Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future

goes without saying that collective action and political mobilization was nearly impossible (Schrock et al.
2004).
Like many transgendered people, they felt a debilitating blend of shame, alienation, fear,
powerlessness, and inauthenticity. Even if political opportunities abounded, such feelings
could stifle activism. Emotional pain took priority over social change (Schrock et al. 2004).
In conjunction with her opinions about trans erasure, Kate Bornstein wrote an entire book which attempts
to dissuade young gender deviants from committing acts of violence against
themselves (Hello Cruel World.) Bornstein encourages youth to do anything it takes to stay alive just one
more day, and then repeat. ―So you have some choices: you can get real good at hiding, or you can get
beat up. You can commit suicide-or you learn how to laugh‖ (Bornstein 1994).
Coming Out
Coming out is a nerve-wracking and intimidating experience. For transgenderists, this experience
differs immensely from that of sexual minorities because their transitions are public and permanent; they
cannot restrict their transition from being known to a many people at a time (Gagne et al. 1997).
―Lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals can selectively come out, whereas transgenderists, because of changes
in gender or biological appearance, are often forced out of the closet, creating awkward or even dangerous
situations‖ (Gagne et al. 1997). After the initial steps of physical transition, it is nearly impossible to hide
ones intentions to transition. This can lead to many different kinds of discrimination and oppression,
including workplace discrimination. Gagne and colleagues studied a group of transsexuals and found that,
―although there were a few people who were permitted to transition on the job, it was more common for
transsexuals to be fired, demoted, pressured to quit, and harassed by other workers‖ (Gagne et al. 1997).
Even though some workplaces are more accepting than those Gagne refers to, there are some issues that
inevitably need to be faced by employers when a worker transitions. One specific issue is that of gendered
space and the availability of restrooms.
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