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I have made the decision to finish pursuing my master's of social work, returning to education after about a decade away.

As part of this venture, though, I unfortunately have to be subject to the financial burden of education in the United States. As a transgender person (as with other marginalized populations), this can come this can come with its own set of financial barriers -- and #TransgenderFirst wants me to write about why it's challenging for transgender students to afford and approach college to raise awareness of these issues as part of my entry for their scholarship. More below --

You're online with me here, so I have no doubt we have all seen the conversations surrounding transgender rights and visibility. It remains to be seen if being "visible" is, in fact, "progress". Transgender individuals continue to face systemic barriers - and accessing higher education is no exception. Transgender students encounter challenges in affording and pursuing higher education -- and I have some thoughts regarding those societal, economic, and institutional factors contributing to our marginalization, and hope to propose strategies for fostering inclusivity and equity within academic environments should you be privy to them.

Socioeconomic disparities are the most obvious to track; I'll refrain from finding specific statistics because, frankly, they're too depressing for me. Transgender individuals often encounter socioeconomic challenges that hinder our ability to afford rent and groceries, much less higher education. Discrimination and prejudice in employment settings frequently lead to job insecurity and financial instability, making the prospect of financing education daunting at best. If you want to look up information, I'm sure surveys such as the ones from the National Center for Transgender Equality will show more insight on how transgender individuals are more likely to live in poverty compared to the general population, should you want to see this in depth. Furthermore, familial rejection due to gender identity can result in houselessness or lack of needed social and financial support, further impeding access to resources necessary for pursuing higher education. Again, another instance of the statistics being depressing - regardless of gender identity, you're welcome to look up statistics regarding becoming unhoused. A high percentage of individuals who become unhoused before adulthood are significantly more likely to face continual financial and health issues throughout their entire lives.

Legal and policy frameworks also pose significant obstacles for transgender students seeking higher education. In many jurisdictions, transgender individuals face discrimination in housing, healthcare, and education due to inadequate legal protections. Without comprehensive anti-discrimination laws, transgender students encounter hostility and bias from peers, faculty, and administrators within academic institutions, creating unwelcoming environments that undermine their academic success. Additionally, limited access to gender-affirming healthcare and supportive services further compounds the challenges faced by transgender students, affecting their mental health and overall well-being. Additionally, internal academic policies play a role in many institutions and specific organizations, which I will discuss further by addressing overall campus climate.

The campus climate plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational experiences of all students, and transgender and gender non-conforming students face issues regarding their existence in greater numbers than our peers. Despite progress in LGBTQI+ advocacy, many academic institutions lack inclusive policies and practices that affirm transgender identities and address issues of discrimination and harassment. Transgender students frequently report feeling unsafe on campus, with high rates of verbal and physical violence targeting gender non-conforming individuals. The absence of gender-neutral facilities and inadequate support services further marginalize transgender students, contributing to feelings of isolation and alienation within academic spaces. Legal and policy restrictions often go into play with acceptance into certain institutions - the mixed bag of women's colleges are a prime example but also I won't go in depth. I know first hand that this was a fight from within those colleges to even address the acceptance of intersex individuals and transmisogyny-affected individuals, and that isn't even to address how trans women do not feel comfortable applying to these places in the first place due to the climate toward them.

The intersection of transgender identity and mental health presents significant challenges for academic success. Transgender students are disproportionately affected by mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidality, often stemming from experiences of discrimination, stigma, and social exclusion. These mental health disparities not only impede academic performance but also diminish the overall quality of life for transgender students, hindering their ability to fully engage in their educational pursuits. Furthermore, the lack of culturally competent mental health services exacerbates these challenges, perpetuating a cycle of distress and academic underachievement.

It is essential to acknowledge that transgender students experience intersecting forms of marginalization based on race, ethnicity, class, disability, and other identities. Intersectionality shapes the unique experiences and vulnerabilities of transgender individuals within higher education, compounding the challenges they face in navigating institutional barriers and societal prejudices. For example, transgender students of color often face compounded discrimination and violence, further limiting their access to educational opportunities and resources. Intersectional approaches to addressing the needs of transgender students are crucial for promoting equity and inclusivity within higher education.

Addressing the challenges faced by transgender students in higher education requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses policy reform, institutional change, and community engagement. First and foremost, academic institutions must implement comprehensive anti-discrimination policies that explicitly protect transgender students from harassment and discrimination. This includes training faculty and staff on LGBTQ+ issues and creating inclusive curricula that reflect the diverse experiences of transgender individuals. Additionally, colleges and universities should invest in gender-affirming resources and support services, including access to gender-neutral facilities, counseling, and healthcare.

Moreover, efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion should prioritize the voices and leadership of transgender students, ensuring that their perspectives and experiences are central to decision-making processes within academic institutions. Establishing LGBTQ+ resource centers and student organizations can provide vital spaces for community building, advocacy, and support. Furthermore, collaboration with local LGBTQ+ organizations and advocacy groups can enhance the visibility and accessibility of resources for transgender students both on and off campus.

It become obvious, then, that transgender students face significant challenges in affording and pursuing higher education, stemming from systemic discrimination, socioeconomic disparities, and institutional barriers. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort to foster inclusivity, equity, and support within academic environments. By implementing anti-discrimination policies, providing gender-affirming resources, and amplifying the voices of transgender students, colleges and universities can create more welcoming and accessible spaces for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. Ultimately, as corny as it sounds, advancing transgender rights within higher education is not only a matter of social justice but also a fundamental step towards building more equitable and inclusive societies.

