POLITICS

 

 

Gender Identity and Expression: Time’s Up

Rev. Sarah Flynn speaks to supporters of H.865 at Bur|ington's Unitarian Universalist Church.

   

 

BURLINGTON — Wending its
way slowly through the halls
of the statehouse in Montpe-
lier is H.865, dubbed the Gen-
der Identity bill. The bill would
add the words “gender identity
and expression" to a list of spe-
cific groups protected by civil
rights, thus making equal rights
for transgender citizens part of
state law.

Seven states in the U.S. have
such legislation on the books at
present, Rev. Sarah Flynn told a
group—of supporters recently at
Burlington’s Unitarian Univer-
salist Church. Flyim read from
stories she said would be pre-
sented at hearings before the
legislature on the bill. In one
person’s testimony, an’ overly
curious emergency room doctor
caused a transgender patient to
feel humiliated, and in another
incident, a doctor yelled at a
transgender patient. Many con-
flicts occur when a iranswoman
or transman attempts to use a
public bathroom designated for
either gender, Flynn said. Public
school students may run into
problems using bathrooms in
their schools when they don’t

gender appearance or identity.
A person who is not transgender
but androgynous and therefore
doesn't fit the female or male
stereotype may experience dif-
ficulties in situations such as
bathroom use. Flynn said she

fit the male or female norm in‘

was using the Women’s bath-
room at the theology school
where she studied years earlier,
and the students were upset to
find her there. Sometimes the
difficulties occur in public plac-

“When people meet someone
who is transgender, it opens
up a, Pandora’s box.”

es. “I’ve been harassed in malls
by teenagers,” Flyrm said.

Flynn said she was cross-
dressing at 13 and got married
in 1961 to attempt to fit the ac-
ceptable stereotype. But her
marriage fell apart, and Flynn
had to face the issue of her gen-
der identity. Flynn, who changed
her gender from male to female
in 1978, said it was either that
or she “could not go on.” While
Flyrm has much to.offer as a.n
employee, ,she has had difficulty
finding work appropriate to her
background. Armed with a mas-
ter’s degree, Flynn tells of find-
ing only a clerk—typist position
and she ‘Virtually felt like I had
to beg for that.”

But Flynn said she has no
regrets. “We are diflerent and
there's nothing wrong with be-
ing different,” she said. When
people meet someone who is
transgender, it opens up a Pan-

V ter a temple, another passage in

dora’s box, she said. PeoplcTc*AK—‘. L...
ize they have a choice, and “that p ‘

scares them.”

Flynn held up a Bible and_ '1

explained that while’Ch1istians
may quote a passage in Leviti-

—REV. SARAH FLYN

cus indicating that those. with. ,

“crushed testicles" may not en-3

Isaiah actually praises eunuchs
and honors them as special peo-‘ :
ple who hold an important place ‘
in the world.

F'lynn said calls to legislators 

in support of H.865 will encour- ~'

age them to vote for it. Constitu-
ents’ support makes it easier for
lawmakers to justify voting for
a measure they might otherwise.
vote down, she said.

Once passed, the Gender
Identity Bill will have an edu- :
cational influence on people,‘ _
Flynn said. For example, since, E
civil rights laws were passed"
giving African-American citi- 
zens equal rights, “it's no long- 

public." _
Advocates believe H.865 may
be passed by the legislature this

year.V » ;_

er okay to say racist words in‘ g"