The Black Trans Movement 6 Final Paper Proposal & Outline ✓ Solved

The Black Trans Movement 6 Final Paper Proposal & Outline

I propose to research on the LGBTQ+ community, and specifically, the Black Trans lives matter movement, which is a movement within the larger Black Lives Matter social movement, including the issues that it addresses. As the global community continues to find effective means to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic’s associated health and economic challenges, the complexity of attitudes and experiences amongst the members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA) community across many countries remains substantially unexplained and underexamined.

The Center for American Progress, in partnership with the University of Chicago-based independent and nonpartisan research group NORC, recently designed a comprehensive survey research to explore and understand the experiences, attitudes, and lives of LGBTQ+ people across the United States (US). The researchers interviewed 1,528 self-identified LGBTQ+ adults aged 18 or older. Most members of the LGBTQ+ community continue to experience various forms of discrimination within every domain of their lives, including personal lives, public sphere, the workplace, and in their critical healthcare access. The implication of such discriminatory experiences includes many forms of adverse consequences for their physical, mental, financial, and social health and wellbeing.

Most of the respondents interviewed in this study reported that they altered their lives to evade various forms of discrimination and the trauma related with such unequal treatment. The research indicates that younger generations are at a higher risk of facing discrimination and attendant problems compared to older people, and that the discrimination problems were prevalent amongst transgender people, people of color, and disabled people. The “Black trans lives matter” movement especially rose into prominence in the United States in 2020 based on activities organized by Black transgender activists to protest against certain issues affecting them, especially the murder of most Black transgender women (Ting, 2020).

The series of protests experienced in 2020 were sparked by the reported killing of at least 22 transgender or gender non-conforming persons, two being Black trans women, and the Trump administration’s move to repeal transgender healthcare protections during the Pulse nightclub shooting’s anniversary and Pride month (Barbour, 2020). Since then, the movement has grown into a powerful force, especially within the larger BLM movement. Black trans activism is more prominent in the US primarily due to the country’s strong democratic institutions and robust human rights guidelines that recognize people’s rights of expression and activism. Many Black trans individuals feel that their issues are never included or addressed by the general BLM movement, even though they are often incarcerated and killed at disproportionately high rates.

The transgender community feels that the BLM movement, larger queer movement, and feminist movement’s activism are not intersectional and often overlook the most at-risk communities. Thus, with a sharp focus on transgender individuals, the Black trans movement advocates for an end to police brutality, reduction in the disproportionately high number of killings of Black transgender people, and the reintroduction of various health and legal protections for its members. Specifically, this research will focus on the Black trans lives matter movement in the US as the region where the movement's activities are most visible.

Some research questions I will address include: "Why are transgender individuals, especially women, disproportionately killed in the US?", "Why has the Black trans movement gained popularity in the US and not in other countries?", and "In what ways has the movement’s organization and spread lent strength to the larger BLM, LGBTQ+, and feminist movements?"

In terms of timeline, I plan to conduct my research over eight weeks, starting with sourcing information from various materials, narrowing down my topic, developing research questions based on feedback, and writing and revising drafts until I prepare the final submission.

Paper For Above Instructions

The Black Trans Movement represents a significant and often overlooked segment of the broader LGBTQ+ rights struggle, focusing on the unique challenges faced by Black transgender individuals. The complexities surrounding their experiences highlight systemic issues of discrimination, violence, and inequality. The movement serves not only as a rallying cry for justice in its own right but also as a crucial component of the wider Black Lives Matter (BLM) agenda, emphasizing the intersectionality of race, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

As indicated in the proposal, the continued discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly within the Black community, stems from deeply-rooted societal prejudices. Numerous studies, including surveys conducted by the Center for American Progress and NORC, reveal that Black transgender individuals are disproportionately affected by violence, health care disparities, and socio-economic inequities. The reported statistics show a chilling reality; Black transgender women, for instance, frequently experience violence and have a life expectancy that is significantly lower than their cisgender counterparts. This data necessitates a closer examination of the structural barriers faced by these individuals (Gruberg, Mahowald, & Halpin, 2020).

The Black Trans Lives Matter movement emerged prominently in response to a series of fatal incidents in 2020, including the murders of Black trans women who were disproportionately targeted. Activists organized protests and campaigns to demand justice and visibility, ensuring that the unique challenges of Black transgender individuals were not sidelined in the broader civil rights discourse. The rise of the Black trans movement underscores the need for intersectionality in advocacy efforts, calling for solidarity and support from within the LGBTQ+ community as well as from allies (Ting, 2020).

The movement's foundational principles echo those of the BLM movement – an urgent plea for recognition, protection, and justice. However, it also critiques more mainstream movements for failing to address the specific needs of Black transgender individuals. Activists advocate for comprehensive reforms addressing police brutality, healthcare access, employment discrimination, and legal protections tailored specifically to meet the needs of their community. These activists argue that without addressing these intersectional issues, the broader struggles for equality remain incomplete (Barbour, 2020).

Furthermore, research into the lived experiences of Black trans individuals reveals the psychological toll of ongoing discrimination. The fear of violence, coupled with societal alienation and stigma, results in significant mental health challenges. Many individuals alter their lives to avoid discrimination, leading to a cycle of trauma and isolation. This dynamic speaks to the urgent need for tailored social support systems and community outreach programs that prioritize mental health (Maxwell, 2020).

As for the research prospectus, examining the growing visibility and impact of the Black Trans Lives Matter movement can offer critical insights into the future of intersectional activism within the LGBTQ+ community. Questions regarding the efficacy of strategies employed within this movement, as well as the relationship it has with established civil rights organizations, are essential to understanding the evolution of this social movement.

As the research evolves, significant attention must be paid not only to the activism but also to the stories of those within the movement. This focus will ensure that the work remains grounded in the experiences of Black trans individuals, highlighting their voices and lived realities. By doing so, the research will contribute to the broader narrative of LGBTQ+ rights and the ongoing struggle for equity and justice in society.

References

  • Allsop, J. (2020). The Movement For Black Trans Lives. The Media Today - Columbia Journalism Review.

  • Barbour, S. (2020, September 1). How to Support the Black Trans Lives Matter Movement: All Black Lives Matter. Cosmopolitan.

  • Davidson, S. (2016). Gender inequality: Nonbinary Transgender People In The Workplace. Congent Social Sciences.

  • Do, R. (2021, February 18). Forgotten stories: The Critical Role Of Black Trans Women In The Civil Rights Movement. The Daily Free Press.

  • Gruberg, S., Mahowald, L., & Halpin, J. (2020). The State of the LGBTQ Community in 2020: A National Public Opinion Study. Center for American Progress.

  • Human Rights Campaign. (n.d.). Understanding the Transgender Community. HRC.org.

  • Human Rights Watch. (2019, September 3). "Don’t Punish Me for Who I Am": Systemic Discrimination Against Transgender Women in Lebanon. HRW.org.

  • Kiesling, E. (2017). The Missing Colors of the Rainbow: Black Queer Resistance. European Journal of American Studies.

  • Maxwell, C. (2020, March 27). Coronavirus Compounds Inequality and Endangers Communities of Color. Center for American Progress.

  • Ting, J. (2020, June 15). Thousands Gather in Support of Black Trans Lives. Papermag.com.