The document discusses transphobia and gender identity. It begins with background on the Human Rights Campaign, then defines gender identity and the recent term "transphobia." Examples of transphobia discussed include banned anti-transgender buses, discrimination in job opportunities for transgender people, and bullying of a transgender teenager at school. The document concludes by discussing representations of transgender people in popular culture, citing pioneers like Marsha P. Johnson as well as modern influencers helping to normalize and mainstream transgender issues.

1. Transphobia: Discrimination or
a social problem?
Carmen Pastor
Human Rights Campaign, Board of Directors (Chicago, IL)
University of Alicante
Sant Vicent del Raspeig
May 2017

2. What to expect
1. About HRC
2. Introduction to Gender identity
3. Transphobia: A recent term
4. Examples of transphobia
5. Representation in pop culture

3. About HRC
● Human Rights Campaign
● Mission: a world where LGBTQ+ people are ensured of their basic equal rights.
● more than 1.5 million members
● Largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization (USA)
● Celebrity supporters : Lady Gaga, Brad Pitt, Bruce Springsteen, etc
@ltbi_ua
http://www.hrc.org/

4. Introduction to Gender Identity

5. Introduction to Gender Identity

6. Transphobia: A recent term
noun. trans·pho·bia ˌtran(t)s-ˈfō-bē-ə
[ trans + -phobia (after homophobia)]
DEF. irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against transgender or
transsexual people
Transphobic (tran(t)s-ˈfō-bik) adjective
❖ FACT: ⅓ of trans people received transphobic abuse every
year - 2nd highest of any EU country (UK)
→ Increased since 2014
(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

7. Examples of transphobia
1. Transphobic bus (Spain / USA)
● Spain → Hazte oír (Catholic group) BANNED
● USA
Freedom of speech = constitutional
right
Language has consequences =
misleading, disrespectful and
dangerous

8. Examples of transphobia
2. Discrimination in job opportunities
(ASIA = Pakistán, Indonesia…)
● Sex worker
● Hairdresser
● Lack of access to higher education
● Related to misogyny = gender-based discrimination
→ Indonesia's Transgenders Under Threat From
Muslim Extremism
→ Transgenders: Pakistan's Open Secret (LGBT
Documentary) - Real Stories
(YouTube)

9. Examples of transphobia
3. School bullying to transgender teenager because of bathroom preferences (USA)
Ozark High School
● Children/teenagers affected
● The importance of education in diversity
● Parents control
● Trump’s government →
"I had to drop out of school for a while because
people kept trying to shove me down the stairs,"
-Lyle Howard
reversal on a decision allowing transgender
students to use public school bathrooms for
their chosen gender.

10. Representation in pop culture
Marsha P. Johnson
● Stonewall
● Started
movement before
famous
● Films and
documentaries
about her
Pioneers
Grace Jones
● Jamaican
singer, model,
actress
● Androginity,
ambiguity
(gender
expression)
“I go feminine, I go masculine. I am both,
actually. I think the male side is a bit
stronger in me, and I have to tone it down
sometimes. I’m not like a normal woman,
that’s for sure” -Grace Jones

11. Representation in pop culture
TV series : OITNB, Transparent, Sense 8
Movies: The Danish Girl (based on a true story)
Media
Nomi
Sophia
Mort/Maura
Pfefferman
Lili Elbe

12. Representation in pop culture
● Globalization → Younger
generation = more aware
● Youtube gurus, also called
“influencers”
● Help to keep it mainstream
through daily vlogs, share
experiences (normalize)
Gigi Gorgeous Ryan Jacobs Flores
Younger generations

13. Would you?

14. Thank you