#TransgenderFirst scholarship information can be found here: https://www.onlinedegree.com/transgender-first-scholarship/

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“I’M NOT A PRACTISING HOMOSEXUAL………I’M PERFECT!” pinback, c. 1985. c/o @queerinbrighton. #lgbthistory #HavePrideInHistory #Night

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Hi! I’m a co-editor of Nameless Woman, a forthcoming collection of stories by trans women of color, which we’re publishing under the Trans Women Writers Collective. I wanted to mention that if you help us we meet our fundraising goal for this campaign we’ll be able to continue publishing more books by trans women through the collective and we’ll be able to pay more trans women to contribute their work as writers, editors, designers, and artists. This campaign is the first step for our group of trans women writers to gain independence and be able to publish our own work rather than have our narratives constrained and our stories told for us, which unfortunately continues to be the norm. You can pre-order a print copy of the anthology for $18 (including shipping) from now until our campaign ends on Jan. 15th.

Support the creative work of trans women of color, order a copy or just share this post. Thanks!

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Active voice: I loved your book

Passive voice: Your book was loved

Passive-aggressive voice: I love how you felt the need to write a book

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here he come…..

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@blackindigenousboy wearing his #NoDAPL shirt. One of his favorite gifts. 🎄🙏🏾🌟💓

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Getting Called Out: How To Apologize

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Ready to attack (suhaderbent)

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Whenever I finish a work, I always feel lost, as though a steady anchor has been taken away and there is no sure ground under my feet. During the time between ending one project and beginning another, I always have a crisis of meaning. I begin to wonder what my life is all about and what I have been put on this earth to do. It is as though immersed in a project I lose all sense of myself and must then, when the work is done, rediscover who I am and where I am going.

bell hooks, Teaching To Transgress (via austinkleon)

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Protesters erupted after LAPD shot and killed 2 black men in just 2 days.

On October 1, police shot and killed 18-year old Carnell Shell Jr.

Snell was riding in a car that police believed was stolen. So an officer opened fire after Snell left the car and started running.

Snell’s family says police overreacted.

The next day, another black man was killed by LAPD.

The police killed about 10 unarmed black men in the last month. This is an unprecedented surge in the level of their unpunished crime rate!

#PoliceBrutality

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//October 1, 2016 Happy October! 🍁🍂I spent this morning getting caught up on my Ethics module and just about knocked off everything on my to-do list for Saturday! Time to relax :)

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Charlotte, NC: Show Up for Charlotte - Justice for Keith Lamont Scott, September 24, 2016.

Photos by Bryan G. Pfeifer

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Striking prisoners at Alabama’s Holman prison say they have been joined by an unlikely ally: their own guards.

Guards at the facility did not show up for their shifts at 6pm on Saturday, according to organizers of the national prison strike and audio and video accounts from a contraband cellphone inside the facility.

“The warden is pushing the meal cart,” tweeted out the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee, one of the organizations behind the strike, which began on September 9th.

A prisoner at Holman, going by the name Kinetik Justice, gave an interview to Aljazeera English on Monday, discussing the strike. He also released an audio message, which said:

“September the 24th 2016, Holman Correctional Facility, this is Kinetik Justicecoming to you live. It’s official. At 6 o’clock no officers came to work. None came to work. None of the officers came to work. We have Deputy Commissioner Culliver, Warden Peterson, Sergeant Franklin from across the street… Who else? Warden Peterson from across the street, Warden Stewart, the captain, a white guy, Wilson, and one another. Those are the only ones here running the facility. Right now the commissioner is passing out trays. Warden Peterson is pulling the cart. Deputy Commissioner Culliver passing out trays. I can’t believe it. To my black sliding shoes, brown knitted pants, white tweed shirt with the collar bust open, sweating at the temples. It’s real. No officers came to work. They completely bugged on the administration. No more will they be pawns in the game. High time it’s going down.”

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George Jackson was writing about the path to this stuff 50 years ago before he was murdered in prison, it’s amazing how little has changed since then.

“The new pigs usually have to serve a period on the goon squad before they fall into their regular role on the animal farm. They are always anxious to try their new skills-“to see if it really works” -we were always forced to do something to slow them down, to demonstrate that violence was a twoedged sword. This must be done at least once every year, or we would all be as punchy and fractured as a Thai Boxer before our time was up. The brothers wanted to protest. The usual protest was a strike, a work stoppage, closing the sweatshops where industrial products are worked up for two cents an hour. (Some people get four cents after they’ve been on the job for six months.) The outside interests who made the profits didn’t dig strikes. That meant the captain didn’t like them either since it meant pressure on him from these free-enterprising political connections.“

Vast majority are non violent drug offenders that dont belong there due to theocratic prohibition. They are humans. Systematic solitary confinement is unconstitutional. Working for under a dollar an hour is creating monopolies, destroying jobs in their communities, and is unethical. This is also lost revenue for struggling cities. America has the largest prison population in the world. We do not have the lowest crime by far. What is the point?

#BlackLivesMatter #US #PoliceState 

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15 Galaxy Sweets That Are Out Of This World