag shouldn’t itself be big news, that this is points to how far our society still needs to evolve on transgender awareness. And, it illustrates that our city is willing to lead that effort.
As much as the flag-raising is meant to communicate to the city at large that Philadelphia supports and values its transgender citizens, it also sends an empowering message to our trans brothers and sisters themselves. It is well beyond time that all trans people are, personally and as a community — one that is disproportionately hit by harassment, discrimination and violence — buoyed by the backing of our city government.
Also making news this week was the launch of an online guide, created by the city, to help trans and gender-nonconforming folks, as well as others, locate safe and secure restroom facilities. As much as the flag-raising is a symbolic commentary on trans inclusion, the guide is a practical effort with the same aim.
It allows people looking for gender-neutral restrooms — which can also include such folks as parents caring for a child of the opposite sex — to find such facilities without the worry of being harassed, a very real concern for many of our city’s residents. While Philadelphia is certainly far more progressive than many of our neighboring municipalities — and recently passed a law mandating that all new city construction include gender-neutral bathrooms — acceptance is not a guarantee. But, being able to safely access a restroom should be a guarantee.
The LGBT-rights movement is in a state of flux and, rightfully so, the needs of the trans community are coming to the forefront, and more visible to the LGB and mainstream communities. The efforts announced this week are valuable building blocks for trans equality — simultaneously symbolic and tangible, they illustrate the systemic barriers that need to be confronted and the steps our entire community can take to do so.