Transgender Acceptance in Some Unexpected Places

One thing I've learned since getting involved with LGBT issues is that it is easier for people to discriminate against facesless groups of minorities than to look them in the eye, perhaps even knowing them personally, and act like a bigot. That is why I believe it is so critically important for more LGBT people to put themselves out there (I know, easy for me to say, but still true) and show people they are not abominations by the way they live their lives and participate in their communities and their churches.

I believe that idea is supported by a post on Bilerico:

According to a new article in The American Prospect, entitled Trans in the Red States, "when we think of states like Nebraska and Wyoming, we think of people like Brandon Teen and Matthew Sheppard, both killed in vicious, nationally publicized hate crimes," and yet, despite the difficulties of living in small, conservative towns similar to Humboldt, Nebraska and Laramie, Wyoming, transgender and gender non-conforming people have chosen to take more visible roles in their communities - volunteering for political campaigns, participating in their local faith communities and even transitioning on the job without negative repercussions. Being visible in rural communities raises awareness and educates community members on issues impacting the trans community; a highly effective strategy that has secured rights for many rural trans communities.

The article states that people in very small, largely conservative communities like Loveland, Colorado - population 61,000, 92 percent white and heavily evangelical Christian - have surprisingly been receptive to anti-bullying trainings on how to honor and protect students on the basis of gender identity and expression, arming faculty and staff with fact sheets that help them answer any inappropriate questions from students and/or parents about students perceived to be transgender or gender non-conforming as well as students perceived as lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Click here to read the rest of this encouraging story.