There is a major decision currently under consideration in the Supreme Court, determining what employment rights will be provided to the known 1.4 million transgender citizens currently living in the United States. The case for gender equality is brought by the plaintiff, Ms. Aimee Stephens, who was fired after disclosing her intention to transition. In her own words, Ms. Stephen’s read the letter she provided to her employer and colleagues. It includes heart-wrenching details of the pain that comes with leading a double life. The sense of despair almost resulted in suicide but rather than a violent ending, she decided to risk whatever was necessary to be true to herself. It has come with a harsh price- her job, her privacy, and a long fight against the legal system. To learn more, please check out the New York Times podcast, The Daily: Because of Sex, where two reporters dialogue about the constitutional factors involved in the lawsuit as well as the judges’ concerns about the social ripple effect that might ensue.
Statistics found at: http://williamsinstitute.la.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/How-Many-Adults-Identity-As_transgender-in-the-United-States.pdf